Placing aggressively has marked Rosberg’s limited time on track, a strategy Cranbourne’s Clinton McDonald wants to extend into a first-up assignment in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate.
Yet the stable boss is coming to terms with possibly reacquainting his high-class colt, third across the line in Cranbourne’s Monday barrier trial, against rivals his own age on the card.
Officials have him at 75, so entry into the $750,000 1100-metre Oakleigh Plate handicap would hinge on limited acceptors for the three-year-old, with the $200,000 Group 3 Zeditave Stakes (1200m) emerging as the favoured path back.
“He runs on the 21st (of February) here at Caulfield, there’s either the Zeditave or the Oakleigh Plate,” McDonald said.
“It’s probably most likely we can’t get into the Oakleigh Plate, so it’ll be the Zeditave.”
Set for its third race over 1200 metres, Rosberg resumes following a last-place finish in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1100m) October 4, pulling up lame.
Beforehand, he had secured the Listed McKenzie Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley in narrow fashion, half a length to the good.
A Deep Field colt, he clocked third Monday, two lengths shy of Gee Gees Mistruth’s win.
Spwyire intervened between the pair, and Pride Of Jenni, ridden gently akin to Rosberg, trailed in fifth by some five lengths.
McDonald’s expansive goals for the colt signal his approval, after a winning January 26 trial and clear maturation through the rest period.
“He’s not such a kid, he’s a bit more mature now in the way that he behaves,” McDonald said.
“We can’t fault him and he’s done everything right.
“He’s an impressive colt to look at, he’s got a big motor and we know what’s there, it’s just a matter of getting him 100 percent on raceday.”
Betting fans can find value in the betting markets for the race featuring Rosberg at the Oakleigh Plate.
The post Clinton McDonald still dreaming big with Rosberg first appeared on Just Horse Racing.