Michael Dee marked his return to Melbourne racing with a brilliant double, highlighted by victory in Saturday’s feature race at Flemington. The Kiwi-born jockey guided the Peter Snowden-trained King Of Roseau to triumph in the $200,000 Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m), the opening Group race of Victoria’s season.

Earlier in the day, Dee partnered Bold Soul to victory in the second race on the card, making his first ride back in Melbourne since the Mornington Cup meeting on April 14. Following that, Dee completed a two-month riding stint in Japan, where he registered five winners.

“It is a dream return and I’m just hopeful now that it can continue,” Dee said after securing the 15th Group 1 of his career.

King Of Roseau’s success marked Dee’s third victory in the Aurie’s Star Handicap, following his wins aboard Sooboog in 2015 and It’sourtime in 2023. The $3.40 chance produced a commanding run down the outside to score by 1-1/2 lengths over Bandi’s Boy ($31), with Marble Nine ($5.50) a further length away in third. The $2.60 favourite Splash Back was unable to go with King Of Roseau in the final stages, finishing fifth, three lengths adrift.

Dee was full of praise for the winner’s potential. “The way he let down, there are definitely bigger things ahead for him. He’d had a look down the straight previously in a strong form race, performed well then, and today he won impressively and felt terrific.”

Trainer Peter Snowden said Flemington would remain a key target. “Now we know he really likes Flemington, there’s no doubt we’ll be back at some stage this season. Not all horses handle the straight, but he clearly does, and that was a dominant performance.”

King Of Roseau is expected to be aimed at Flemington’s straight-track features leading into the Group 1 Champions Sprint (1200m) in November. Options include the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) on Makybe Diva Stakes Day and the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) on Turnbull Stakes Day.