Sydney sprinter King Of Roseau dominates in Aurie's Star Handicap raid at Flemington
The emerging sprinter, trained by Peter Snowden, dominated the feature event on Saturday from Bandi's Boy, who also dropped into Melbourne to avoid the Harbour City big wet.
Snowden said King Of Roseau could return to Flemington, as early as next month.
King Of Roseau placed third at Flemington last year behind Growing Empire and First Settler.
Growing Empire would go on to place in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes.
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Snowden returned on Saturday confident progressive sprinter King Of Roseau would appreciate the straight again.
'He's been going through his grades quite well (in Sydney), but wet tracks up there, especially today, was going to be a no-brainer for us today (to come to Flemington),' Snowden said.
'He's always showed a fair bit actually, running good races against good horses and he just couldn't win, and he got to the point he started to lack a bit of enthusiasm in his races.
'We gelded him and that helped, gone back to benchmark racing and earned his stripes. He's got a real grit about his racing and come through again today.
'Now we know he really likes Flemington we'll come back … not every horse handles Flemington down the straight and this horse has got a bit of an affinity for it.'
He's the King of the straight!
King Of Roseau brings down the Sydney form and blows them away in the Aurie's Star ðŸ'' @SnowdenRacing1 pic.twitter.com/shCPyS6cwg
â€' 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) August 2, 2025
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Snowden said conditions would dictate future plans with heavy tracks to be avoided.
'He's OK on soft tracks but when you get on the Heavy 10s, like Sydney is today, it's a no-brainer, no way (he races on that),' Snowden said.
'He's going through his grades quite well now, that was a good field without being a star-studded field but there was some promising horses there and he won with a bit of authority.
'He's an improving horse, he's in good form, he's rock hard fit and he's holding that form well.
'We'll definitely come down (again)… he handles it well, so no doubt we'll be back over the spring.'
Jockey Michael Dee sealed a comeback Flemington double with his third Aurie's Star victory.
Dee, who rode in Japan through the Australian winter, rated the performance highly.
'The way (King Of Roseau) won that, there's definitely bigger things in store for him,' Dee said.
'Gee he won easily and gave me a lovely feel.'
Dee was able to get cover early and King Of Roseau sorted out the rest.
'They ran along a lot quicker than I thought they would… as soon as I peeled him to the outside he really took off,' Dee said.
'He quickened up easily and we got just before the clock tower and I asked again and gee he let rip.'
Third-placed Marble Nine led the Melbourne brigade from Miss Aria.
Favourite Splash Back finished midfield.
The Grahame Begg-trained mare appeared a bit lost down the straight after being pushed widest and only got going late.
Begg said Splash Back would return to 1400m next start around a bend.
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