G1 goal for Astern after impressive G2 return

Medaglia d'Oro colt wins G2 Run To The Rose first up as three-year-old

Talented multiple Group-winning two-year-old Medaglia d’Oro colt Astern has made an immediate impression at three with a fast-finishing first-up victory in G2 The Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill on August 27.

The John O’Shea-trained Astern, who was ridden by James McDonald, came along the inside of the Rosehill track to run down favourite Star Turn in the final strides for an impressive win.

Already a winner of the G2 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) and the G3 Kindergarten Stakes (1200m), Astern is now on track for a second-up tilt at the G1 Golden Rose (1400m) on September 10.

A half-brother to Stakes-placed Lonhro four-year-old Mogador, Astern is out of Essaquira, a city-winning Exceed And Excel mare who has had three foals to race for three winners. Essaquira has a Sepoy two-year-old filly, an Animal Kingdom yearling and is due to foal to Brazen Beau in October.

Medaglia d’Oro, the sire 2015 Golden Slipper winner Vancouver, Eclipse Champion juvenile filly and six-time G1 winner Songbird, stands at Kelvinside for $110,000 inc. GST).