Denman is a name that’s associated with jumps racing in the northern hemisphere, a nine-year-old by Presenting from Polly Puttens, he owns an outstanding record.  From 17 starts over the fences he’s won 13 of them and finished runner-up on three occasions.  The only time he failed to collect a cheque was when he fell at Aintree in April.
  In the southern hemisphere, a dark brown colt out of the Vain mare, Peach has been named, Denman.  And like his northern hemisphere counterpart, he also owns a great record.  From his first five starts the progressive colt has recorded four wins from five starts and at Rosehill on Saturday it was a convincing victory in the Group 3 Run To The Rose (1300m). 

Carrying top weight of 58kgs,  Denman, as pushed forward early by Kerrin McEvoy.   Having his first start going ‘right-handed’ he raced prominently throughout.   Once he rounded the home corner Denman took the lead with 400m to run.  At this point, More Than Great (More Than Ready – Great Temptation by Luskin Star) had raced up to his girth, and appeared to have Denman cold. 
McEvoy gave Denman a kick and the son of Lonhro quickened brilliantly and finished too strongly to collect his first and most important black type victory by a widening length-and-a-half over More Than Great.
Bombay Sling (Danzero – Gin Sling by Western Symphony) was another 1¾ lengths away in third place.
Denman will now progress towards the Group 1 $1 million Golden Rose Trophy in two weeks time, and this time, his rivals meet him at set weights.
By the former champion galloper Lonhro, Denman had campaigned in Victoria for his initial four starts with Darley’s main trainer in Australia Peter Snowden’s son Paul overseeing his training.
Denman was beaten into third place at Flemington on debut last December and he was then sent off for a spell.  Since resuming he has won all four starts, and, each time he’s improved a little more. 

 McEvoy spoke with TVN’s Richard Callander after the event and said “Denman is a quality horse and he put in a good, tough effort”.
   Like his sire, Lonhro, Denman has the same wonderful ‘turn of speed’ and he’s built in the mould of his sire, being very neat and a dark brown.
    He is out of the winning Vain mare Peach  a wonderful producer, being the dam of two stakes winners the Group I VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes winner, Preserve (by Canny Lad) and her full sister Rio Osa winner of two Listed events.  Peach is out of the unraced Marscay mare Market Maid a half-sister to Group I Golden Slipper winner Dark Eclipse (by Baguette).
   Lonhro has 66 winners from 120 runners and Denman was his fourth stakes earner with more than $3.4 million in earnings.  His fee this spring has been discounted down to $33,000 (inc gst) from last seasons fee of $55,000.  With results like this he is bound to have a ‘book full’ sign up outside his barn door very soon.

Permalink| Aug 17, 2009

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