Dubai: Godolphin’s Australian season seems to get better and better as Exosphere posted a record-breaking victory in the Group 1 De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose Stakes at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Trained by John O’Shea and ridden by James McDonald, Exosphere crossed the line 2 1/4 lengths clear of Speak Fondly in a new race record of 1m 21.83s on good ground.
Two Godolphin runners, Shards (Joao Moreira) and Holler (Sam Clipperton), finished seventh and eighth respectively.
“It was a tremendous performance - I was really happy with him. He has pulled up well and we can now look at what we do with him going forward,” said O’Shea.
“I haven’t trained too many better - and he was only having his sixth start.
“We have always thought very highly of this colt and he was able to give people a demonstration of the special talents he has shown us at home.
“He is growing into himself, is by this great sire Lonhro that the boss has and is in for a great season. He is very hard to run down.
“He has great international appeal and you never know where he is going to end up.”
Exosphere’s next target is likely to be the Caulfield Guineas (G1) over a mile on October 10.
McDonald commented: “Exosphere is a super colt, unbelievable.
“The race went through my head many a time, I said to John, ‘I wish I drew barrier nine instead of one’, but as it turns out you cannot really worry about that stuff.
“I let the horse do it and I just tried to sit there and look good.”
