SHE may not have been the lot Kevin Medlyn had initially intended to purchase at last year's Bathurst Gold Crown Yearling Sale, but his decision to go for Christiano Rose could prove to be a masterstroke.
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She is a filly who her Bathurst trainer Gemma Rue believes has the potential to qualify for the Group 1 Gold Tiara Final.
Based in Parkes, Medlyn is a trainer in his own right. However, with Gemma and her husband-driver Mat Rue having a focus on young horses, he has purchased yearlings to place in their care.
One of them, Caribbean Jack, won a Gold Crown Bronze Consolation at last year's annual Bathurst carnival.
As Gemma Rue explained, that is what led him to purchase Christiano Rose.
"We actually had her brother last year, Caribbean Jack. He done quite a good job, he's just a nice horse, he won his two two-year-olds and two three-year-olds," she said.
"At the sale he sort of wasn't looking at her all day, he had his eye on a few others, but in the end he said 'I think we'll go with Jack's sister'.
"It couldn't have worked out better. It was nice we had success with her brother last year and she's come through quite nice as well. It's good, she wasn't an expensive horse, she was only $6,000.
"Kevin's a really good supporter of the industry. He always trains a couple himself, but it's nice that we've had a couple of babies for him the last couple of years and have been able to get some success for him."
Christiano Rose, an Alta Christiano x Miss Aqua Rose filly, won two trials then saluted in her racing debut at Bathurst on February 13.
That run showed she has good gate speed and could find the line well too. It means Rue has confidence that drawing barrier five for her 1,730 metres tiara heat on Friday night is not an issue.
"It's not the easiest draw, but only having nine in the field does make it easier," she said.
"If she's as good as what we think she is, then she should be able to overcome that barrier."
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Christiano Rose is one of three fillies Rue will have in action in the Gold Tiara heats. The trainer feels that she and stable-mate Joes Joy - who has drawn barrier one for her qualifier - both have the potential to reach the $100,000 decider.
"I think Joes Joy is going to be a nice filly, there sort of wasn't a lot between them the whole way along, but Christiano Rose, she's definitely put it together," she said.
"When you look at the fields it's not often you think you are a chance of getting a couple in Group 1s, but I really do think two of our fillies are a chance."
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