Unwanted filly extends impressive record

SHE’S the filly nobody wanted and is now one plenty wish they had.

Offered at the Sydney Australian Pacing Gold Sale as a yearling Our Antonio Rose failed to attract a bid.

Resolved to the fact they were taking her home, breeders Stan and Susan Townsend elected to keep the well-bred daughter of Sportswriter.

“I took her to the APG Sale but she failed to attract a bid so I kept her,” Stan said. “I really liked her and thought she had a lot going for her, but nobody wanted her.

“It did take us a long time to get her going properly, and she would gallop in all her trials, but then she came out and won her first four starts.

“In her Bathurst Gold Bracelet heat a few starts back she pulled hard and just wouldn’t settle so I changed her gear a bit and she came out and won the Consolation the following week.

“After that we sent her to Jason (Grimson) to race her in the Golden Easter Egg.”

Making her debut for Grimson at Club Menangle tonight, Our Antonio Rose achieved her goal by causing an upset in the Golden Easter Egg.

With Grimson in the cart, the three-year-old began quickly to lead from barrier five before being eased to take a trail behind the hot favourite, Dr Susan.

Angled away from the pegs at the top of the home straight, Our Antonio Rose reclaimed the front in the shadows of the post to score by a short half-head from Vincenzina, with Dr Susan a neck away third.

Paying $21 on the tote, Our Antonio Rose covered the mile in 1:54.9 to take her record to six wins and a third from nine starts for earnings of $45,860.

“It was hard to be confident with Dr Susan in the race, but I was happy with her as she gave me a good feel in her track work during the week,” Grimson said.

“She is only small, but has a heart as big as herself.

“She just puts her head down and goes.”

Named after the song San Antonio Rose, the youngster will have a limited preparation due to the travel restrictions in place.

“I was watching TV one night and came across the song San Antonio Rose and thought that would be a nice name for a filly,” Townsend said.

“I wanted to call her San Antonio Rose, but it was knocked back.

“She is getting up in ratings now which makes it hard to find races for her and she faces the prospect of racing city class mares which will make it very hard.

“The Breeders’ Challenge is long way away but that’s the aim with her and she might even go for a break soon.”