Axel Rose guns them

Axel Rose (En Solitaire) looks to be a horse with a bit of bottom to him judging by the way he won at Oamaru yesterday for local trainer Matty Williamson.

Owned by Tony Gow, Graeme Anderson, Steve Pulley, Ray Chalkin and Peter Soper, the three year old is out of Pegarose which won two races of her four starts for Matty’s brother Nathan.

“Graeme sent him to us as a three year old and said ‘have a go and see what you think.’ He continued to improve and he qualified well. Being a big horse we decided to give him a spell so he had three months out. He won two trials and then won yesterday,” Matty said.

In yesterday’s race Axel Rose was taken to the front but wasn’t given an easy time. To his credit he remained cool to the core.

AXEL ROSE REPLAY

“I was rapt with his manners. It was the first time in a big field and he had a few come round at him early. He kept his head and raced very professionally so I was really proud of his manners. He’s a nice staying horse and I thought he’d keep going. He’s quite big. We just have to be patient with him and I’m sure he’ll reward us in the long run.”

At the end of the 2600 metres Axel Rose was three and a half lengths clear of Prestigious.

Prior to the win the three year old had been to three trials and qualified at his first attempt in April.

Axel Rose’s pedigree goes back to Miradios which won six races for owners Mick Morton and Neil Larsen (Kirk Larsen’s father). The talented trotter won two races for Hunter McHugh, three for Henry Skinner and one for Bryce Buchanan.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink