Winter carnival focus for Rhapsody Rose

Monday 18 January 2021, 9:04am

The winter carnival will be the focus for Rhapsody Rose after trainer Chris Munce elected not to push the envelope in the Magic Millions.

Rhapsody Rose was fully qualified for the Millions but sabotaged her chances with a cantankerous display before the start of the Gold Pearl Quality (1100m) at the Gold Coast on January 9.

The filly reared up in the enclosure dislodging apprentice Justin Huxtable who was then kicked by the Clerk of The Course pony and suffered serious abdominal injuries.

When fill-in rider Ben Thompson was legged aboard Rhapsody Rose she put on another rodeo act before eventually being cleared to start.

Rhapsody Rose's pre-race antics clearly had an effect on her performance when she could manage only sixth to Swift Witness in the Gold Pearl, prompting Munce to pull the plug on her Magic Millions campaign.

"I couldn't see a lot of positives in going to the well one more time," Munce said.

"She'd obviously shown that she was wanting a spell the way she behaved at the Gold Coast which was very unlike her.

"I felt it was in her best interests to give her a break."

Munce is confident Rhapsody Rose will measure up in black type company during the winter carnival.

"She's a lovely filly and we know she can gallop," he said.

"I'm sure she'll come back a lot better and stronger fillly in the winter."

Autumn carnival plans for cult hero The Harrovian will become clearer after owner Tom Hedley meets with Toby and Trent Edmonds in the next week.

A trip to Melbourne for the Group One Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield before a tilt at the $5 million All-Star Mile (1600m) at Moonee Valley in March will be up for discussion.

"Tom wants to have a chat about that after the Magic Millions sales," co-trainer Toby Edmonds said.

"He's never been tested against those types of horses but he's a winner so I'd have a crack at it if I owned him.

"You can always come back here and aim at a race like the Stradbroke during the winter."

Hedley and the Edmonds stable combined to win last year's Group One Stradbroke with Tyzone.

– AAP

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