Darley stallions have an amazing record in the $1 million Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens and it was a familiar story in Saturday’s edition, which was won by a colt that may rate the best of them all.

With just one glitch in an otherwise perfect record, Godolphin’s Medaglia d’Oro (USA) colt Astern looked a picture in the paddock and was backed into favouritism.

Settled well back early by James McDonald from an outside barrier as the top-class filly Yankee Rose surprisingly set the early pace, Astern exploded in the straight. Showing a brilliant burst of acceleration to win easing down by two and quarter lengths from Omei Sword (High Chaparral) with the winner’s stablemate Impending (Lonhro) a long-head back in third. (photos Steve Heart).

Last year Godolphin took out the Run To The Rose – Golden Rose Stakes double with Exosphere however James McDonald has no doubt Astern is a better horse.

If claiming Astern was a six length better horse than Exosphere was not enough McDonald added;

"There’s no horse in the land that would sprint faster over 400 metres” and "bring on Winx.”

In earning his first win at the highest level and fourth stakes race, Astern advances his overall record to 5 wins from 6 starts with earnings of $1,030,150.

His only loss came in the Golden Slipper, which was on the mind of trainer John O’Shea as Astern came back to scale.

"If I had my time over again in the Golden Slipper I would have had him ridden back,” O’Shea said.

"But you live and learn and we’re just lucky that we have him back now and he’s going well.

"The Run To The Rose was an exceptional form race. We gave him the chance to do the job for us today and he did.”

The son of Medaglia d’Oro is likely to stay on a path to the expected to the Group I Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 8.

"I think we need to get him home and see how he pulls up but we would envisage taking him to Melbourne for the Caulfield Guineas Prelude,” O’Shea said.

Bred by Darley, Astern is the third foal and third winner out of the Exceed And Excel mare Essaouira who showed ability in a career restricted to just two starts.

She won on debut at Moonee Valley before finishing unplaced in a Listed race at Caulfield.

The daughter of Exceed And Excel is the only foal left in Australia by the Group II Magic Night Stakes winner Alizes who was sent to America by Darley Stud.

By the speed influence Rory's Jester, Alizes is a daughter of the Group 1 Galaxy Stakes heroine La Baraka (Euclase) herself out of the 5-time Group 1 winner Triscay. 

Essaouira has a 2yo filly by Sepoy named Alizee and yearling filly foal by Animal Kingdom (USA). She was bred back to Brazen Beau last spring.

Astern becomes the fifteenth individual Group 1 winner for Medaglia d’Oro, who stands the current breeding season at Kelvinside Stud at a fee of $110,000 inc. GST.