King Of Roseau too good in the 2025 Aurie’s Star Handicap
Returning to Melbourne racing in style, Michael Dee scored a dream double at Flemington, capped by success in Saturday’s feature race. Dee steered Peter Snowden’s talented galloper King Of Roseau to victory in the $200,000 Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m), the first Group race of Victoria’s season.
The win came shortly after Dee’s success aboard Bold Soul earlier on the card, marking his first Melbourne rides since competing at the Mornington Cup meeting on April 14. Since then, Dee had been riding in Japan on a two-month contract, notching up five winners.
“It is a dream return and I’m just hopeful now that it can continue,” said Dee, who boasts 15 Group 1 victories.
It was Dee’s third triumph in the Aurie’s Star Handicap, having previously won with Sooboog (2015) and It’sourtime (2023). King Of Roseau ($3.40) produced a powerful finishing burst to win by 1-1/2 lengths over Bandi’s Boy ($31), with Marble Nine ($5.50) a further length behind. Race favourite Splash Back ($2.60) faded to finish fifth, three lengths away.
Dee believes the gelding has significant upside. “The way he won today shows there are definitely bigger races in store for him. He’d had a look down the straight before in a strong form race and handled it well, and today he really impressed me.”
Snowden confirmed Flemington will feature prominently in future plans. “Now that we know he handles Flemington so well, we’ll definitely bring him back during the season. Not all horses cope with the straight, but he has, and that was a dominant win.”
King Of Roseau will be aimed at upcoming Flemington straight-course features heading towards the Group 1 Champions Sprint (1200m) in November. Key options include the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) on Makybe Diva Stakes Day and the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) on Turnbull Stakes Day.
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