Thronum Tough to Beat in The Rosebud

Trainer Gai Waterhouse is confident that Thronum will prove extremely difficult to beat when he lines up for the Listed The Rosebud (1200m) at Royal Randwick this weekend.

Gai Waterhouse is thrilled with talented colt Thronum ahead of The Rosebud in Sydney on Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart

Thronum has only made a handful of appearances at the races since an impressive debut at Kembla Grange in late June, but has more than stamped himself as a colt to follow in posting two dominant wins and a close second from three starts.

Waterhouse told Racing Ahead that the Snitzel colt relishes damp racing conditions, and she believes that he is primed to produce a career-best performance to date in The Rosebud 2016.

“Thronum’s a lovely colt – he’s quite a late foal as a November foal so he’s probably structurally not as big and bold as a horse like El Divino but he’s all heart and is most importantly immensely talented,” Waterhouse said.

“I think you’ll see the real Thronum step out tomorrow. He loves the wet, he’s on his home track and I’m extremely pleased with him.”

The Rosebud has drawn a particularly classy field this year, and Waterhouse concedes that her runner will have to produce if he is to post a maiden black type win in the race.

“All these races are strong and it’s hard to win them,” she said.

Thronum performed well through a number of talent-rich barrier trials prior to his competitive debut, and immediately stamped himself as a colt to follow with a strong performance for success in the Riley O’Shea Go Go’s Maiden Handicap (1000m) first-up on June 25^th.

Interestingly not rated a race favourite when he lined up for the Tab Rewards Handicap (1200m) second-up on July 9^th, Thronum more than displayed his class with a dominant performance for a three length win over the likes of Morton’s Fork.

Thronum undoubtedly faced his toughest test to date in the 70^th Birthday Martin King Handicap (1200m) last time out on July 23^rd and while completely missing the start, mustered a typically smart turn of foot to run second behind talented colt Tango Rain.

Thronum will jump from the rails draw in The Rosebud on Saturday, and has been confirmed to be partnered by notable hoop Tommy Berry.

Thronum is currently available at 2016 The Rosebud odds of $3.20 with online bookie Ladbrokes Australia.