Group 1 formula inspires Newnham’s Tea Rose tilt
The formula that helped Mark Newnham claim his maiden Group 1 two years ago will be front and centre to the trainer’s approach in Saturday’s Group 2 Darley Tea Rose Stakes at Randwick.
Newnham will launch a two-pronged attack in the fillies 1400m test with Group 1 hopeful Miravalle joined by Group 3 winner Every Rose in the three-year-old feature.
Miravalle is owned by Arrowfield Stud and Newnham is set to follow a similar path taken by another of the breeder’s former talents which helped him chalk up his first major.
The Newnham-trained Maid Of Heaven ran fifth in the Tea Rose Stakes in 2018 before winning the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) two starts later under the urging of Rachel King.
Maid Of Heaven went into an early retirement shortly after the win but Newnham believes Miravalle can replicate his former star this spring.
“She’s a nice filly,” Newnham said.
“Her and Every Rose are completely different fillies where for one the 1400m is probably her distance limit while the other will be getting warmed up late.
“I was happy with her win at Warwick Farm the other day and she will follow a similar path to what we did with Maid Of Heaven.
“Maid Of Heaven won at Canterbury and went to the Tea Rose and then through the Flight Stakes to the Spring Champion, so it will be very similar with this filly.”
Bookies rate Miravalle as a $34 chance for the Tea Rose Stakes while Every Rose is at $28.
Every Rose won’t follow the same path as Miravalle through the spring and is stepping up to 1400m for the first time in a six start career. The daughter of Choisir is coming off a last-start fourth against the boys in the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes.
“She will appreciate being back to fillies grade which she hasn’t been in since she won the Gimcrack back at her first start last year,” Newnham said.
“I wanted to get the first-up run out of the way and after running in that San Domenico against the colts, I think I preferred that over the week before in the Furious Stakes.
“She is better on top of the ground and like the rest of them she was just run off her legs by Anders. She is looking for a step up in distance and dry ground.”
King rides Every Rose and Josh Parr pilots Miravalle.
