Harmony Rose set to bloom again this autumn

Trainer Mark Newnham’s experience with bonny mare Greysful Glamour has given him reason to believe Harmony Rose can return to her best after a disappointing spring.

The four-year-old will launch her preparation in the Guy Walter Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday, 12 months after capping her rise through the grades with Group 1 placings in the Randwick Guineas and Vinery Stud Stakes.

Expectations were high she could go on with the job in the spring, but with the exception of a stakes placing at Caulfield in October, she struggled for form.

However, Newnham isn’t giving up on Harmony Rose just yet because it is a pattern he has seen before.

Multiple black-type winner Greysful Glamour was runner-up in the 2018 VRC Oaks then flopped as an autumn three-year-old before going on to establish herself as a consistent black-type performer in latter campaigns.

“Sometimes those three-year-old fillies do that after a solid campaign,” Newnham said.

“They just take another prep to get back to their best.

“I know Greysful Glamour did something similar. She had a really flat prep after her second in the Oaks in Melbourne and came back after that for the next two years.”

The Randwick track is set to be rain-affected for Saturday’s feature meeting and Harmony Rose has won two of her three starts on soft ground and traditionally performs well fresh.

Stable apprentice Tom Sherry has the ride and will be chasing his second Group 2 victory in as many weeks after combining with Newnham to capture the Millie Fox Stakes aboard Expat last weekend.

There were 12 acceptors for the Guy Walter Stakes led by The Invitation winner Icebath, last-start Expressway Stakes runner-up Forbidden Love and improving mare Promise Of Success.