TRAINER John O’Shea and Godolphin have their gaze fixed firmly on the Caulfield Guineas following Astern’s demolition of the A$1 million Golden Rose at Rosehill on Saturday. Assigned barrier 12 in the 14 horse field, jockey James McDonald restrained the warm favourite Astern early in the 1,400-metre Group 1 to be second last as the field swung into the final bend.

Angled wide, the Medaglia D’Oro colt took to his task, rounding up the leaders, before sprinting away for a two and a half-length win. The High Chaparral filly Omei Sword took second ahead of an even looking group of five horses that were separated by a length, headed next by Astern’s stablemate, the Lonhro colt Impending.

“He just walks around behind the gates and looks at them like ‘come on’,” said McDonald of Astern. “I just had to settle him and count to five. He is the horse that can take on the world. He is going to run a mile without a doubt.”

O’Shea confirmed as much, nominating the Caulfield as Astern’s next assignment. “We’ll get him home, see how he pulls up. It’s just nice to have a special colt,” said O’Shea. “We’d envisage to take him to Melbourne for the Caulfield Guineas Prelude. I’d suggest he’d probably run a mile at Caulfield on today’s run. He showed how dominant he is.”

A home-bred by Darley, Astern is out of the Exceed And Excel mare Essaouira, who has had three foals to race. This was his fourth win from five starts, his only blemish coming in the Golden Slipper Stakes.