THE Godolphin-owned Astern put down a strong marker for his step up to Group 1 level this season with a gutsy win in the Group 2 Run To The Rose over 1,200 metres at Rosehill last Saturday.

The Medaglia D’Oro colt took on and beat the Star Witness colt Star Turn, an impressive winner of the San Domenico Stakes when lowering the colours of the Golden Slipper winner Capitalist. The pair fought out a thrilling finish with a head separating the pair as a three and a half-length margin opened up to the third placed Impending, a Lonhro colt also trained by John O’Shea for Godolphin.