Racing: Hot Danish outsprinted in straight

SYDNEY - An overdue win by Centennial Park in the Expressway Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday was met with jubilation by David Payne, while rival trainer Les Bridge was left scratching his head over Hot Danish's third place.

Sydney's favourite racehorse, Hot Danish was sent out the $2 favourite in the Expressway (1200m), while Centennial Park was an $11 chance.

Hot Danish led from the jump but had no answer when Centennial Park and Love Conquers All ($3.20) loomed up in the straight and that was the order in which they finished.

"If he had legs he would be a real group one horse," Payne said. "He has a history of leg problems and feet trouble and we need to manage him carefully.

"He has been a very good horse to the stable."

Centennial Park does, in fact, have four legs which he used to effect when he won a lightning-fast track gallop against group one-winning sprinter Hay List a few weeks ago.

The Expressway was Centennial Park's first win since his victory in the AAMI Stakes at Flemington in October 2009.

Corey Brown celebrated his third win of the day aboard Centennial Park and was impressed by the horse's performance.

"It was a great effort, he really attacked the line," he said.

"I was quietly confident the whole way. I thought I might have got there too soon but he had plenty left.

"He has some good wins in store."

Hot Danish appeared in good order and jockey Tim Clark could offer no excuses.

"That's how it goes," Clark said.

"She wasn't disappointing. She was honest and there are no real excuses."

Bridge agreed.

"She had every chance," he said.

"The only thing I can think of is that she might have needed the run."

Payne now plans to aim 5-year-old Centennial Park at the Doncaster in April.

"We've got to head there. He's not getting any younger and we have to dream," he said.

"I don't know where he will go next because he needs to be raced sparingly.

"We'll take a look at things in the next few days."

Jim Cassidy said Love Conquers All had run a great race but just ran into one better on the day.

"He ran super," Cassidy said.

"He relaxed nicely, everything went to plan and he will definitely improve on this."

Chris Waller has won two of the past three Doncasters and he will do everything he can to get Triple Elegance to this year's famous Randwick mile after a dominant Rosehill performance.

Triple Elegance made a one-act affair of the Winning Post Restaurant Handicap (1500m) to extend Waller's amazing run of success on his home track.

The 4-year-old gelding's 6-length demolition made it 22 consecutive Saturday meetings at Rosehill where Waller has trained at least one winner.

He applied blinkers to Triple Elegance for Saturday's race and they clearly did the trick as he came from off the speed and towed Jim Cassidy into the race before surging clear.

Triple Elegance is owned in the same interests as Triple Honour who won the Doncaster (1600m) in 2008.

Saturday's win convinced Waller to give Triple Elegance his chance to head that way.

"I think that today confirmed he's a bit better than what we thought," Waller said on Saturday.

"We'll freshen him up now and get him ready for a big race."

Triple Elegance has now won five Rosehill races during Waller's streak which started with Danleigh's George Ryder win on April 3 last year.

- AAP