Traffic Warden in Run to the Rose fast lane

James Cummings predicted the best of Traffic Warden was yet to come and the handsome colt took a giant step to delivering for the Godolphin Australia head trainer with a brilliant victory in the G2 Run To The Rose over 1,200m at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, 14 September.

First-up after being edged out in the G1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1,400m) at Randwick on 6 April, Traffic Warden returned as a three-year-old to nail Anode and Storm Boy in the final 50m to secure his spot in the G1 Golden Rose over 1,400m at Rosehill in a fortnight.

Although a little green in the home straight when jockey Zac Lloyd asked the colt to lengthen, Traffic Warden won with authority.

“He’s just a really exciting colt," the trainer said. “I was absolutely convinced we hadn’t seen the best of him last prep."

“But he found himself in a proper horse race here, there's no hiding the fact these are  he best horses you are going to find in Sydney at the moment that have returned to the races."

“Storm Boy laid down the gauntlet two weeks ago and not everything went ideal for that horse today."

“But Traffic Warden is putting it together and there’s still further improvement there. He’ll arrive int he Golden Rose int two weeks ready to fire.”

Traffic Warden stopped the clock on 1 minute 9.44 seconds to take his record to three wins and three placings from eight starts under Cummings.

With dual G1-winning stablemate Broadsiding certain to resume in the Golden Rose, Traffic Warden gives the stable a two-pronged assault.

“That has been a target for us and a target for him, and it’s a fork in the road for what to do from that point on,” Cummings said. “Broadsiding has his G1 in the back of the net, Traffic Warden nearly got that ATC Sires’."

“Traffic Warden’s run (fourth) was as good as Storm Boy’s run (third) in the Golden Slipper and I had a feeling today that we could draw level on the ledger."

“Obviously, not everything went ideal for Storm Boy, he proved to be the benchmark two weeks ago and has the big rating."

“But Traffic Warden walked in here with the No.1 saddlecloth, not No. 2, and he’s got the blue ribbon."

“That’s exciting for him getting to the Golden Rose and important for our team. We had a lean August, but now the important races are coming around and now it’s time to knuckle down.”

For former champion apprentice Lloyd, the victory was a great result for everyone at Osborne Park.

“That was incredible, to ride a colt for the team who they obviously value very highly, to get the trust in a lead-up race to the Golden Rose to get the job done, it’s a massive credit to the team and I’m very happy to get the job done,” he said. “He came up underneath me really well at the 500m and I thought, ‘we’re in business here’."

“But I looked up and Storm Boy had about five lengths on me and I thought, ‘this is tough’."

“But the horse got there quick and I must say, the last 100m he was feeling the pinch, so there is a lot of improvement still in the horse and I’m very excited for in two weeks.”

Cummings said the Golden Rose would determine Traffic Warden’s spring program, with the G1 Caulfield Guineas, G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes and possibly the $20 million The Everest all possible targets. 

“The Everest, yeah, there’s no doubt,” Cummings said. “Let’s get through the Golden Rose, that’s our fork in the road and we’ll then make our decision based on what’s best for the operation.”