Without Parallel stays unbeaten at Rosehill to emerge as a contender for The Kosciuszko
Country NSW's leading trainer Matt Dunn has his sights on The Kosciuszko after his emerging talent Without Parallel remained unbeaten at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
The four-year-old mare made it four from four when revelling in the heavy conditions to trounce her rivals in the Highway Class 3 Handicap (1200m).
Immediately after the win, TAB.com.au installed Without Parallel into The Kosciuszko pre-field market as a $26 chance for the $2m 1200m country feature at Randwick on October 18.
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'We have to start thinking seriously about the race now,' Dunn said.
'Horses can go from Highway races to The Kosciuszko but they need to win like she did.
'I did something similar with a horse called Derry Grove. He won two Highways before running in The Kosciuszko.
'I've got a bit more time up my sleeve with this horse, so I'll go home and plot a path.
'She's a good candidate.'
Without Parallel was sent out the $2.45 favourite and gave her backers a painless watch, dominating from the front before surging clear in the straight to win by an ever widening 4¾ lengths from Via Vegas ($18) with Cougars ($8) a half-head back in third.
The victory was the perfect start to the new season for apprentice Anna Roper, who was having her first ride for Dunn and provided the prolific trainer with his 41st Highway winner.
'It's a really impressive effort,' Roper said.
'She added another string to her bow today with the wet track and in Sydney grade.
'I was sort of hoping to lead and when that horse crossed me, I didn't really want to follow it so I just popped outside it.
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'It meant I was able to get to the best part of the track so it was good to do that with her.
'She handled that track really well and to do that over 1200 (metres), Matt has got a really nice horse on his hands.
'Super turn of foot. Turning for home I gave her one slap down the shoulder and she took off like a rocket, so she is a really nice horse for the future.
'She's the nicest horse I've sat on in a Highway, that's for sure and certain.'
Without Parallel started her career with two starts in the Northern Rivers district of NSW before resuming in June when she recorded her third win at Eagle Farm.
Dunn said the daughter of former Kiwi-based shuttle stallion Time Test still has plenty of scope to continue her progression through the grades.
'The way she did that was no surprise to me,' he said.
'The only question I had was if she was going to get through the heavy ground and she's ticked that box now.
'I was hopefully she's handle it because she's that right shape. She's a speed horse that's nimble and athletic.
'If today was a dry track I'd have expected her to do that to them. I hold her in good regard.
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'Today was another positive.
'She handles firm, good, soft and heavy, she can make the pace or come off speed.
'A real little runner. She's an intelligent little racehorse that just does it.'
Roper heads into 2025/26 after the best return of her short career, riding 77 winners during last season with 23.5 metropolitan winners to finish third in the Sydney apprentices' premiership.
'That was my first ride for Matt so it was good to get the job done like that for him,' Roper said.
'I'd really like to get to 100 winners this season shore up my place riding in town so it was good to get off to a fast start like that.
'Last season I missed the first few months through injury so this year to plan is to try to get to 100.
'I really want to work on my consistency too this season in town on a week-to-week basis.
'I've been very lucky with the support I've received from some big stables like Ciaron's. He's been so supportive to my career.'
Originally published as Without Parallel stays unbeaten with Highway win at Rosehill to emerge as a strong contender for The Kosciuszko
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