Traffic Warden signals high-class credentials
Over at Rosehill, Godolphin’s Traffic Warden (Street Boss) was another three-year-old who put his hand up for a crack at The Everest when he got up late in the day to land the Run To The Rose (Gr 2, 1200m), continuing James Cummings and Godolphin’s recent dominance of the Group 2.
Having landed the VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) as a two-year-old, as well as running fourth in the Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) and second in the Inglis Sires’ (Gr 1, 1400m), Traffic Warden returned for his first-up three-year-old outing as an $8 chance.
Ridden by Zac Lloyd for the first time since his debut second placing, the son of Street Boss (Street Cry) came home fast and late down the outside of his rivals to lower the colours of the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained duo, Anode (I Am Invincible) and Storm Boy (Justify), beating the former by 0.2 lengths while the latter, who was bustled up to take the lead after missing the kick, faded to be beaten 0.8 lengths at the line.
“There was $100 million worth of horse flesh walking around the enclosure. Another week goes past and another big performance from a son of Street Boss,” said Cummings, who was winning the Group 2 for a fourth consecutive time and fifth overall. The quintet includes another son of Street Boss (Street Cry) in the shape of subsequent champion Anamoe in 2021.
🇦🇺 #TrafficWarden (by @DarleyStallions #StreetBoss) flies home to win the G2 Run to the Rose over 1,200m at Rosehill.
He joins a great lineup of previous #TeamGodolphin winners of this race:
🔹 #Cylinder (2023)
🔹 #InSecret (2022)
🔹 #Anamoe (2021)
🔹 #Bivouac (2019) https://t.co/juDjt76YaU— Godolphin (@godolphin) September 14, 2024
“Traffic Warden is asserting himself now, and he is a very serious colt for the spring. Admittedly, not everything went ideal for other horses in the race, but he savaged the line. You didn’t see the best of him last prep.
“I knew that Traffic Warden wouldn’t come here and be intimidated because he’s the equal of a bull like Storm Boy. He’s a very promising colt. He’s got the capability to sprint. He could stretch out to a mile if we feel like that’s the right way to go.”
As to the future tasks for Traffic Warden, Cummings revealed that a return to Group 1 company was next in line for the colt, with the Golden Rose Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) an ideal target in a fortnight’s time, where he is likely to clash with his dual Group 1-winning stable companion Broadsiding (Too Darn Hot).
“It’s straightforward from here, the Golden Rose in two weeks, which gives him a Group 1 opportunity,” Godolphin’s head trainer said. “He had the AJC Sires shot to pieces and only just got rolled on that wet track.”
“I think he’s a better horse now and he will certainly be taking some beating in the Golden Rose.”
Depending on his run in the Golden Rose, Cummings could then be persuaded to head for The Everest with Traffic Warden, with Godolphin another powerhouse operation to hold a slot in the $20 million event.
“l then have to make a decision. Do you pull him back for an Everest or do you push on to a Guineas,” he said.
“The Golden Rose is quite well situated in the spring to be a fork in the road to make that decision. But he’d be winning a blue ribbon in the bull show, Traffic Warden. And he’s won the blue ribbon in a $100 million race worth of horse flesh here. And that’s what it’s about.
“He’s going to put a bit of a spring in our step. And having had a lean run, that’s a good feeling. We were nearly ready to sell some trophies. We were going that bad.
“So now we’ve got a horse rocketing into the Golden Rose. And he’ll join Broadsiding there. And it should be a good opportunity for us.”
A homebred for Godolphin, Traffic Warden is the second foal and first runner out of the winning Exceed And Excel (Danehill) mare Efficiently, herself a daughter of the blue hen broodmare Dextrous (Quest For Fame).
Dextrous, who landed the Sandown Guineas (Gr 2, 1600m) on the track, left four stakes winners, including VRC Oaks (Gr 1, 2500m) heroine Willowy (Kermadec), Champagne Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Skilled (Commands), dual Group 2 scorer and 2013 Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) runner-up Sidestep (Exceed And Excel), and Theo Marks Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) winner Ambidexter (Commands).
Traffic Warden is one of five stakes winners bred on the Street Boss / Exceed And Excel cross and they include Group 1 winner Elite Street. The cross fires at stakes winners to runners rate of 11 per cent.
Efficiently has a juvenile colt by Frosted (Tapit), who is named Immerse, and a yearling brother to Traffic Warden. After missing to Darley shuttler Blue Point (Shamardal) in 2023, the mare was exported to Britain earlier this year.