Damask Rose may have earned more than $2.2 million in prizemoney, but a Group victory still eludes her, and trainer Mark Walker is hoping to rectify that this weekend. 

The four-year-old daughter of Savabeel had a lucrative three-year-old term, winning New Zealand’s two richest races, the $1.5 million Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) and inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m), earning a tick over $2 million for her connections in the space of a few weeks. 

Further riches awaited her in Australia, having a guaranteed spot in next month’s A$10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Randwick, courtesy of her NZB Kiwi win, but Group targets in Melbourne also became a priority. 

From Te Akau’s Cranbourne base, Damask Rose ran fifth first-up in the Gr.3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield in August before having her first crack at elite-level when finishing seventh at the same venue in the Gr.1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) last month. 

Te Akau Racing assistant trainer Ben Gleeson was happy enough with those efforts and is hoping it’s third time’s a charm when she returns to Caulfield this weekend to tackle the Gr.1 Toorak Handicap (1600m). 

“She has got a really good profile third-up heading into the mile, so we have copied that from her programme at home when she won the slot race (NZB Kiwi),” Gleeson told Racing.com. 

“She was okay second-up. Her second-up form is not great, and we knew that. She made a long-sustained run on a very firm surface. She probably doesn’t appreciate it too firm and it was rock hard that day. I would love for the track on Saturday to hold a Good4, but she certainly gets a good chance.” 

Gleeson was happy with her work on Tuesday morning and is excited to see her step out this weekend under jockey Jamie Melham. 

“She galloped on the course proper at Cranbourne (on Tuesday) and worked terrific,” he said. “She looks amazing in the coat. I don’t think we will see a horse look better than her on Saturday. 

“Third-up, she ticks all the boxes. She is still down in the weights, which is great, and we have got Jamie Melham onboard, which is a big tick.”