The Chris Waller-trained Osipenko ran the ideal 2023 Randwick Guineas trial winning the Group 2 $400,000 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) in a second-up upset at Rosehill on Saturday.

2023 Hobartville Stakes winner Osipenko heads towards the Group 1 Randwick Guineas next race. Photo: Steve Hart.

All the pre-race hype and money was on the Godolphin-raced Aft Cabin to continue his winning ways with the last start Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes winning colt very short in the markets at $1.60.

The beaten favourite was ultimately disappointing however finishing fifth when dropping right out late.

“He had to do a bit of work in the early stages. He couldn’t get a spot anywhere. I had to roll up outside the leader. By that point of the race he had done a fair bit of work. Just probably left a bit vulnerable late,” jockey Tim Clark said after jumping off the beaten top fancy.

Top honours went to nicely-bred Pierro colt Osipenko who was at a nice $8 quote after running fifth fresh in the Eskimo Prince.

The Hobartville Stakes winner was always going to be improving over further based on his good third last October behind Golden Mile in Melbourne’s Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m).

That proved true in the Group 2 with jockey Nash Rawiller continuing associations and timing his run to perfection aboard the now Group 1 $1 million Randwick Guineas (1600m) bound three-year-old.

“He did (deserve to win). Obviously we’re hoping for one slightly bigger too,” Waller’s stable rep Charlie Duckworth told Sky Thoroughbred Central post-victory.

“He was fantastic in the spring, he came back and had a horrible run of things first-up over 1200m.

“Nash (Rawiller) made amends today and gave him an absolute peach.

“He began much better from the barriers, put himself in the perfect (position in the) run and made it very difficult for the short-priced favourite who had to work hard.”

Rawiller had Osipenko settled fourth the fence throughout as Communist led the field around.

Aft Cabin did plenty of work early to cross around and challenge for the lead, but Communist didn’t give up the front without a fight.

The odds-on favourite held a narrow lead around the home turn, but it was game on over the final furlong with Rawiller going to the inside on Osipenko.

Also finishing strongly off an on-pace run was John O’Shea‘s Eskimo Prince runner-up Zou Tiger who went stride for stride over the final 50m with Osipenko.

Right on the line Osipenko got the bob putting his nose down to win by a half-head as Zou Tiger had to settle for another placing.

“He went awesome. He had the perfect spot. Just found one better on the day but will take improvement,” Brenton Avdulla said after riding the brave runner-up.

Running an enormous race late to flash into third first-up was Mark Newnham‘s Maurice colt Matcha Latte who looks on track for the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) over further later this autumn.

“Rapt with that. He did everything correctly to fight out the finish. Will only improve as the prep goes on,” Matcha Latte’s hoop Tom Sherry said.

Osipenko will now run third-up in the Randwick Guineas on March 4.

“Bring on the mile. I’m confident he will stay beyond that as well, but the ultimate goal is the (Randwick) Guineas next start and if he can do that then he’s a valuable commodity for the great group of owners we’ve got involved,” Duckworth confirmed.

Dissident (2014), Hallowed Crown (2015), Kementari (2018) and The Autumn Sun (2019) are the latest horses to complete the Hobartville Stakes – Randwick Guineas double during their three-year-old seasons.

Updated Randwick Guineas all-in odds at Ladbrokes.com.au have Osipenko at $6 to be the next.

Aft Cabin still leads betting at $1.85 despite his Hobartville flop, while the protest CF Orr winner Jacquinot is also at $6.

Click here for the latest pre-field Randwick Guineas betting markets thanks to Ladbrokes.com.au.

2023 Hobartville Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Table Credit: Racing Australia.