There was always going to be a big shake up in the three year-old colts division on Saturday and a quick history lesson has highlighted one colt that looks almost certain to finish this season a Group I winner.
When talented Street Boss (USA) colt Traffic Warden returned with a top class performance to win a hotly contested Group II ATC Run to the Rose Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday he added his name to a long list of winners of this race to carry the Godolphin blue and set himself on the path to Group I success, but is he a serious sire prospect?
Trained by James Cummings, Traffic Warden was a busy lad last season with seven starts for two wins and three placings doing his best work in the autumn to win the Group II VRC Sires Produce Stakes finish fourth in the Golden Slipper and second in the Sires Produce.
He was first up in the Run to the Rose and hit the line hard to beat Anode and the favourite Storm Boy, who had a torrid run and was brave in defeat.
Since Exosphere won the Run to the Rose for Godolphin in 2015 they have won the race six times subsequently as you can see in the list below and every single one of their previous winners went on to win at G1 level, which bodes well very for the future of Traffic Warden.
Godolphin Run to the Rose winners 2015 – 2024
Year |
Horse |
Sire |
Best Performance Prior |
Best Performance After |
2024 |
Traffic Warden |
Street Boss (USA) |
G2 VRC Sires |
|
2023 |
Cylinder |
Exceed and Excel |
G2 Todman, Silver Slipper |
G1Newmarket |
2022 |
In Secret (f) |
I Am Invincible |
Listed Woodlands Stakes |
G1 Newmarket, Coolmore Stud Stakes |
2021 |
Anamoe |
Street Boss (USA) |
G1 ATC Sires |
8 G1 races including Cox Plate |
2019 |
Bivouac |
Exceed and Excel |
G3 Kindergarten |
G1 Golden Rose, Newmarket, Sprint Classic |
2016 |
Astern |
Medaglia D’Oro (USA) |
G2 Silver Slipper |
G1 Golden Rose |
2015 |
Exosphere |
Lonhro |
G2 Skyline |
G1 Golden Rose |
Every single colt on the list above earned a slot on the Darley stud roster and while some have been more successful than others it’s pretty obvious we should start looking hard at Traffic Warden as to what he may have to offer as a sire in the future.
By the same sire as Anamoe, Traffic Warden comes from a female family that has delivered plenty of success for Godolphin and is the second foal and first winner for well-bred Exceed and Excel mare Efficiently, a winning sister to Group II winning sire Sidestep and half-sister to Group I winners Willowy (VRC Oaks), Skilled (ATC Champagne Stakes) and Group II winner Ambidexter.
His tail female line goes back to Ammo Girl, the dam of champion mare Emancipation with his fourth dam Deliberation one of her half-sisters.
Interestingly, Efficiently missed last season to Blue Point and was then sent to the UK this year to continue her stud career and that is probably a good tip as to the regard in which Traffic Warden is held.
The Street Boss (USA) x Exceed and Excel nick has been a good one producing 31 winners from 42 starters with 73.8% winners to runner and five stakes-winners headed by Group I winner Elite Street at 12% SW to runner.