Rosey future ahead for new Robinson kennel acquisition

By Jordan Gerrans

Buoyed by a couple of first-start winners earlier this week, the Denise Robinson kennel is keen to unleash Victorian Group 2 champion Isle Of Rose in Sunday’s Capalaba Cup heats.

The daughter of Barcia Bale is owned and previously prepared by Troy Macdonald in NSW, who has sent the classy bitch north for a Queensland campaign.

Chaser Isle Of Rose scored a dominant win in the Group 2 Laurels Classic decider at Sandown Park late last year in 29.55 seconds over the 515 metre trip.

The Robinson kennel have had a long association with Macdonald which has led the brindle bitch to come north to the Condong kennel.

Isle Of Rose will have her first look at Queensland racing on Sunday afternoon when she contests the last of seven Cup heats from Capalaba.

She has drawn the five in her heat and will need to contend with Canya Untamed from the Jemma Daley kennel, who will start from the two. 

Robinson prepares her kennel alongside her husband Denis and the team are looking forward to having a bitch of Isle Of Rose’s quality racing under their watch.

“The dog has not specifically come up for the Capalaba Cup but we thought we would give her a run at it and see how she goes,” Denis Robinson said.

“She is up here for other runs as well.

“Any good races that are coming up, if she is good enough to go in them, she will.

“She is a nice little bitch that does her best, she has won a fair few races.”

The Robinsons also have litter sister to Isle Of Rose - Tarawi Moo – in their kennel.

Tarawi Moo contested the Group 3 Cyndie’s Magic Final in June at headquarters and has been a consistent performer in her time in the Sunshine State.

The upcoming Group 1 Ipswich Cup series could also become an option for top bitch Isle Of Rose. 

Isle Of Rose has had three looks at the grass track in Brisbane’s south ahead of her first start on the surface this Sunday.

The bitch is more so known as a circle dog in her 23 career starts so far but the Robinsons are optimistic she will adapt to the straight racing.

“She has trialled fair,” Denis said.

“She has been up there three times. It is a good place to take your dogs to get them fit.

“She has run around the same time every time she has gone to Capalaba. She has settled in well with us.

“In her heat on Sunday - they will know she is there, put it that way. She seems to jump ok, her first sectionals have been good up there.”

The Capalaba Cup will be raced at Group 2 level this year with the $112,500 Final to be held on October 6 following the heats on Sunday. 

The Robinson kennel were recognised back in 2022 when they claimed the trainer’s strike-rate title at Albion Park.

They have also tasted black-type success in recent years when Celebrity Aisha claimed the Listed Eric Thomson Memorial Final for maiden runners in the middle of 2022.

The Robinsons prepare a team of seven on the Northern Rivers of NSW.

It has been a big week for the kennel after a pair of first starters from their team scored on debut at Ipswich.

Grevillea (24.88 seconds) and Tricky Micky (24.97 seconds) both broke through over 431 metres at Ipswich on Tuesday.

The team have high hopes for their futures following the promising first race day appearances.

“We were very pleased with them and they can run a bit,” Denis said.

“They are good pups. They are Ipswich auction dogs those two.”