The first Group One race of the season was a double triumph for Sheikh Mohammed's Darley team with Denman claiming the $1 million Golden Rose at Rosehill.The victory was the first at the elite level for Denman's sire Lonhro, a champion on the track and one of the stallions Darley inherited when Sheikh Mohammed bought Woodlands from Bob Ingham.Denman bears a striking resemblance to Lonhro and went into Saturday's 1400m feature seeking his fifth successive victory.Punters had no doubt he was up to

The first Group One race of the season was a double triumph for Sheikh Mohammed's Darley team with Denman claiming the $1 million Golden Rose at Rosehill.

The victory was the first at the elite level for Denman's sire Lonhro, a champion on the track and one of the stallions Darley inherited when Sheikh Mohammed bought Woodlands from Bob Ingham.

Denman bears a striking resemblance to Lonhro and went into Saturday's 1400m feature seeking his fifth successive victory.

Punters had no doubt he was up to the task, sending him out the $2.40 favourite ahead of Trusting ($6.50) which is how they finished.

Kerrin McEvoy brought Denman out of the pack at the 300m and the colt kicked clear with Trusting forced to make a long run down the outside.

He got within 1-3/4 lengths but the winner was still going strongly on the line with Stryker ($19), who is raced by Ingham, another half-length away third.

"I was very confident before the race," trainer Peter Snowden said.

"He is a very talented horse and he went three seconds faster than any other horse we clocked on Tuesday morning.

"He could be anything this horse, a mile (1600m) will be no problem and then who knows.

"It's just great to have this one on the board, for the whole team and for Lonhro.

"They are a lot alike physically although Denman still has a long way to go to equal his father."

Trusting was forced to run in the Warwick Stakes last week to ensure a place in the Golden Rose field after an unlucky unplaced effort in the Run To The Rose won by Denman.

Patinack Farm trainer Jason Coyle said running three weeks in a row may have taken its toll.

"He is a top-quality colt and I think if it was over 1600 metres he wins," Coyle said.

"Running three weeks in a row was a big call but he handled it well.

"We'll let the dust settle before we decide whether we go on to the Caulfield Guineas."

Snowden was also hesitant to confirm a Caulfield Guineas start for Denman.

"We'll just get over this first," he said.

"He has had quite a long campaign so we will look at things over the next couple of days."

Golden Slipper winner Phelan Ready ($7) was the biggest disappointment of the race, beating just one runner home after getting a long way back early.

"I can't believe he'd go that bad, I'm at a loss," trainer Jason McLachlan said.

A subsequent veterinary examination found the gelding to be severely distressed.

Hus Der Lieften's trainer Gerald Ryan was satisfied with the colt's fourth after he finished out of the money in the Run To The Rose.

"I still think the races are too short for him and he will head to the Spring Champion Stakes over 2000 metres," he said.

"I'm happy with how he went today."

Stryker's Chris Waller-trained stablemate Shellscrape ($11) finished a creditable fifth, 4-1/2 lengths from the winner.

The Sydney Turf Club was pleased with the crowd of 10,642 which was what was expected.