Unbeaten colt Squamosa has cemented his claims for the $1 million Golden Rose with an all-the-way win at Rosehill to give apprentice Blake Spriggs his biggest career victory.Trainer Gai Waterhouse entrusted the 18-year-old with the ride in Saturday's Group Three Run To The Rose (1300m) and he repaid her with a copybook ride on the free-running colt.Squamosa held off the fast-finishing Masquerader by a half-length with the latter carrying an extra five kilograms."He is a terrific horse and keeps

Unbeaten colt Squamosa has cemented his claims for the $1 million Golden Rose with an all-the-way win at Rosehill to give apprentice Blake Spriggs his biggest career victory.

Trainer Gai Waterhouse entrusted the 18-year-old with the ride in Saturday's Group Three Run To The Rose (1300m) and he repaid her with a copybook ride on the free-running colt.

Squamosa held off the fast-finishing Masquerader by a half-length with the latter carrying an extra five kilograms.

"He is a terrific horse and keeps improving," Waterhouse said.

"It was a great win and a fantastic ride by an apprentice.

"He is a genius, a champion."

Squamosa made his debut in July and has now won all three of his starts.

Spriggs, who hit the headlines with five winners at Rosehill on July 17, said he was aware of the responsibility placed on him by his boss.

"I spoke to my parents and they told me to just go out there and ride the race," he said.

"It was a great to be on him because Gai Waterhouse doesn't usually put apprentices on in big races."

The win sets up a clash in the Golden Rose with Toorak Toff, winner of the Vain Stakes at Caulfield earlier in the day.

Senior stable jockey Nash Rawiller, who is expected to return from illness on Wednesday, will replace Spriggs in the first Group One race of the season in two weeks.

"I'd love to ride but I think Nash is a better fighter than me," Spriggs said.

Masquerader's trainer David Payne said he was looking forward to meeting the winner on even terms.

"They'll meet on level terms next time," Payne said.

"It was an excellent run for his first start back

"And with fitness he can only get a couple of lengths better.

"I'm very happy with that."

Masquerader's jockey Glyn Schofield was equally happy with the performance.

"It was a great run under the conditions and a great stepping stone going forward," he said.

Third-placed Testarhythm will not progress to the Golden Rose while Kudakulari is also in doubt after his long last on Saturday.

Golden Slipper winner Crystal Lily is increasingly doubtful for the Golden Rose after finishing second to Panipique in the Quezette Stakes at Caulfield.

Slipper runner-up Decision Time will put his credentials on the line in next week's Up And Coming Stakes while doubt surrounds Hinchinbrook who was scratched from Saturday's Starlight Stakes with an elevated temperature.

Trainer Gerald Ryan pulled Hinchinbrook out of the Run To The Rose when he was given 59.5kg top weight and put him in the Starlight.

He said on Saturday morning that if Hinchinbrook's temperature dropped he would have no hesitation running him first-up in the Golden Rose.