Gerald Ryan is set to play a major part in the Group One Golden Rose with Hus Der Lieften cementing his credentials with an impressive win at Rosehill.The colt will join stablemate Rothesay in the first Group One of the season but the pair will be kept apart until the $1 million race on August 29.Hus Der Lieften was sent out at $6.50 for Saturday's Rosebud (1200m) with Melbourne filly Speedy Natalie the $3 favourite ahead of Stryker at $4.60.Speedy Natalie was never a chance after missing the st

Gerald Ryan is set to play a major part in the Group One Golden Rose with Hus Der Lieften cementing his credentials with an impressive win at Rosehill.

The colt will join stablemate Rothesay in the first Group One of the season but the pair will be kept apart until the $1 million race on August 29.

Hus Der Lieften was sent out at $6.50 for Saturday's Rosebud (1200m) with Melbourne filly Speedy Natalie the $3 favourite ahead of Stryker at $4.60.

Speedy Natalie was never a chance after missing the start with Stryker taking up to the role of leader with Corey Brown aboard.

Hus Der Lieften had the drop on him in the straight and went to the line strongly to finish half a length in front of his rival.

Brown admitted he had a little difficulty with the new whip rules regarding the number of times a horse can be hit while Hus Der Lieften's jockey Nash Rawiller was able to push his mount across the line.

Ryan is excited about the Golden Rose (1400m) but refused to be drawn into comparing the two horses.

"I never compare horses until they retire," Ryan said.

"They are both very good colts.

"Rothesay will run in the San Domenico and the Up And Coming while Hus Der Lieften goes to the Run To The Rose.

"They won't meet until the Group One.

"That has always been the plan and it won't change."

Ryan said he had been confident going into the race but was even more confident Hus Der Lieften had further improvement.

"I thought he might need the run today," he said.

"He has always shown heaps and is very, very promising.

"He is a more seasoned horse than Rothesay and is likely to have a longer spring campaign."

Stryker's trainer Chris Waller was pleased with his charge who is also on a path to the Golden Rose.

"Hopefully one day he will be able to take a sit instead of being the one who leads," Waller said.

"He deserves to win one of these races."

Brown admitted he may have breached the whip rules in his efforts to keep Stryker going to the line.

"I got a bit carried away and might have hit him too many times," Brown said.

"I had to drop the ball and start counting."

Under the new rules, the whip may only be used on consecutive strides inside the last 200 metres.