Count de Rupee Counts the Dollars with a Dominant Win in The Gong

Mark Smith - Saturday November 20

Third in the $500,000 Silver Eagle and second in the $7,500,000 Golden Eagle, who could begrudge Count De Rupee his day in the sun in Saturday’s $1,000,000 The TAB Gong (1600m) at Kembla Grange.

That million dollar feeling (image Steve Hart)

Given a peach of a ride by Brock Ryan, the Robert and Luke Price-trained son of Real Impact (JPN) relished the deteriorating track to defeat the Chris Waller-trained Nudge (Fastnet Rock) by one and a quarter lengths with Yamazaki (Real Saga) a long head further back in third.

Purchased by Robert Price for $145,000 from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Count De Rupee advances his record to six wins, four seconds and three thirds from 15 starts with earnings of $2,454,205.

That is serious money for a gelding that finished unplaced at his only attempt at stakes company.

“It was such a great ride by Brock. He landed in the right spot, and the horse did the rest,” Luke Price said.

“The question mark was is he going to run a strong mile? On a wet track, he blew them away. He will go ten furlongs after that.

Count De Rupee a $145,000 Magic Millions yearling

“I honestly believe that whatever we ask this horse to do, he is just going to do. I haven’t had a horse get so much better after each run. First up, I was questioning myself, ‘is he ready for this yet’.  He blew them away and improved four lengths off that. He did that again going into the Golden Eagle

“Brock thrives off hard work. He had ten rides, and this is his third win.

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“I came here today thinking this is just a normal Kembla meeting, I didn’t want the pressure to get to me. This horse has been special for a long time, as has Brock, so there was nothing more special than him winning on this horse today.”

Luke and Robert Price (image Steve Hart)

 In January, Michael Costa Racing/Bevan Smith Bloodstock outlaid $180,000 for a full brother to Count De Rupee at the Magic Millions.

Count De Rupee is the first foal of the unraced Redoute’s Choice mare Timeless Choice, a sister to Horse Of The Year Lankan Rupee and to the dam of Listed winner Manhattan Street (Manhattan Rain).

After foaling a Dundeel filly last spring, Timeless Choice was covered by Written Tycoon and foaled a colt on October 26.

Group 1 ATC George Ryder Stakes and Group 1 Yasuda Kinen winner Real Impact (JPN) (Deep Impact), shuttled to Arrowfield for three seasons (2016-18).

His daughter Lunar Impact won the Group III WATC West. Australian Oaks in March.

Real Impact (image Mark Smith)

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Race Result - The Tab Gong 1600m

Kembla Grange Track: Soft(6) Time: 1:36.98
1
Count De Rupee
- 4g Real Impact (JPN) x Timeless Choice (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: R & L Price Rdr: Brock Ryan 57.5
2
1.3
Nudge
- 5m Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Julinsky Princess (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J R Collett 56
3
1.5
Yamazaki
- 6m Real Saga (AUS) x Wabeel (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: M J Dunn Rdr: A Adkins 52
4
2.3
Berdibek
- 8g Dark Angel (IRE) x Beraviyna (IRE) (Zamindar (USA))
Tnr: J A O'Shea Rdr: J Bowman 58
5
3.6
Exoboom
- 4g Exosphere (AUS) x First Bloom (AUS) (Dylan Thomas (IRE))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: R Dolan 52.5
6
3.8
Blue Soldier
- 5g War Front (USA) x Marvellous (IRE) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: David Payne Rdr: Tom Sherry 54
7
3.9
Archedemus
- 8g Lope De Vega (IRE) x Carolyn's Star (AUS) (Peintre Celebre (USA))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: J Ford 56
8
4.1
Criaderas
- 5g Lonhro (AUS) x Youthful Presence (AUS) (Dehere (USA))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: A B Collett 53.5
9
4.3
Aramayo
- 6g Poet's Voice (GB) x Peruvian (GB) (Diktat (GB))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 57.5
10
4.6
Dawn Passage
- 5h Dawn Approach (IRE) x Raja Lane (AUS) (Devaraja (NZ))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 56
11
4.8
Atishu
- 4m Savabeel (AUS) x Posy (NZ) (No Excuse Needed (GB))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: K Mc Evoy 54
12
5.3
Soldier Of Love
- 6g Mawingo (GER) x Lurking Lilli (AUS) (Charge Forward (AUS))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Rachel King 53.5
13
5.6
Reloaded
- 5g Snitzel (AUS) x Hollow Bullet (AUS) (Tayasu Tsuyoshi (JPN))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: G Schofield 56
14
11.4
Rich Hips
- 5m Written Tycoon (AUS) x She's Curvaceous (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: Regan Bayliss 55
15
19.4
Quackerjack
- 6g Not A Single Doubt (AUS) x Quack It (NZ) (Ustinov (AUS))
Tnr: Mark Newnham Rdr: J Parr 57.5
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