Caulfield Cup Next for Smokin' Romans

Tara Madgwick - Saturday October 1

A dream spring for Smokin’ Romans went to another all-new high at Flemington on Saturday, scoring his first Group One victory in the Turnbull Stakes (2000m).

Smokin' Romans smokes his rivals in the G1 Turnbull - image Grant Courtney

The Ghibellines gelding won his first stakes race only 10 months ago, capturing the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) in December of last year. He has continued on that upward trajectory this spring, heading to Caulfield last start and collecting his first Group win in the Gr.3 MRC Foundation Cup (2000m) on September 17.

That last-start success secured the six-year-old a spot in the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) later this month, but Smokin’ Romans was an overlooked $21 outsider as he switched to set weights and penalties for Saturday’s A$1 million Turnbull.

Advertisement

Ridden by Ethan Brown for trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Smokin’ Romans settled in second behind the pace-making Knights Order.

Smokin’ Romans moved up alongside Knights Order after rounding the home turn and soon gained the ascendancy, kicking away and taking the race by the scruff of the neck.

Maximal and Young Werther gave chase through the final 200m, with Knights Order sticking grimly to his task along the rail, but Smokin’ Romans was well out of their reach and scored an emphatic victory by a length and a half.

“That was unreal – I didn’t really know what to do over the line,” Brown said. “The feeling is indescribable, and the fact that it was for Ciaron and Dave makes it that much more special.

“He is just so easy, this horse. He’s very tractable in the run. He gave me a lovely ride throughout. He’s taken a lot of improvement from last start. I thought he was a bit overlooked today and he has defied his odds to win.”

Maher was delighted to land a Group One prize with the ever-improving Smokin’ Romans, who was bred by Brian and Lorraine Anderton’s White Robe Lodge.

“He’s been a real product of our system, I suppose,” Maher said. “Late last prep, we sent him down to the beach. He was always very quirky, so it was just to get him used to going on and off the float all the time. He’d lose it and lose a lot of weight just stressing. It desensitised him, and he’s carrying a lot more condition. He’s shown he’s in good form the whole way, and even when Ethan jumped on, he said he’ll run a race today.

“The guys at White Robe Lodge that bred him, I have a bit to with them. I’ve had a fair few horses off them, they’re great people to deal with and it’s great for them to win a Group One as well.

“I think he drops to 51.5kg for the Caulfield Cup now, which seems pretty nice. I think Jamie Kah will ride him. He’s got the light weight and there’s only a few, and I’d say she’d be pretty happy to get on after today.”

Job done - image Grant Courtney

Smokin’ Romans is out of the Andertons’ high-class Yamanin Vital mare Inferno, the winner of ten races including the Gr.3 Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m) twice.

The Turnbull winner sports the colours of Kiwi owner Don Frampton, who has raced Group One winners such as Booming and Trounced.

Frampton secured a share in the gelding following his sale to currently disqualified trainer Darren Weir for $52,500 during the Book 1 sale at Karaka in 2018.

“He was a horse I took a liking to when I first saw him at Karaka,” Frampton recalled. “I was a little bit late getting down to the sale and seeing him go through the ring but I followed up afterwards with Darren Weir who had bought him.

“I spoke with Darren and it turned out he had bought him as a spec horse so I said to him to give me 24 hours and I would get a group together to race him.

“We ended up getting sixty-five percent for a bunch of my friends who are all Kiwis.

“When Darren got into trouble, he was moved to Ciaron and David and we retained our share in him.”

Smokin’ Romans has now earned nearly A$1.3 million in a 23-start career that has produced nine wins and seven placings. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Tab Turnbull Stakes Gr1 2000m

Flemington Track: Good(3) Time: 2:02.23
1
Smokin' Romans
- 6g Ghibellines (AUS) x Inferno (NZ) (Yamanin Vital (NZ))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Ethan Brown 55.5
2
1.5
Maximal
- 5h Galileo (IRE) x Joyeuse (GB) (Oasis Dream (GB))
Tnr: J A O'Shea Rdr: B Melham 54.5
3
1.6
Young Werther
- 5g Tavistock (NZ) x Romantic Time (NZ) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Damian Lane 54.5
4
1.7
Knights Order
- 8g So You Think (NZ) x Lamanka Lass (USA) (Woodman (USA))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Jordan Childs 57.5
5
1.9
Gold Trip
- 6h Outstrip (GB) x Sarvana (FR) (Dubai Destination (USA))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Jamie Kah 54.5
6
2.4
Luncies
- 6g Iffraaj (GB) x Under The Rainbow (GB) (Fantastic Light (USA))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: H Coffey 54.5
7
2.5
Inspirational Girl
- 7m Reliable Man (GB) x Be Inspired (AUS) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Jye McNeil 54.5
8
2.7
Duais
- 5m Shamus Award (AUS) x Meerlust (AUS) (Johannesburg (USA))
Tnr: Edward Cummings Rdr: J Parr 57
9
3.2
Profondo
- 4h Deep Impact (JPN) x Honesty Prevails (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: Richard Litt Rdr: Craig Williams 56.5
10
3.7
Great House
- 6g Galileo (IRE) x Anja (IRE) (Indian Ridge (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: B Prebble 56
11
4.7
Surefire
- 5g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Modesta (IRE) (Sadler's Wells (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: B Shinn 55
12
4.9
Chapada
- 7g Bullet Train (GB) x Diamantina Dior (AUS) (Oasis Dream (GB))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: D W Stackhouse 54.5
13
6.4
Milford
- 5g Savabeel (AUS) x Etiquette (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: Patrick Moloney 55.5
14
6.6
Crystal Pegasus
- 6g Australia (GB) x Crystal Etoile (GB) (Dansili (GB))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: M J Dee 54.5
15
10.1
Hezashocka
- 5g Shocking (AUS) x Shezakiwi (NZ) (Brilliance (USA))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: D Moor 54.5
More Reading...
Kiwi Bred Smokin' Romans Wins G3 Queen Elizabeth
Group One winner Smokin’ Romans broke a two-year win drought in style on Saturday with a black-type success at the scene of his biggest triumph.
Stakes Breakthrough for the Tough-as-Teak Smokin' Romans
Never off the board in his last nine starts, the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Smokin’ Romans was rewarded for his consistency in Saturday’s $300,000 Listed Sportsbet Pakenham Cup (2500m).
Hong Kong Buyer Secures Top Lot June (Late) Sale at $500,000
The impact of the recent success in Hong Kong of horses sourced on Inglis Digital was in evidence today, with the top lot and the third top lot bought by Hong Kong-based owners.
Flying Artie 2YO Wins by Four!
Blue Gum Farm have an appealing roster of three sires for this spring and while it’s all in front of Sejardan and Oxley Road, proven favourite Flying Artie remains unbeatable value and the G1 sire produced a four length 2YO winner on Thursday.
$190,000 Per Incanto Colt Tops NZB Weanling Sale
Little Avondale stallion Per Incanto’s outstanding season carried on in the Karaka sale ring on Thursday, where his weanling colt fetched a sale-topping $190,000 in the opening hour of the NZB National Weanling Sale.
Kiwi Bred Smokin’ Romans Heads Karaka Quinella in Cup
Karaka graduates ran first and second in a thrilling finish in Thursday’s A$300,000 Listed Sungold Milk Warrnambool Cup (2350m), with victory going to the warhorse Smokin’ Romans (NZ) (Ghibellines).
Mulberry Racing Secure Everest Slot
Racing NSW today announced that Mulberry Racing has secured a slot in the $20 million TAB Everest for a term of three years commencing with the running of this year’s race.
Sires With Winners - Thursday June 26
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Coles Bows Out After 60 Years
Pukekohe’s Wednesday meeting marked the end of an era for Auckland Thoroughbred Racing, as Ross Coles, a treasured figure in the industry, retired after 60 years as Clerk of the Course.
Blueblood Filly a Third Winner for Tagaloa
Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes winner Tagaloa is one of the more affordable sires on the Yulong roster and he sired his third winner at Bendigo on Thursday when well bred filly Teine Aulelia made a winning debut.