Russian Revolution colt Russian To The Bar Strikes in Challenge Stakes

Mark Smith - Wednesday February 21

Midweek stakes racing with the rescheduled Listed Morley Growers Market - Challenge Stakes (1500m) for 3-year-olds at Ascot proved the perfect spot for the Russian Revolution gelding Russian To The Bar to open his stakes account.

Russian To The Bar gets the job done for birthday boy Chris Parnham (image Western Racepix)

Ridden by Chris Parnham for the in-form Luke Fernie, Russian To The Bar t enjoyed the perfect passage behind the leader Memory Parade. Eased out on straightening, Russian To The Bar overpowered the favourite Investmentstrategy (Playing God) by three-quarters of a length, with A Lot Of Good Men (A lot) back in third.

Making just his fifth start, Russian To The Bar advances his record to three wins and a third with earnings of $140,020.

Fernie said the Lex Piper Stakes, followed by the JC Roberts Stakes, is the likely path.

"I was impressed with the way he let down. He has gone from strength to strength," Fernie said.

'I thought I had got to the bottom of him at his first prep and I thought I had bought a dud. "We are on top of him now and he has a bright future.

"We put our knackers on the line when we bought him for a decent amount; he is repaying us now.

'I have learned a lot training him. You want them to be jump and run. Patience is a virtue and I'm learning that now."

Advertisement

A half-brother to Group II  Let's Elope Stakes winner and Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes runner-up Kissonallforcheeks (Written Tycoon), Russian To The Bar was a $200,000 buy for his trainer from the Dawson Stud draft at the 2022 Magic Millions Perth Winter Yearling Sale having previously not made his reserve at the Classic Yearling Sale.

Russian To The Bar a $200,000 Perth Magic Millions yearling

He is the third winner from four to race for the talented Blackfriars mare Rosie Rocket.

The winner of the Listed WATC Starstruck Classic, Listed La Trice Classic, and placed in the Group 1 Railway Stakes while banking $436,975, Rosie Rocket has a filly by All Too Hard who was a $250,000 buy for Yenrise Pty Ltd from the Newhaven Park draft at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. She has been named Sophia's Kiss and is in the stable of Sean & Jake Casey.

 Rosie Rocket foaled a Capitalist filly last spring and was covered by Dundeel.

After earning $1.7 million on the track, Kissonallforcheeks was sold to Morton Racing for $980,000 on Magic Millions Digital.

The daughter of Written Tycoon visited the champion Anamoe at her first season at stud last spring.

Russian To The Bar is the tenth stakes-winner for Newgate Farm's Russian Revolution. 

Advertisment

Race Result - Morley Growers Market - Challenge Stakes LR 1500m

Ascot Track: Good(4) Time: 1:31.55
1
Russian To The Bar
- 3g Russian Revolution (AUS) x Rosie Rocket (AUS) (Blackfriars (AUS))
Tnr: Luke Fernie Rdr: Chris Parnham 55
2
0.9
Investmentstrategy
- 3c Playing God (AUS) x World Class (AUS) (Manhattan Rain (AUS))
Tnr: N D Parnham Rdr: B Parnham 58
3
1
A Lot Of Good Men
- 3c A Lot (USA) x Cosmah Domination (AUS) (Oratorio (AUS))
Tnr: T M Andrews Rdr: P Harvey 56.5
4
3.3
Memory Parade
- 3f War Chant (USA) x Kelvin Rose (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: S & J Casey Rdr: Jade Mc Naught 54
5
4.4
Royal Toronado
- 3g Toronado (IRE) x Harada Queen (AUS) (Haradasun (AUS))
Tnr: G & A Williams Rdr: Madi Derrick 55
6
4.6
Buckets Ridge
- 3g Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Reveille (AUS) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: G & A Williams Rdr: Jordan Turner 55
7
5.6
Miss Rockjoy
- 3f Awesome Rock (AUS) x Most Joyous (AUS) (Viscount (AUS))
Tnr: Sue Olive Rdr: Luke Campbell 53
8
6.9
Princess In Red
- 3f Capitalist (AUS) x Princess Rouge (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: S & J Casey Rdr: Keshaw Dhurun 53
9
10.5
Ancient Guidance
- 3g God Has Spoken (AUS) x Indala (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: Ryan Hill Rdr: Victoria Corver 56.5
More Reading...
Back to Back Stakes Wins for Russian to the Bar
A half-brother to $1.7million earning Group II winner Kissonallforcheeks, three year-old Russian Revolution gelding Russian to the Bar made it back to back stakes wins when taking out the Listed WATC Lex Piper Stakes (1600m) at Ascot on Saturday.
$1.6Million for Sister to Caffe Florian
Three year-old Snitzel filly Caffe Florian has been one of the finds of the summer in Sydney reeling off three successive wins culminating with a Black Type success in the Listed Gosford Guineas and her full sister lit up the Magic Millions sale ring on Thursday selling for $1.6million.
$575,000 Filly Puts Spotlight on Satono Aladdin
A Group I winning sprinter miler by Deep Impact, Satono Aladdin (Jpn) is already a G1 producing sire and is the equal most represented of all sires at Karaka 2026 with 54 entries and Australian buyers have been given a taste of things to come at Magic Millions.
$1million I Am Invincible Filly to Gai and Adrian
Champion sire I Am Invincible has already had two fillies sell for a million or more at the Gold Coast this year and had a third first thing on Thursday morning at Magic Millions.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Randwick
Three heats won by juveniles at Randwick on Thursday morning and two of those winners were unraced fillies by Home Affairs and Farnan with a half-sister to the latter being sold at Magic Millions on Tuesday and might just be a saleyard gift!
Zoustar Mare Chasing Another G2
Stephen Marsh will be chasing a third victory in Saturday’s Gr.2 Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham and is confident he has the firepower on reasonable ground to go close.
Pencarrow’s Elite 24-Strong Draft Selling at Karaka 2026
Karaka 2026 will mark 100 years of the National Yearling Sale, and Pencarrow Stud are pleased to offer another outstanding draft of 24 yearlings for their 31st year of selling under their own banner.
Superstars at the Randwick Trials
Busy set of trials on Thursday morning with a big bearing on autumn feature races so let’s have a look at what unfolded – were you happy with your favourite?
Yarramalong Park Celebrate Best Ever Result with $650,000 Home Affairs Colt
Exciting young sire Home Affairs made his mark at Magic Millions on Wednesday with an outstanding colt that made $650,000 for Queensland nursery Yarramalong Park.
Anamoe Colt Bred on Magic Cross Sells for $850,000 to MyRacehorse
The first yearlings by Australian Horse of the Year Anamoe have been in hot demand this week at Magic Millions with two fillies selling for $800,000 and on Thursday that mark was surpassed by a gorgeous colt that made $850,000.