Belardo 2YO Takes Aim at Karaka Million

Media Release - Thursday November 28

A tilt at the $1 million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) at Ellerslie in January is on the cards for promising juvenile Romanoff following his maiden victory in the Uza Bus Two-Year-Old (1100m) at Otaki on Thursday when he ran away from $1.1million Zoustar colt Fury of Fight.

The son of Belardo showed plenty of inexperience on debut at Te Rapa earlier this month when over-racing during the middle stages and fading to finish last in the seven-horse field, and on Thursday he showed he still has plenty to learn despite posting his maiden victory.

Romanoff on his way to winning at Otaki on Friday.   Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)

He jumped well for jockey Michael McNab and raced outside pacemaker Hello My Dear for the majority of the journey until he was asked to improve at the turn and he quickly shot clear of his rivals.

Romanoff looked to be a comfortable victor, however, he almost snatched defeat from the jaws of victory when running out in the final 50m, but despite his late indiscretion he was still able to win by a length over Curzon Park with Fury of Fight in third place.

McNab had been warned prior to the race about the colt’s quirks, and he didn’t disappoint.

“He was explained to me as cheeky,” McNab said. “When they were pushing me to ride him, I had two phone calls and three people talked to me about him.

“He was perfect until the last bit. Although he was doing a little bit (wrong) the whole way up the straight, he was still going forward alright, and I didn’t expect him to stop and duck (out) like that. But well done to the team.”

Romanoff has proven to be Jekyll and Hyde in nature as a younger horse, but trainer Pam Gerard expects him to mellow as he matures, and she believes he is an exciting colt with plenty of upside.

“He departed company from the rider a couple of times at the trials, but in saying that his behaviour is generally very good,” she said.

“He’s a very quiet colt, but at the moment as a young and inexperienced horse he just has a switch where he randomly surprises you with something he does.

“Watching the race, he was left in front way too early because he then has the chance to gawk around.

Advertisement

“He has always shown a huge amount of ability and amazingly enough he just keeps copping the campaign despite having done some unnecessary extra work at the trials.

“He’s just natural at the moment and we have no extra gear on him, but there are plenty of things to help if required.

“We thought the overnight trip away to Otaki might be just what he needs, and now he’s won, so mission accomplished. We’ll just see how he does when he comes home before making any immediate plans, but it helps to get some prizemoney if we go towards the Karaka Million.”

Gerard was rapt for his group of owners, particularly Hugh Fletcher, who was celebrating his birthday trackside at Otaki.

“We’ve got lots of good owners in him and they’ve been patient,” she said. “You don’t find many two-year-olds that can take as much as what we’ve chucked at him and he just keeps going away and eating up.

“It’s Hugh’s (Fletcher) birthday today and he went down for the race, so it was a great outcome.”

Romanoff was a $75,000 K1 purchase.

Bred by Marie Leicester out of stake-producing mare Tsarina Belle, Romanoff was purchased by Ballymore Stables, in partnership with bloodstock agents Paul Moroney and Catheryne Bruggeman, out of Haunui Farm's 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $75,000.

“He was very strong, athletic, and a beautifully balanced colt when Mike (Moroney) bought him at the sales,” Gerard said.

“It’s a super, super, family, he had a great walk on him, was a real two-year-old type, and bought for a pretty realistic price. Paul (Moroney) buys a type, that’s what they’re looking for and they found what they wanted in this colt." – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Uza Bus 2yo 1100m

Otaki Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:05.86
1
Romanoff
- 2c Belardo (IRE) x Tsarina Belle (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: Ms P Gerard Rdr: M J Mc Nab 57
NZB Karaka Book 2 $75,000
Seller: Haunui Farm
Buyer: Ballymore Stables / Paul Moroney Bloodstock / Catheryne Bruggeman
2
1
Curzon Park
- 2g Ribchester (IRE) x Sunshine Park (NZ) (Thorn Park (AUS))
Tnr: K A Pertab Rdr: N S Parmar 56
3
2
Fury Of Flight
- 2c Zoustar (AUS) x Ready To Soar (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson Rdr: W F Pinn 57
MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale $1,100,000
Seller: Segenhoe Stud, Scone, NSW (As Agent)
Buyer: D C Ellis CNZM (BANZ)
4
2.1
Intention
- 2f Bivouac (AUS) x Beela Hudood (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: M P Breslin Rdr: M Hashizume 55
5
2.5
Hello My Dear
- 2f Hello Youmzain (FR) x O'pristine (AUS) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Kevin & Stephen Gray Rdr: K R Hercock 55
6
2.6
Faultless
- 2g Tivaci (AUS) x Without Flaw (NZ) (Sacred Falls (NZ))
Tnr: Peter & Shaun Mckay Rdr: S C Spratt 57
7
3.1
Luminance
- 2f Time Test (GB) x Brilliant Glow (GB) (Oasis Dream (GB))
Tnr: K A Pertab Rdr: Joe Doyle 55
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Saturday June 28
Here is the full list of 109 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Better Than Ready’s Metalart Wins Group 3 W J Healy Stakes
Improving off a third in the Listed Lightning Handicap at Eagle Farm recently, 4yo Better Than Ready gelding Metalart stepped up to 1200m to record his first black type success, winning the Group 3 W J Healy Stakes.
Another Aussie SW Sourced from Aga Khan Studs
When Australian investors buy tried horses out of Europe from Aga Khan Studs they know they are getting quality, but the good ones don’t come cheap with Elamaz (IRE) sourced from their draft at the Arqana Arc Sale last year for €480,000.
Miss Joelene Achieves Millionaire Status
This time last year, Miss Joelene was highlighting herself as one to watch for the future, having placed in the Group 2 The Roses and the Group 1 Queensland Oaks, and after a few runs behind the outstanding Antino (Redwood) this time in, a class drop on Saturday saw her record victory in the $200,000 Listed BRC Tattersall’s Gold Crown (2100m) at Eagle Farm.
Tattersall’s Mile For The Inflictor - Under The Louvre’s Second SW
Third at Listed level before winning at Doomben, the Craig Cousins-trained The Inflictor (Under The Louvre) then tackled the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap, and while not in the same league as winner War Wachine (Harry Angel), the 4yo gelding showed his class on Saturday to win the Listed BRC Tattersall’s Mile (1600m) at Eagle Farm.
Almanzor Stayer wins G3 Tattersalls Cup
It's been a long time since the  2022 Victoria Derby and some may have wondered whether the winner Manzoice was ever going to win again!
Aussie 2YO SW for Tivaci
New Zealand-bred colt Matahga stamped himself as an exciting spring three-year-old prospect with a hard-fought victory in the A$120,000 Listed David Peacock Oaklands Plate (1400m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Wootton Bassett Winning Whirl
It was a red letter day for Wootton Bassett (GB) at The Curragh overnight with a treble of winners highlighted by top class filly Whirl, who captured the Group I Pretty Polly Stakes (1m2f), a race won by the mighty Via Sistina in 2023.
Corumbene Stud Homebred Tashi Wins G1 Tatts Tiara
From the last crop of foals sired by Widden Stud’s much missed Golden Slipper winning sire Sebring, five year-old mare Tashi may also be his final Group I winner as she produced a career best performance at Eagle Farm on Saturday to win the $700,000 Group I Tatts Tiara (1400m).
Unbeaten So You Think 3YO WA's New Excitement Machine
One month to the day since he first set foot on a racecourse, So You Think’s three year old son  Opportunistic remains undefeated from three starts, is a dual stakes winner with earnings of $200,250 to his name, and is WA's new rising star of the turf.