Red Letter Day for Holy Roman Emperor

Mark Smith - Sunday May 27

Following the win of Duca Valentinois (IRE) in the Group III Lord Mayor's Cup at Doomben, the Ken Condon-trained Romanised completed a grand 24 hours for Aquis Farm's Holy Roman Emperor (IRE) when he pulled off a 25/1 surprise in the Group 1Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh.

Romanised came with a barnstorming finish from near last under Shane Foley to defeat U S Navy Flag by two and a quarter lengths with Gustav Klimt a further one and a quarter lengths back in third.

Advertisement


It was the first Classic win for Condon and his first winner anywhere this year.

"We kept faith in him and he had excuses at Naas on his comeback," Condon told Sporting Life.

"He worked the best he's worked all spring last Tuesday. We knew we were a long shot coming in here, but I felt he was going to run a big race.

"He's always shown talent and he just seems to have come to himself in the last few weeks.

"I'm in a bit of shock and it will be a few days before it sinks in. It's just amazing to win a classic. It's all I wanted to do when I entered racing.

"It's a very select club and to actually step into that club feels like you are walking through special doors to be considered one of those.

"I knew I was never going to be training a huge amount of winners, but we aimed to have a few nice horses through our hands.

"I thought he'd run well, but to win is magic.

"We just train 30 and we are lucky enough to have a few stakes performers among them. It's nice to work with nice horses.

"There are a lot of guys like me. The country is full of very good horsemen and very good riders and we're all looking to get our hands on a good horse and show what you can do.

"Thankfully he walked through our door and he showed us very early on that he was talented."


A three-quarter brother to Hong Kong Horse Of The Year Designs on Rome, Romanised is a half-brother to two other stakes winners, the dual Listed winner Fictional Account (Stravinsky) who was the Champion Older Female Stayer in Ireland in 2011 and the well-travelled Rock Of Romance (Rock Of Gibraltar), whose ventures to France, Italy, Germany and Switzerland were highlighted by his win in the Group III St Leger Italiano at Milan.

The dam of Romanised, the winning Indian Ridge mare Romantic Venture, is a daughter of Summer Trysting (Alleged) who is a half-sister to the Jonathon Munz owned mare Rekindled Affair the dam of dual Group II winner and Group 1 placed Rekindled Interest (Redoute's Choice).

Holy Roman Emperor (IRE) is enjoying a renaissance in Australia and his undoubted appeal to Hong Kong buyers makes the Group 1 winning son of Danehill an attractive proposition for breeders at a fee of $9,900 at Aquis Farm this spring.

Advertisment
More Reading...
RAM Racing Join Forces with Newgate and GPI Racing for Everest
Western Australia’s RAM Racing have joined forces with Newgate and GPI Racing in their 2025 TAB Everest slot, reuniting with Group 1-winning sprinter Overpass and are set to bring a wave of loyal supporters from the west.
First Magic 2YO Winner for Te Akau
David Ellis and Te Akau Racing spent over $5million on 17 yearlings at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale earlier this year and they unleashed their first winner from the group at Avondale on Wednesday. 
Hot Lots Day 3 - Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1
The Tattersalls October Yearling Sale third and final session kicks off tonight our time and for those interested in the number one yearling sale in Europe we are taking a look at some of the yearlings tipped to top each day.
Wootton Bassett 3YO Impresses at Avondale
Promising three-year-old Kygo Star overcame a wide journey to come out on top in a tight finish in the Allspark Electrical Maiden 3YO (1400m) at Avondale on Wednesday.
Andy Caps positive week for Alwyn Park
Alwyn Park Stud owner John Andrew has received a positive post-script to Magnificent Andy’s victory in the inaugural $1 million Golden Saddle (1200m) at Kalgoorlie on Saturday.
Three 2.2million Guineas Colts Top Second Day of Tattersalls Book 1 - Two by Wootton Bassett
The second day of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale saw a further six lots realise seven-figure prices headed by a trio of colts, two by the late WOOTTON BASSETT, both bought by Amo Racing, and one by FRANKEL, at 2,200,000 guineas. The average was an impressive 352,672 guineas.
Metro Winner Adds to Yes Yes Yes Spring Surge
October is shaping as a great month for Gooree Stud’s new addition Yes Yes Yes with the 2019 Everest hero reeling off four winners in the past week including Maybe Moet, who saluted at Randwick on Wednesday.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 8
Here is the full list of 48 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Cambridge Stud Mare Primed for Return
Patience has been a key factor in the rise of Jaarffi to the elite level and she’s in good order to open her six-year-old campaign at Rotorua.
Yulong Purchase into Enriched - Inglis October (Early) Sale
Three individual shares in the G2-winning entire Enriched sold for a combined $440,000 in a highly successful Inglis Digital October (Early) Online Sale today.