After Military Gambler turned over the odd-on favourite Stellar Magic in the opener over 1100m at Doomben on Saturday, winning trainer Chris Munce admitted he knew little about the winner's sire Rommel, but the Mogumber Park stallion has been a quiet achiever among the first season stallions.
Unplaced after a troubled run at his career debut at the Sunshine Coast on February 27, Military Gambler led home a 1-2-3-4 finish for first season stallions when he defeated Stellar Magic (Star Turn) by a half-length with a short-head back to Startantes (Star Turn) in third and General Wolffe (Wolf Cry) in fourth.
"I've liked this colt all the way along. He has great nature and good temperament," Munce said.
'He has a hell of a lot to learn yet, but he has good natural ability.
"He is QTIS, so he will go through the QTIS races and the owners will have a lot of fun with him.
"I can't tell you much about his sire (Rommel). I only bought him on type at the sale when Neville Stewart from Oaklands brought him out for me to have a look at.
"I loved him straight away. He was a big, rawboned, athletic-looking colt.
"He has a good nature, so I don't think there is any need to cut him just yet."
Consigned by Oaklands Stud to the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale, Military Gambler was purchased by Munce Racing for $60,000.
He is the fourth winner from as many to race out of the winning Red Ransom mare Call To Ransom.
A $250,000 Perth magic Millions Yearling, Call To Ransom hails from the top West Australian family of the wonderful matron Born Rich.
Military Gambler becomes the third winner for Rommel, a Group II winning son of Commands.
The Mogumber Park stallion had 41 live foals in his first crop. He came a short-half-head short of claiming his first stakes-winner when his daughter Pixie Chix was runner-up in the Listed Supremacy Stakes at Ascot on March 7.
