Bendigo racing on Sunday produced a couple of interesting Kiwi bred winners from big stables that both started hot favourite and saluted.
The Maher and Eustace stable have enjoyed Group I success with $1.7million earner Smokin’ Romans and have also got an opinion of his full brother Flamin’ Romans, who won the 1500m maiden easily at his second start.
A four year-old gelding by Ghibellines, Flamin’ Romans was second on debut at Kilmore last month to Interlinked, who won at Caulfield on Saturday, so he looks to have more to offer.
“He was second first up to the horse that won at Caulfield, so the form was good coming into it and he improved a lot,” said winning rider Dylan Browne McMonagle.
“He settled much better today mentally into his race and relaxed good and picked up good, so there was nothing getting past. He’s a big boy and he’s going to progress in time, so hopefully he has a big future ahead of him.”
Flamin’ Romans is the fourth winner from four to race from Group III winning mare Inferno, a half-sister by Yamanin Vital to stakes-winner Ortem Fire.
The family appears once in the upcoming Karaka Yearling Sales with White Robe Lodge to offer Lot 997 in K2, a colt by Ancient Spirit (Ger) from Swelter, a full sister to Inferno.
Saluting in the next race for the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr stable was three year-old Ocean Park gelding Otago, who powered way from a couple of very expensive fillies by The Autumn Sun to win the 1300m maiden by more than two lengths on debut.
Otago was a $50,000 Karaka Book 1 purchase from Brighthill Farm for Shaun Clotworthy and was subsequently sold to race in Australia for Roll the Dice Racing following a couple of impressive barrier trials.
“We picked him out off a trial in New Zealand, he won the trial quite impressively although did a bit wrong, but Junior (Michael Kent) really liked it and gave us a call and it ended up being a really strong trial, I think a Group III winner came out of it,” said Steve Travaglia of Roll the Dice Racing.
Beau Mertens partnered Otago and believes the gelding has a good future.
“He gave me a really good feel although is still green and inexperienced, which you would expect,” Mertens said.
“It felt like he really put them away nicely, but was still doing a touch wrong so of course he has a lot of upside.”
Otago is a half-brother to three stakes-winners in Boots ‘n’ All, Toms and Air Max being the fifth winner from six foals to race from Steel Stilettos, an Australian bred Hussonet (USA) mare from the family of Group winners Vestey, Ready Set Sail and Turnitaround.
