He might not be the best horse to carry the Ingham cerise colours this season with that honour held by his stablemate Fangirl, but four year-old Churchill (IRE) gelding Robusto has had a fruitful 12 months and capped it with another Saturday win at Rosehill taking out the $160,000 Benchmark 88 event over 1300m.
Trained by Chris Waller, Robusto was Group III placed as a three year-old and while a stakes win has proven elusive, he’s certainly been effective in the competitive and lucrative Saturday metro racing program in Sydney.
Resuming from a short spell, Robusto surged late between runners to snatch a long head win for Benjamin Osmond taking his overall record to six wins and eight placings from 27 starts with his prizemoney soaring to $646,0000 and change.
“He’s been a good consistent horse without being a superstar, he just keeps winning races,” said Chris Waller.
Robusto was foaled and raised at Coolmore for the Ingham family and was also broken in and educated at their Jerry’s Plains farm.
He is the third foal and first winner for Group III winning Redoute’s Choice mare She’s Clean, who was bought by the Ingham family for $300,000 from the 2010 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. She was also trained by Chris Waller and went on to win over $700,000 on the track.
She’s Clean is a blue-blood being closely related to Group I winning Redoute’s Choice mares Abbey Marie and Absolutely as well as dual Group I winning $2.2million earner Nettoyer.
She’s Clean has fillies by Flying Artie and Maurice (Jpn) and was covered by Justify (USA) last spring.
Robusto is one of 44 Australian winners this season for Churchill and they include four stakes-winners headed by Group I winner Attrition. The champion son of Galileo is back at Coolmore Australia this spring at a fee of $19,800.
