The $250,000 Group III ATC San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday featured the return of Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes winner Devil Night and Golden Slipper runner-up Wodeton, but they were no match for the Darby Racing owned gelding Raging Force.
Trained by Peter Snowden, Raging Force was sixth on debut in the Group III ATC Breeders Plate last spring before being sidelined with an injury which saw him miss the autumn carnival.
He then cast off maiden status with a win at Muswellbrook in June followed by impressive metro wins at Randwick and Rosehill in June and July with Tommy Berry in the saddle.
Berry was keen to stick with Raging Force and his confidence proved well founded.
The speedy son of Cosmic Force led throughout and controlled the race with Wodeton closing off late for second beaten a length and a half a half ahead of Silver Slipper winner Beiwacht in third place with class colts Rivellino and Devil Night following in fourth and fifth.
"That was a good test for him today. There was a Slipper placegetter, a Blue Diamond winner and a few other horses there that have shown a fair bit of ability,” said Peter Snowden.
"He beat the A-graders there, they weren't benchmark horses and he has won well.
"The Run To The Rose is the natural progression we will take with him in a couple of weeks' time. That will tell us whether he can go seven furlongs or whether we keep him to 1200."
Tommy Berry was well pleased with Raging Force and feels there is improvement to come given he raced a little greenly at the finish when wanting to lay in towards Wodeton.
"Full credit to him that he didn't want to over-race and do things wrong," Berry said.
"He was happy to be there and that's a new string to his bow.
"He got a little bit lost in the straight and wanted to wander around a bit and I had to stop and grab hold of him but then he got going again.
"He's going to be a better horse in the autumn but geez, we're going to have some fun in the spring."
A $150,000 Inglis Classic purchase from Mullaglass Stud for Darby Racing, Raging Force has the overall record of four wins from five starts with prizemoney topping $310,000.
Bred by Dr Richard McClenahan of Mullaglass Stud, Raging Force is the first winner from stakes-placed Stryker mare Miss Loren, who traces back to the family of Group III winning filly Dandolera.
McClenahan purchased Miss Loren for $30,000 at the Inglis Broodmare Sale in 2020 and she has proven to be an inspired purchase.
For McClenahan, who also bred G1-winning stallion and Classic Sale graduate Hellbent, Raging Force is a gift that keeps on giving.
“It’s fantastic, we’re really proud of him,’’ McClenahan said.
“He was a beautiful colt, very athletic and [my wife] Kim loved him as a young horse so when she found out Darby had bought him she jumped at the chance to retain a share in him, so we’re along for the ride on all fronts with him.
“It’s great for Mullaglass to have a headline horse like him flying the flag for the farm early in the spring, that’s for sure. It’s exciting times ahead.’’
Mullaglass Stud sold a yearling colt by Captivant from Miss Loren at Inglis Classic this year for $30,000 and she has a colt to follow by Zousain and is back in foal to him again.
Raging Force is the fifth stakes-winner for Newgate Farm based Cosmic Force, who stands at a fee of $16,500.
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