A ground-saving ride by Damien Oliver had the army of owners in Roll The Dice Syndicate’s He’ll Haunt Us cheering themselves hoarse in Saturday’s Group III Neds Zeditave Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
The lightly-raced son of Time For War was coming off his first win in the valuable Magic Millions Maiden Plate (1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 11.
Oliver had He’ll Haunt Us travelling sweetly in third on the fence behind pacesetter Sansom but when that son of Charm Spirit sprinted, He’ll Haunt Us looked to be caught flat-footed but under hard riding, He’ll Haunt Us crept along the fence to get the verdict by a half-neck from Samsom with Spend (Snitzel) a head away third.
Trained on the track by Mick Price and Michael Kent Junior, He’ll Haunt Us advances his record to 2 wins and a third from 4 starts with earnings of $250,750.
“The horse wants a bit further, but Ollie rode him beautifully but it’s not easy to come back from Queensland with just a jump out in between, “ Kent said.
“Roll The Dice are huge supporters of ours and we have had a bit of luck with them lately.
“Damien is arguably riding at the top of his game. He comes in every Tuesday morning. He is cunning, he maps out where the horses need to go, he is just the best and that’s why we put him on.
“We will go home and let the horse get over this and make a plan then.”
He’ll Haunt Us was purchased by Roll The Dice Racing, John Foote Bloodstock and Darren Weir Racing for $150,000 out of the Kitchwin Hills draft at the 2018 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling.
He is the first foal of the Dane Shadow mare Shadow Grande who had been at stud five years before producing her first live foal.
Shadow Grande is a three-quarter-sister to the Group 1 VRC Myer Classic winner Hurtle Myrtle and a half-sister to Listed winner Whisper Bay the dam of stakes-winner Indian Thunder.
Shadow Grande has a yearling colt by Starspangledbanner.
He’ll Haunt Us becomes the second stakes winner after Group II ATC Silver Slipper Time to Reign, for Kitchwin Hills Snitzel stallion Time For War who died after two seasons.
