Perth owner Russell Roberts is no stranger to racing Group 1 winners and he may have found another after Mega Steel’s record-breaking victory in last Saturday’s Belmont Classic.

Mega Steel (3g Helenus – Cabernet Queen by Marauding) will be tipped out for a spell this week and will be brought back in time for a tilt at the G1 Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot on November 21.

Roberts has owned “Steel” horses for decades.  His most recent Group 1 at Ascot was with True Steel (Jeune) in the 2003 WATC Kingston Town Stakes.  But the former bookmaker will never race another horse to match Pure Steel who was an icon of harness racing in the 1970s and ‘80s.

Pure Steel was a legend long before he was finally retired as a rising 13 year-old.  He won 68 races from 127 starts including four WA Pacing Cups, three A G Hunter Cups and the 1978 Miracle Mile.

One of the most memorable was in May 1980 when Pure Steel took on Satinover in a match-race at Gloucester Park.  Satinover had won 19 in a row but “Steelo” ranged up in the straight – eye-balled his rival for a couple of strides – and then raised the roof to win convincingly.

In 1982, the Australian Trotting Council voted him the best standard-bred since World War II.

Roberts bought Mega Steel as a foal for $30,000 when he was offered at the 2006 Magic Millions Key Farm Dispersal Sale.  He has developed into a big lump of a galloper standing 17 hands.

Mega Steel is by Alwyn Park Stud sire Helenus who won the G1 Caulfield Guineas over the same trip as the Railway before going on to capture the G1 Victoria Derby.  His dam Cabernet Queen is a Maruading half sister to former top class Perth sprinter Barossa Boy whose record included a G1 victory in the Doomben 10,000.

He went into the Belmont Classic on the back of seconds to Grand Nirvana in the LR Belmont Guineas (1600m) and to Hawkeye Mort in the Dayana Quality (2000m) last month.

Mega Steel ran 2.17.49s for the 2200m of the Classic which shattered Cohort’s previous race record of 2.18.83s.
“He has enormous potential,” trainer Colin Webster said after the Classic.  “He’s still learning but can find another gear.  I think he has a future and the Railway should be ideal for him.”