Rommeo adopted unfamiliar front-running tactics in the Belhus Racing Hcp (1800m) on Saturday and his narrow victory at Ascot even surprized Gingin owner-trainer Cliff Green.
The Geisel Park-bred graduate had drawn the outside gate but Shaun O’Donnell pressed on to take up a lead that was never bridged despite the late charge of runner-up I Dreamed A Dream (Oratorio).
Rommeo (Demerit) had won twice when coming from the back-half at Bunbury and Pinjarra last year and the third arrived when he stretched out past a mile for the first time on Saturday. “I didn’t think he could lead and win from out there but I left it up to Shaun,” Green said. “He had to work to find the front but got some cheap sectionals that left him with a nice kick on the corner. He’s fit and can go to a better level now.
“He’s a handy horse but rarely draws a good gate. And when he does, he gets stuck on the fence!”
Green bought him for $6,000 from Geisel Park at the 2020 Perth Magic Millions Winter Online Sale and Saturday’s result sent his earnings to $109,000. He’s one of five winners from Miss Safari (Ferocity) following City Star (Starcraft), Master Safari (Demerit), Miss Vasari (Rogano) and Sunshine Tafe (All American).
Miss Safari’s half-sister No Questions won a G2 Karrakatta Plate) and another half-sister foaled Playing Rio (Playing God) to win the recent Fitzpatrick Plate (1230m) in Albany.
“Cliffy gave me a license to ride my own race on Rommeo and when he jumped I thought why not roll forward,” O’Donnell said. “He switched off and I was able to dictate. The penny has dropped and he’s much stronger this prep.”
Giesel Park’s draft of 7 yearlings to next month’s Perth Magic Millions includes a first-crop filly by Coolmore Stud’s G1 French Derby (2400m) winner St Mark’s Basilica (Siyouni). Catalogued as Lot 153, she’s the first foal of Tuscan Star (American Pharoah) who is an unraced half-sister to Tuscan Queen (G2 WA Derby & G3 WA Oaks).
Manhattan Rain (Encosts De Lago) will also have his first WA-bred yearlings available in the Swan Valley. The Geisel Park resident’s consignment includes Lot 303, a filly from home-base out of Star Subject (Star Witness). The dam is a half-sister to Excelleration (G2 Adelaide Cup).