Rommel 3yo filly Desert Whisper gave her rivals a galloping lesson with a free-wheeling victory in the Studco Hcp (1000m) at Ascot on Wednesday.
It was the first leg of a double for Rommel and she could have scored by more than the official four-length plus margin posted by the judge. “That was absolutely the easiest winner I’ve ever ridden!” apprentice Brayden Gaerth declared. “She pinged the gates and kicked beautifully off the corner.”
Desert Whisper was bred and sold by Ridgeport Holdings owner Santo Guagliardo for $34,000 at the 2023 Perth Magic Millions. She was an all-the-way winner at Pinjarra and Belmont earlier this season and went out a $2.50 favourite when racing second-up for trainer Luke Fernie.
He prepares her for a Belhus Racing syndicate managed by Peter Morley and it was an easy watch for the owners who gave her a Perth Cup reception at the midweek meeting.
Morley was still walking on air after winning the latest G2 Perth Cup (2400m) with Hemlock Stone (NZ) on New Year’s Day. “She trounced them,” he said. “And, boy oh boy, didn’t they raise the roof cheering her home!”
With Fernie otherwise engaged at the Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale, stable foreman Brian Carey saddled Desert Whisper and he revealed there were excuses for her first-up loss behind Daytona Pete (Gingerbread Man) last month.
“She was a little bit naughty in the barriers last time but she behaved today and it was all over once she sprung the gates. She looks like a 1000m specialist and can go on now with that high-cruising speed.”
Desert Whisper is the first foal from Faerie Whisper (Snitzel) who had won at Ascot and Belmont for Guagliardo after being purchased for $120,000 at the 2015 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale. Her second is Rommel 2yo filly Maythisbetheone who won a Lark Hill trial for trainer David Harrison in September.
Rommel filled out the Ascot double on Wednesday with the Neville Parnham-trained mare Rommel’s Goddess. She had won a Northam maiden in October and came from the second-half of the field to land the Schweppes Hcp (1400m).
Rommel’s Goddess was bred and sold by Mogumber Park for $55,000 at the 2022 Perth Magic Millions. She’s the first foal of Cashere Miss (Dash For Cash) who is a half-sister to LR Redelva Stakes (1050m) winner Desert Lashes (Reward For Effort).
The mare’s 2yo colt by Rommel is with Polaris Bloodstock and her final foal is a yearling filly by Safeguard.
Ridgeport Holdings has entered 7 of the 15 Rommel yearlings catalogued for the Perth Magic Millions next month. His filly from Colleges (Lot 199) has received recent updates through her Hong Kong winning full-brother Tourbillon Prince and her LR Summer Scorcher winning half-brother Oxbridge.