Five-year-old gelding Smokin’ Romans maintained his winning roll when successful over 2500m at The Valley on Saturday for trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.
The progressive stayer has now won three races in succession including his past two over the 2500m at The Valley.
Sent out a $2.40 favourite, the son of Ghibellines proved too strong under three kilo claiming apprentice Josh Richards to win by just under three lengths.
Racing in the colours of New Zealander Don Frampton, Smokin’ Romans has been beautifully placed by the Maher-Eustace stable as he continues to work through his grades while frequently banking prizemoney.
Prepared out of the stable’s Ballarat base, Smokin’ Romans has been a work-in-progress but connections’ patience is being rewarded.
“He’s a very quirky horse. The team has done a great job with him. We were just speaking to the owners and saying that every time he goes to the races he’s a bit more relaxed,” Maher said.
“I remember he had his first two runs at Ballarat and by the time he got home from the track, which is a kilometre, he was in a lather of sweat. He’s come a long way and to put two together like that (over ground) it is great.
“The owners, including Don Frampton, they had to be a little bit patient with him because he was a bit quirky but the team has done a great job and the owners have been rewarded.”
Maher was full of praise for apprentice Josh Richards, who took his time to find a position outside the leader.
A qualified carpenter who started race riding five years ago, 27-year-old Richards has enjoyed good success in Victoria after transferring from Wagga in New South Wales.
“He’s really making every post a winner. I didn’t know much about him before he got down here to Victoria,” Maher said
“He was riding at a very high percentage rate for us when he was claiming three kilos in the bush. I thought it was a gift.
“Heading to town, he has ridden a couple of winners for us. I thought it was a confident ride and had to be fairly strong and keep striding forward early. That three kilos (claim) kicked in and he got nice cheap sectionals down the back which he gave him a breather from doing a bit of work. He rides with a bit of an older head than he has.”
Smokin’ Romans recorded the sixth win of his 15-start career, which also features four placings.
Bred by Brian and Lorraine Anderton’s White Robe Lodge, the son of Ghibellines is out of the Anderton’s high-class staying mare Inferno, winner of ten races including the Gr.3 Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m) twice.
Frampton, who has raced Group One winners such as Booming and Trounced secured a share in the gelding following his sale to now disqualified trainer Darren Weir for $52,500 during the Book 1 sale at Karaka in 2018.
“He was a horse I took a liking to when I first saw him at Karaka,” Frampton said.
“I was a little bit late getting down to the sale and seeing him go through the ring but I followed up afterwards with Darren Weir who had bought him.
“I spoke with Darren and it turned out he had bought him as a spec horse so I said to him to give me twenty-four hours and I would get a group together to race him.
“We ended up getting sixty-five percent for a bunch of my friends who are all Kiwis.
“When Darren got into trouble, he was moved to Ciaron and David and we retained our share in him.” Smokin’ Romans has now won A$256,015 and has plenty of staying options to come.
