3 minute read

The Spring of 2022 has marked a spectacular breakthrough for Smokin’ Romans (NZ) (Ghibellines), the $52,500 Karaka yearling purchase who is now a Group One-winning millionaire.

Just two weeks after winning his first Group race in the Group Three MRC Foundation Cup (2000m) at Caulfield, the ever-improving six-year-old stepped up to the big time and triumphed again in Saturday's A$1m Group One Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.

Ridden by Ethan Brown, Smokin' Romans stalked the front-running Knights Order (So You Think) until the 400-metre mark, when he moved up alongside that rival to lodge his challenge.

Knights Order refused to surrender without a fight, but Smokin' Romans gradually gained the upper hand and went clear down the Flemington straight.

Maximal (Galileo) and Young Werther (NZ) (Tavistock) chased hard and ate into the margin, but Smokin' Romans kept up a strong gallop all the way to the finish and scored by a length and a half.

"That was unreal – I didn't really know what to do over the line," Brown said. "The feeling is indescribable.

"He is just so easy, this horse. He's very tractable in the run. He gave me a lovely ride throughout. He's taken a lot of improvement from last start. I thought he was a bit overlooked today and he has defied his odds to win."

Smokin' Romans is trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, who have been similarly impressed with his remarkable improvement.

"He's been a real product of our system, I suppose," Maher said. "Late last prep, we sent him down to the beach. He was always very quirky, so it was just to get him used to going on and off the float all the time. He'd lose it and lose a lot of weight just stressing. It desensitised him, and he's carrying a lot more condition. He's shown he's in good form the whole way, and even when Ethan jumped on, he said he'll run a race today.

"The guys at White Robe Lodge that bred him, I have a bit to with them. I've had a few horses off them, they're great people to deal with and it's great for them to win a Group One as well.

"I think he drops to 51.5 kilograms for the Caulfield Cup (Group One, 2400m) now, which seems pretty nice. I think Jamie Kah will ride him. He's got the light weight and there's only a few, and I'd say she'd be pretty happy to get on after today."

From 23 starts, Smokin' Romans has now recorded nine wins, seven placings and A$1.28m in stakes – almost 28 times his purchase price at Karaka 2018.

Smokin' Romans was bred by White Robe Lodge's Brian and Lorraine Anderton, and his Turnbull triumph made him the first Group One winner for White Robe Lodge stallion Ghibellines.