Three for Rommel

Mark Smith - Saturday March 27

After Military Gambler turned over the odd-on favourite Stellar Magic in the opener over 1100m at Doomben on Saturday, winning trainer Chris Munce admitted he knew little about the winner's sire Rommel, but the Mogumber Park stallion has been a quiet achiever among the first season stallions.

Unplaced after a troubled run at his career debut at the Sunshine Coast on February 27, Military Gambler led home a 1-2-3-4 finish for first season stallions when he defeated Stellar Magic (Star Turn) by a half-length with a short-head back to Startantes (Star Turn) in third and General Wolffe (Wolf Cry) in fourth.

Advertisement
"I've liked this colt all the way along. He has great nature and good temperament," Munce said.

'He has a hell of a lot to learn yet, but he has good natural ability.

"He is QTIS, so he will go through the QTIS races and the owners will have a lot of fun with him.

"I can't tell you much about his sire (Rommel). I only bought him on type at the sale when Neville Stewart from Oaklands brought him out for me to have a look at.

"I loved him straight away. He was a big, rawboned, athletic-looking colt.

"He has a good nature, so I don't think there is any need to cut him just yet."

Consigned by Oaklands Stud to the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale, Military Gambler was purchased by Munce Racing for $60,000.

Military Gambler a $60,000 Magic Millions March yearling

He is the fourth winner from as many to race out of the winning Red Ransom mare Call To Ransom.

A $250,000 Perth magic Millions Yearling, Call To Ransom hails from the top West Australian family of the wonderful matron Born Rich.

Military Gambler becomes the third winner for Rommel, a Group II winning son of Commands.

The Mogumber Park stallion had 41 live foals in his first crop. He came a short-half-head short of claiming his first stakes-winner when his daughter Pixie Chix was runner-up in the Listed Supremacy Stakes at Ascot on March 7.

Advertisment

Race Result - Tab Venue Mode Hcp 1110m

Doomben Track: Soft(6) Time: 1:05.37
1
Military Gambler
- 2c Rommel (AUS) x Call To Ransom (AUS) (Red Ransom (USA))
Tnr: Chris Munce Rdr: Justin Huxtable 55
2
0.5
Stellar Magic
- 2f Star Turn (AUS) x Al's Magic Miss (AUS) (Magic Albert (AUS))
Tnr: S O'Dea & M Hoysted Rdr: Ben Thompson 55.5
Inglis Classic Yearling Sale $40,000
Seller: Yarraman Park Stud, Scone
Buyer: R Hunt
3
0.6
Startantes
- 2f Star Turn (AUS) x Funtantes (AUS) (Easy Rocking (AUS))
Tnr: R L Heathcote Rdr: Taylor Marshall 55.5
4
6.1
General Wolffe
- 2c Wolf Cry (AUS) x Hypernova (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: R L Cameron Rdr: Adin Thompson 54.5
5
6.2
Collay's Spirit
- 2g Charm Spirit (IRE) x Collay (AUS) (Makfi (GB))
Tnr: Courtney Rabjones-Tyrell Rdr: M Cahill 58.5
6
6.3
Kamarcher
- 2g Golden Archer (AUS) x Kamadiva (AUS) (Choisir (AUS))
Tnr: T Button Rdr: M R Du Plessis 54
7
6.7
Saturday Sinner
- 2c Dissident (AUS) x Incrimination (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: K M Schweida Rdr: James Orman 56
8
9.7
Freya's Falcon
- 2f Spirit Of Boom (AUS) x Fetes Alfresco (AUS) (Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE))
Tnr: S B Lee Rdr: Ron Stewart 54
9
10.4
Imadgic
- 2f Hidden Dragon (AUS) x Madge (AUS) (Magic Albert (AUS))
Tnr: Tony & Maddysen Sears Rdr: Ms G Cartwright 54
More Reading...
Arkansaw Kid Brother Sells for $520,000
A well-related son of Harry Angel provided a late highlight in the final hour of the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday when he was knocked down to a $520,000 bid from bloodstock agent Morgan Carter.
Ka Ying Rising connection draws Hayes team to Shamexpress at Karaka
With one of the world’s most exciting sprinters flying the flag for David Hayes in Hong Kong, it has been no surprise to see the trainer’s sons zeroing in on progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka this week.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
Castelvecchio Out for Remainder of Season
Aeliana’s late charge into second place in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last Saturday stamped her as the filly to follow out of the race, but it wasn’t quite enough to put her sire Castelvecchio to the top of the second season sires list and he is now out of service at Arrowfield following surgery last week.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Churchill Colt Pulls Off Stunning Pinhooking Result at NZB Ready To Run
Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday.
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.
Million-dollar Hour for Leung at NZB Ready To Run
Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung had a big hour at Karaka early on Thursday afternoon, spending more than $1 million to secure two well-credentialled colts at the NZB Ready to Run Sale.