Third in the $500,000 Silver Eagle and second in the $7,500,000 Golden Eagle, who could begrudge Count De Rupee his day in the sun in Saturday’s $1,000,000 The TAB Gong (1600m) at Kembla Grange.
Given a peach of a ride by Brock Ryan, the Robert and Luke Price-trained son of Real Impact (JPN) relished the deteriorating track to defeat the Chris Waller-trained Nudge (Fastnet Rock) by one and a quarter lengths with Yamazaki (Real Saga) a long head further back in third.
Purchased by Robert Price for $145,000 from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Count De Rupee advances his record to six wins, four seconds and three thirds from 15 starts with earnings of $2,454,205.
That is serious money for a gelding that finished unplaced at his only attempt at stakes company.
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“The question mark was is he going to run a strong mile? On a wet track, he blew them away. He will go ten furlongs after that.
“I honestly believe that whatever we ask this horse to do, he is just going to do. I haven’t had a horse get so much better after each run. First up, I was questioning myself, ‘is he ready for this yet’. He blew them away and improved four lengths off that. He did that again going into the Golden Eagle
“Brock thrives off hard work. He had ten rides, and this is his third win.
“I came here today thinking this is just a normal Kembla meeting, I didn’t want the pressure to get to me. This horse has been special for a long time, as has Brock, so there was nothing more special than him winning on this horse today.”
In January, Michael Costa Racing/Bevan Smith Bloodstock outlaid $180,000 for a full brother to Count De Rupee at the Magic Millions.
Count De Rupee is the first foal of the unraced Redoute’s Choice mare Timeless Choice, a sister to Horse Of The Year Lankan Rupee and to the dam of Listed winner Manhattan Street (Manhattan Rain).
After foaling a Dundeel filly last spring, Timeless Choice was covered by Written Tycoon and foaled a colt on October 26.
Group 1 ATC George Ryder Stakes and Group 1 Yasuda Kinen winner Real Impact (JPN) (Deep Impact), shuttled to Arrowfield for three seasons (2016-18).
His daughter Lunar Impact won the Group III WATC West. Australian Oaks in March.
