Aussie G1 Karaka Gradate Double

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.

Just 20 minutes after Smokin’ Romans (NZ) (Ghibellines) captured the Group One Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington, a never-say-die performance by No Compromise (NZ) (Pins) capped an unforgettable Saturday for Karaka graduates. 

Bought for just $40,000 from Karaka 2018, No Compromise overcame a nightmarish run to take out the A$750,000 Group One Furphy Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick. He has now earned A$891,620 in his 30-start, seven-win career.

No Compromise appeared to be a major Metropolitan contender on the strength of his lead-up form, which included an eye-catching third in last month’s Group Two Chelmsford Stakes (1600m). And after settling towards the back of the field for most of Saturday’s race, the six-year-old gelding seemed to be moving into contention at the right time coming up to the home turn.

But he was held up when looking for a run at the 400-metre mark, and just when he was moving into top gear, he was completely stopped in his tracks with only 200 metres remaining.

Jockey Tommy Berry frantically changed course and switched back to the inside, and No Compromise picked himself up and got going again.

He drew up alongside the favourite Le Don De Vie (Leroidesanimaux), and they locked horns in a head-bobbing duel. Realm Of Flowers (So You Think) joined in on their outside, and the trio hit the line together in a three-way photo. But No Compromise lunged his head out at just the right time, winning by a nose and a nose.

“I was bolting coming to the corner, but when James (McDonald) shifted out in front of me, I thought it was all over,” Berry said. “He did an unbelievable job to pick himself up and get there.

“But Chris Waller (trainer) – he’s a freak, isn’t he? Group One day, and he’s here.

“I think I won the first couple of horses on this bloke when he came over to Australia, and it’s really nice to get back on him.

“I guess the thing with him – and Chris does it with all of his horses – he came over here quite a keen-going horse, and you saw him today. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. I had him standing up there behind the gates at the 600m and he was just looking around. The feeling is like, ‘Gee, he’s in the zone, this horse.’ From that moment on, I thought I was on the right one.”

Expat New Zealander Waller has now won the Metropolitan five times, but he took particular satisfaction from this one.

“This is a special win,” he said. “He’s got a great family from New Zealand behind him. He’s been building up to this and has been a bit unlucky. He doesn’t like the really wet tracks.

“Today, even though it’s heavy, they’re getting through it better than they were in the autumn. That was a help to him, and I think 2400 metres is the cap on his distance range, as he showed today.”

The beautifully bred No Compromise is a half-brother to Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park), a four-time Group One winner across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane for trans-Tasman trainer Mike Moroney.

Another of No Compromise’s half-siblings, fellow Karaka graduate Benaud (Reliable Man), was runner-up in this year’s Group One Australian Derby (2400m).