Winning Horse: Smokin’ Romans

5yoG Ghibellines (Aus) - Inferno (NZ)(Yamanin Vital (NZ))

15 starts - 6 wins 3 seconds 1 third $256015

Other Wins

1st Moonee Valley Dominant T Harrison Cup (Bm78) 2500m (2021)

1st Sandown-Lakeside Mrc Membership Renewal (Bm84) 2100m (2021)

1st Pakenham Dalton Engineers (Bm64) 1600m (2021)

1st Ballarat Synthetic Hygain Winners Choice (Bm58) 1500m (2020)

1st Ballarat Synthetic Pipepro Direct. Drilling Mdn 1500m (2020) (Debut Run)

Other Placings

2nd Sandown-Lakeside Ladbroke It (Bm78) 2100m (2021)

3rd Sandown-Hillside Ladbrokes Bet Ticker (Bm70) 1600m (2021)

2nd Bendigo Apiam Animal Health (Bm70) 1600m (2021)

2nd Sandown-Lakeside Ladbrokes Split Multi (Bm64) 1600m (2021)

Race Result:

1st: Smokin’ Romans (Josh Richards/Ciaron Maher & David Eustace) - $2.40F

2nd: Reflect The Stars (Craig Williams/Danny O’Brien) - $7
3rd: Nerve Not Verve (Damien Oliver/Michael Moroney) - $26

Winning Time: 2:36.34 Last 600m: N/A

Margins: 2-3/4L x Neck

Winning Trainer: Ciaron Maher & Dave Eustace (Ciaron speaking)

On Josh Richards: “He’s really making every post a winner. I didn’t know much about him before he got down here (to Victoria). 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 that he has.”

On the horse: “(He is stabled at) Ballarat. 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.

“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 it is great.

“The owners, 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.”

Winning Jockey: Josh Richards

The performance of the winner: “It was another great performance. The stable has got him flying. It was pretty much a replay of last time out here.”

Followed what Jamie Kah did last time: “I just took my time and let him get to where he wanted to be. He takes his time getting there, but he does it quite easily.”