Michael Kent Jr. believes the stars are aligning for a mare "you'd want to go to war with" as Miss Roumbini looks to translate her astonishing consistency into group 1 glory in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (G1) at Caulfield Racecourse Sept. 20.
On a day when last-start winner Golden Path also aims for top-level success in the Underwood Stakes (G1) and talented 3-year-olds Planet Red and Space Rider bid to stamp their tickets to the Caulfield Guineas (G1), it is perhaps Miss Roumbini's Sir Rupert Clarke tilt that has co-trainer Kent the most enthused as the stable seeks a first victory in the time-honored handicap contest.
The recent record of mares, who have claimed three of the last four editions of the Sir Rupert Clarke, is another big tick in her favor as is the fact that Miss Roumbini is unbeaten second-up and, with the minimum weight of just 52 kilograms on her back, the 5-year-old should glide around Caulfield under Beau Mertens.
A track record of one win and two stakes placings from her four starts at Caulfield also makes for very happy reading for her ownership group, which is led by the family-run Flying Angels syndicate who enjoyed great success with Miss Roumbini's former stablemate Wee Nessy before the mare was retired.
Having been involved in the great game since he was old enough to hold a stable broom, Kent is acutely aware that luck can play a major part in big-field handicap races, especially at Caulfield where hard-luck stories are a frequent lament for trainers and punters alike.
His heart would therefore have sunk when she was assigned gate 14 of 16, although the well-fancied pair Sepals and Damask Rose fared even worse at the barrier draw. However, the man affectionately called "Junior" by senior statesman and training partner Mick Price is adamant that, provided Miss Roumbini can find the gaps at the right time, the AU$13 chance is well capable of becoming her superstar sire Zoustar's first winner of the Sir Rupert Clarke.
"I thought her run in the Cockram was outstanding," Kent told ANZ News.
"She was caught four wide without cover and looked the winner until the 50-meter mark, when she was gobbled up late by a quality mare who had a much softer run in transit. This has been a target race for her for some time; we think the 1,400 meters will be perfect, and she's 3-from-3 second-up, so we couldn't be happier with her."
An AU$550,000 purchase from the Yulong draft at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase, Miss Roumbini's pair of stakes placings and her residual value as a daughter of Zoustar would already make her a seven-figure commodity as a broodmare prospect.
However, should she bounce out of her mighty effort behind Magic Time in the Cockram Stakes (G3) and go one better in Saturday's $1 million feature, her worth would inevitably skyrocket.
She was the first foal out of the Fastnet Rock mare Bleu Roche, who won one stakes race for trainer Matt Laurie before injury curtailed her career and she was subsequently bought by Yulong for AU$600,000 at the 2019 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
Shrewd shopping isn't necessarily Yulong's modus operandi, but their acquisition of Bleu Roche would undoubtedly fall into the canny category. The three foals she has produced so far have fetched a combined AU$1.335 million at the sales, and her filly by Alabama Express is likely to be in high demand when she is presented to the buying bench next year—particularly if big sister can snag a group 1 Saturday.
Golden Path Steps Up, Moira Returns in Underwood
Golden Path completes the stable's quartet of Saturday stakes runners when he steps up to the top tier of racing for the first time in an intriguing renewal of the Underwood.
An opening quote of AU$17 is perhaps reflective of his realistic prospects, with the highly credentialed trio of Buckaroo, Sir Delius, and 2024 United States champion older turf female Moira amongst his chief rivals. However, having registered the sixth win of his career with a determined display over 1,700 meters (about 1 1/16 miles) at Flemington Sept. 13, his co-trainer insists the gallant gelding won't be heading to Caulfield purely to make up the numbers.
"His win at Flemington was absolutely fantastic, particularly as we'd missed the run the week prior in the Heatherlie Handicap when we found a bit of mucus," Kent said.
"He had to carry 61 kilos and drew barrier 16 of 16, so he was set a huge task but to absorb the hot pressure set by Globe and still win was a very big effort, which is why we were happy to take our chance in the group 1. The horse has done nothing but please us since his last run, he pulled up very well and this race did appeal to us."
Yulong's pair of Moira and fellow American grade 1 winner Anisette drew barriers 4 and 5, respectively. Moira will be piloted by Damian Lane in her third start of the season and fourth Australian start overall. Fourth in the Aug. 16 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (G2) over seven furlongs, the Ghostzapper mare finished second last out in a Sept. 6 conditions race at Moonee Valley, beaten just a neck over a distance still short of her best at 1,500 meters (about 7 1/2 furlongs).
"Her run was very good at Moonee Valley. She's drawn to get a better run here, she drew wide there," trainer Chris Waller said on the stable's weekly video update. "She's a tough, tough horse. She's clean-winded, she wouldn't have blown a match out on Tuesday morning. The last clean-winded horse like that, just so clean-winded, was Verry Elleegant."
At 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles), Moira will be stretching out beyond a mile for the first time since capturing the 2024 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T). She is 2-for-3 at 1 1/8 miles in North America, with wins in the 2022 Woodbine Oaks and 2023 Canadian Stakes (G2T) and a runner-up effort in the 2024 Diana Stakes (G1T) at the distance. Moira will face the winner of the Sept. 6 Moonee Valley race, Desert Lightning, as well as stablemates Buckaroo and Anisette, who will be making her second start of the season after finishing sixth in the P.B. Lawrence. She owns two North American grade 1 wins at the distance.
Nicole Stafford contributed to this story.
