Ridgeport Farm sire Rommel kicked off 2024-25 like he left off last season with a winning double on a Heavy 8 at Pinjarra on Thursday.
Bold Hero was the first Rommel off the rank in the John Ward Maiden (1600m) and he was followed by Rommel mare Desert Nymph in the Keith Mullins Hcp (1200m). She had won twice at Belmont last year and put the writing on the wall with a minor-placing behind Keep Attacking (Snippetson) back at Belmont on July 10.
Bold Hero (Photo / Western Racepix) was racing for only the second time and was allowed to settle out the back by Brad Parnham before motoring home down the outside of the track to score by a neck from the favourite Tivacisaurus (NZ).
Ridgeport manager Marge Ojapold bred and sold him in partnership with Graham Whyte for $60,000 to a large Simon Miller syndicate at the 2022 Perth Magic Millions. “A host of absolute legends travelled to Pinjarra to see Bold Hero get the job done,” Miller posted on Facebook. “The big boy loves the wet and we loved seeing everyone enjoying the win.”
His dam River Hussy (Husson) has a new-season 2yo colt by Gingerbread Man with Neville Parnham and a yearling filly by Splintex. “The colt has been broken in and educated by Kane Land,” Ojapold revealed. “The Splintex is a lovely filly and she will be entered for the Perth Magic Millions in February.”
Desert Nymph sold for $16,000 at the 2021 Perth Magic Millions and she’s an older half-sister to recent TBWA Winner of the Week Safe Satyr (Safeguard). Their dam Fairy Nymph (Equiano) was a Murray Bridge winner for Ridgeport Farm principal Santo Guagliardo.
Rommel had sired Horcrux and Master Tactician to win their maidens in the final days of last season.
Horcrux is also trained by Simon Miller and couldn’t have been more impressive on debut in the Peters Investments 2YO Plate (1200m) at Belmont last Saturday week. “That was a dominant win for the Ladbrokes Racing Club,” Miller said. “And we expect plenty more good times in high places when Horcrux returns to racing at carnival time.”
Mogumber Park had launched Rommel’s stud career and sold Horcrux for $105,000 at the 2023 Perth Magic Millions. The Ladbrokes Racing members banked $84,540 first-up including $40,700 in Westspeed Bonuses. His dam Magic and Danger (Stratum) is from a full-sister to Kiwi mare Imananabaa (Anabaa) who won at Group 1 level in the 2008 Railway Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie.
Master Tactician swooped on the leaders to win a Bunbury maiden by more than two lengths running away last Thursday. He races for a partnership comprising Neville & Carol Parnham, Mike Fagan, Bob Pearson and Guagliardo who kept a share after selling him for $50,000 at the 2022 Perth Magic Millions.
He’s the 10th individual Rommel winner trained by Parnham and the fifth winner from his dam In A Whisper (Real Quiet). Her final foals are an unraced 3yo Rommel filly named Hush The General with Roy Rogers and a 2yo Rommel filly with Luke Fernie.
Ridgeport Farm stands Rommel (Commands) for $6,600 alongside Ducimus (Snitzel) who is priced at $5,500. Service fees (inc GST). For bookings or further details, contact Marge Ojapold (0497 478 231), Grant Burns (0410 683 470), Steve Hoare (0409 987 970).
The Ridgeport Farm Open Day is on this Sunday, August 4 at 122 Whettem Rd, Waroona. The stallion parades commence at Noon.
