Rohan handed his connections their biggest win and provided some outstanding pedigree boosts on the eve of the Perth Thoroughbred Sale with a brilliant win in the Group Two WATC Derby (2400m) at Ascot.
A $61,000 purchase from the 2010 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale, Rohan emerged as a Cups horse of the future with a last to first win in the state’s blue riband.
The win in the $400,000 feature is the biggest in the careers of trainer Vaughn Sigley and comeback jockey Glenn Smith.
Sigley, a former top jockey and the last man to win aboard champion sprinter Placid Ark, was confident of Derby success but was pinching himself in the moments after the win.
“I just love the horse – love him!” Sigley said. “What a high.”
“We knew he could out sprint these horses – I don’t meant to be cocky and we weren’t counting our chickens.”
“You need luck in these races as always. We had a clear run – it was a great ride.”
“You’re always going to get a good pace in these races. We had to ride him from back.”
“I was happy with how the race was unfolding. He was always going to be back there and I thought he would out sprint them. He’s such a big striding animal,” he added.
The win capped a successful comeback for veteran rider Glenn Smith.
“I was just thinking last year I was about 80 kilos on the sideline watching this – I got the weight off and here I am here winning!”
Smith was confident throughout the race that his mount would be able to reel in the leaders despite being last at the midway point.
“I got him going at about the 600 (metre mark) and it was all over from there,” Smith said.
“He was back a bit further than I wanted to be. But he missed the start – he was playing up a bit – he’s still a bull.”
“The race was a bit stop-start but that didn’t worry my bloke as he switched off and he had plenty left at the end.”
“He’s still learning the game. He wanted to lay in a bit. He’s going to be a nice horse next year.”
Rohan was bred and sold as a yearling by Durham Lodge and tomorrow at Belmont they will present buyers with an opportunity to buy into this great success.
His dam, the unraced Carry a Smile mare Voltage Pak, is one of three lots at tomorrow’s Magic Millions Perth Autumn Thoroughbred Sale significantly boosted by the Derby success.
Voltage Pak, the dam of five winners – three of them black type performers, is catalogued as Lot 86 and she is being presented at the sale after being served last season by Rohan’s sire Blackfriars.
Rohan’s stakes performed full sister Wynyard Hall goes under the hammer two lots later after being served by group winning Scenic sprinter Universal Ruler. Wynyard Hall has been in the news of late through the exploits of her stakes winning juvenile daughter Darlington Abbey.
Lot 100 is his Scenic half sister Crossed Wires – served by Blackfriars with the resultant foal a three quarter relation to Rohan.
Winner: Rohan
Breeding: Blackfriars-Voltage Pak (Carry a Smile)
Race: WATC Western Australian Derby G2 (2400m)
Sold for: $61,000
Sale: 2010 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale
Vendor: Durham Lodge
Buyer: Glen Kettlewell
Earnings: $347,025
Owner(s): GR & Mrs JA Kettlewell & WD Allen
Trainer: Vaughn Sigley (Lark Hill)
