Victory Roll provides big return for new connections

Victory Roll (inside) fought back to win against County Kilkenny. Photo: Bradley Photos

The decision to buy Victory Roll for just A$2250 has paid dividends for the new connections of the Kiwi-bred three-year-old, who scored a hard-fought win in Saturday’s A$120,000 TAB Highway Plate (1800m) at Randwick.

After starting his career with four unplaced starts in Queensland, the Belardo gelding was offered in an Inglis Digital online sale in March and was purchased by Goulburn trainer Pat Murphy. Victory Roll has won three of his six starts since then, banking more than A$90,000 for his new owners.

“One of his owners, Jimmy Bergin, suggested I buy him,” Murphy said. “He told me he'd stay all day and the best was yet to come and he was spot on.

“He paid us back when he won his first start at Wagga and now he's added a Goulburn win and a Highway victory, so we're over the moon. There's still plenty more to come too.”

Victory Roll was ridden to Saturday’s win by Rachel King, who slid her mount forward to sit on the outside of the leader before going for gold at the home turn.

Victory Roll took a clear lead into the straight, but he looked vulnerable when the well-supported County Kilkenny loomed on his outside with 200m remaining. Victory Roll responded to that challenge and lifted again, holding on to win by a head.

“When County Kilkenny came at me, I thought I still had something to give,” King said. “Having the blinkers on, he just needed to get a sight of the horse. I let him drift out towards him, and when he got sight of him, he found again.”

Victory Roll was bred by Transtasman Breeders Pty Ltd and has continued a remarkable season for the former Haunui Farm shuttle stallion Belardo. Since August 1 last year, Belardo’s southern hemisphere crops have produced 69 winners from 146 runners, including stakes winners Belardo Boy, Golden Path, Belardi and Southern Warrior.

He was credited with a trans-Tasman double on Saturdy with Farravallo, who was also a graduate of Haunui's 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale draft, winning at Otaki.

The dam of Victory Roll is the Redoute’s Choice mare Invisible Coin, whose five winners from six foals to race also include the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) winner Gypsy Goddess and Listed placegetter Bitcoin. – NZ Racing Desk.