6 minute read
Ridgeport Holdings
BY KRISTEN MANNING
Such as will be the case in 2023 when Guagliardo’s Ridgeport Holdings presents a draft of ten yearlings, eight of whom are sons and daughters of Rommel.
A graduate of the 2013 Gold Coast Magic Millions by Danehill’s terrific son Commands out of the imported stakes winner I’mtoogoodtobetrue, Rommel was spied by trainer Neville Parnham and secured for Guagliardo who derived great enjoyment from the horse’s racing career.
One of the best Perth two-year-olds of his year, Rommel recorded an easy win at his Ascot debut before a fast finishing second in the Perth Magic Millions.
Again winning at Ascot at two, he progressed nicely at three - winning the Group 2 Western Australian Guineas before venturing to Melbourne where he outclassed his rivals in the Group 3 Zeditave Stakes.
The Group 1 Australian Guineas was on the radar but a mishap saw Rommel retired to stud with Guagliardo keen to stand him - the idea of selling his beloved horse never considered!
“He is such a lovely, kind horse,” Guagliardo enthused - “a gentleman.”
Enjoying cheering on his own winners by Rommel, Guagliardo also loves following those with other owners, finding the entire process a very special one.
With his first crop just four, Rommel has been doing an excellent job off small books of mares - already represented by 27 individual winners including the Group 3 Sires Produce Stakes winner Snowdome, the Perth 3Y0 Magic Millions winner Pixie Chix, two stakes placegetters and another 11 metropolitan winners.
Guagliardo is excited about the Rommel yearlings being taken to the sales, a group of youngsters who have benefitted from a good season with great weather and abundant pasture. “The horses are all really well grown and looking good.”
Before taking a look at the horses we shot Guagliardo a few questions...
What food are you a master at cooking?
Pasta - I’m Italian so it has to be pasta! My parents were from Sicily though I was born here - I grew up in Geraldton.
What event in your life had a huge impact?
Building up my transport business from scratch. I started with one truck and now McMahon Burnett Transport runs around 60 - 70. My business booming has allowed me to do what I wanted to do with racing - up until then I was just hoping to own a racehorse!
What makes you nervous?
Starting young horses off, especially if they are showing ability. When you pay a lot for them there is a lot of expectation and those first trials and the first starts; they make me extremely nervous.
What would you do if you sold a yearling for $5 million?
I’d buy broodmares, upgrade my stock. I’d probably end up putting $6 million back into racing!
What do you typically do when you’re bored?
Punt! Though I never get bored, I enjoy watching racing from all around the world, there is always something happening.
Ridgeport Holdings’ draft...
Lot 18 blk/br.f Rommel - Sound Of Thunder
A half-sister to the exciting two-year-old Soaring Solo who impressed winning the Crystal Slipper at her Ascot debut in November. Her dam is a daughter of I Am Invincible and the city winning Redoute’s Choice mare Drivel whose dam is the Group 1 Australasian Oaks winner Tully Thunder. Plenty of black-type on this page with this filly able to boast amongst her relations the Group 1 ATC Derby winner Levendi and the stakes winners Wu Gok, Marcel From Madrid and Duplicity.
Lot 77 blk.c Rommel - Delectable Dolly
The first live foal for a winning 3/4 sister to the Macau based stakes winner Good Master from the family of the Group 1 Western Australian Derby winner Dance The Day Away.
Lot 111 b.f Rommel - In A Whisper
Her dam has been doing a great job at stud with four of her first five to race being winners including the Group 3 placed multiple city winner Silent Whisper and the four times winner Stand Your Ground. Her grandam Endless Wonder, a daughter of the mighty Danehill, was also an excellent winner producer with her seven winners including the Listed Wenona Girl Handicap winner Wonderer. One of Gai Waterhouse’s classiest and toughest multiple Group 1 winners - Desert War - hails from this family.
Lot 124 b.c Rommel - Letifaden
Half-brother to one of the current Perth stars, the exciting three-year-old Saintorio who was so tough winning the Listed Lee-Steere Classic in late November - his fifth success from just 13 starts. This fellow’s city winning dam by the late, great Choisir hails from an outstanding family - one which has produced the multiple Group 1 winner Special Harmony, the 2022 Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes winner Fangirl and the Group 2 Perth Cup winner King Canute.
Lot 126 b.c Spirit Of Boom - Lomachenko
He is the first living foal for a 1000m winning half-sister to the stakes placed metropolitan winners Almindoro and No Doubt from a high class international family represented by big race winners in America, Canada and South Africa.
Lot 213 b.f Rommel - What Choux Want
She is a daughter of a Group 2 placed daughter of the Group 2 placed Volksraad mare Bankside Belle who produced the Group 2 winner Belle du Nord.
Lot 254 br.f Rommel - Faerie Whisper
Her talented and consistent dam, a daughter of the in-form broodmare sire Snitzel, is a dual city winning half-sister to the handy Melbourne mare Miss Albania, a stakes placed triple city winner. This filly’s grandam Little Artist is a metropolitan winning daughter of More Than Ready and the two times stakes winner Regal Touch. Rommel is doing a great job with Snitzel mares - five runners, four winners including the Snowdome and Pixie Chix.
Lot 294 b.f Rommel - Mekong Delta
She is a daughter of a winning sister to the dual stakes winner Mekong Miss and the stakes placed city winner Redhage.
Lot 323 b.c Rommel - Radiant Girl
Her dam is a city placed two times winning daughter of the metropolitan winning Mossman mare Lady Longueville whose Group 3 Magic Night winning grandam Food For Love produced the dual Group 1 winning sprinter Lady Jakeodam of the stakes winners Red Arrow and Able Choice and grandam of the Group 1 winners Mrs Onassis and Peggy Jean.
Lot 326 ch.f Universal Ruler - River Hussy
She is the second foal (her first by Rommel sold for $60,000 to Simon Miller in 2022) for a winning daughter of the Group 3 placed dual city winner Mossriver.
