Lucky photo-finish for Trionfante

Saturday, 16 March 2024 | Trionfante needed every metre of the Belmont straight to enter the record books as the first local winner by Winning Rupert since it was announced he was transferring from Queensland to WA.

Winning Rupert (Written Tycoon) will stand at Geisel Park Stud in association with a partnership headed by Luke Fernie.  The 10 year-old stallion has already made an impact in Perth with LR Fairetha Stakes (1400m) winner It’sarayday and recent RL Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) runner-up Madhi Girl.

Trionfante is a stablemate of last Saturday’s LR Bunbury Stakes (1400m) winner Aztec King and she nailed Solar System (Deep Field) right on the line in the Morley Growers Market Hcp (1200m) on Wednesday.  “I walked away thinking we had just missed,” trainer Stefan Vahala confessed.  “She doesn’t have a turn of foot but tries so hard.”

Trionfante (4m Winning Rupert – Minetti by Star Witness) was bred by Melbourne bloodstock agent Sheamus Mills and is from a winning daughter of G2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1200m) winner Italia (Stravinsky).

Jockey ‘Lucky’ Ramoly had the mare travelling in the box-seat behind odds-on favourite Solar System.  “I was following a good horse but had to go a bit early.  She took a while to balance up but finished off well.

“Her last two runs since a spell had been good and I was happy to come back and see her number on the screen. Stef is doing a good job with a small team and she was spot on from gate 1 today.”

Winning Rupert has an elite-level win in sight with his Sydney mare Semana in the G1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill this Saturday.  The Ciaron Maher-trained 4yo is coming off a Group 3 victory in the Triscay Stakes (1200m) at Randwick last month.

“Semana is every bit as talented as my 2022 Coolmore winner Lighthouse (Mizzen Mast) and is improving with every start,” Maher said.  “I did toy with the idea of running her in the (G1) Orr Stakes but then I gave myself an uppercut realising this would suit her better.”

Geisel Park Stud will announce a service fee for Winning Rupert shortly and Luke Fernie can be contacted for further information on 0424 780 882.