Bunbury breeder Dan Love has transferred G2 winner Famous Roman to Stratham based Rivercrest Park.
Rivercrest studmaster Steve Hoare stood Kendel Star (Kenmare), Izmir (Red Ransom) and Black Tom (Langfuhr) on the roster at his south-west property last year.
Famous Roman (Danetime) was initially based at Cromartry Stud before Love bought him outright last year. He won 7 races including a G2 Lee-Steere Stakes and G3 R J Peters Stakes and, in the latter, he broke the long-standing State record for 1500 metres clocking 1.26.39s.
Love stands Famous Roman under the Fa’em Racing banner and has gradually built up his broodmare numbers in recent years. “Famous Roman covered 66 mares in his second season last year,” Love said. “His first year foals that we own and others that we have seen so far are outstanding.”
It’s early days for the Famous Romans but Dan and his wife Julie are winning on another front with Hans Up. The unbeaten gelding made it four-from-four in the Southern Habitat Nursery Hcp (1200m) at Ascot on Saturday.
Hans Up (4g Hurricane Sky – Danish by Danehill) has plenty of improvement to come according to trainer Brett Pope. “He hit the front very early and is a much better chaser,” Pope said on Saturday. “He’s still learning the caper but fought back when the second horse (The Blues) came at him late in the straight.”
After Hans Up had won on debut at Pinjarra in January, Pope recalled there had been problems along the way. “He could buck with the best of them in the early days and he can still be a problem at the gates,” he admitted. “But we always knew he could gallop.”
– Karl Patterson