Winner: Vain Raider (Kenvain-Tropical Minx)
Race: WATC Roma Cup G3 (1200m)
Sold for: $30,000
Sale: 2006 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale
Vendor: Mungrup Stud
Buyer: Jim Taylor
Earnings: $426,450
Owner(s): Mrs T Taylor, BG Clune, GA Clune & MG Comerford
Trainer: Jim Taylor (Bullsbrook)
Quality Perth sprinter Vain Raider scored a career highlight win when he downed a quality field and led home a stable quinella in the Group Three Roma Cup (1200m) at Belmont on Saturday.
Sent to the front early by John Claite, Vain Raider held that position throughout as he cruised home for a deserved group race victory.
Trainer Jim Taylor, who prepared three of the first five horses past the post in the Perth feature, said it was always the plan for Vain Raider to control the race in the lead.
“We thought we’d get our own way in front and I said to John at the corner if he could put two lengths on them he’d be hard to run down.”
“John couldn’t have ridden it any better,” Taylor added.
One of the most talented and consistent gallopers in Perth, Vain Raider is a stable favourite.
“He’s only been out of the money once in his life. It just shows he’s got a lot of guts.”
The son of former outstanding sprinter Kenvain came into the race after a close up second to Kid Choisir in the recent Northam Sprint.
“He kept fighting. Frank’s horse got to him early that day but he kept kicking back on the line.”
“He’s a better horse in front. He leads and keeps rolling.”
Winning rider John Claite said despite the horse paying healthy odds he and the horse’s connections were confident they could win.
“It wasn’t that much of a shock,” Claite said. “I thought if he could get a couple of cheap sectionals I thought he’d be very hard to beat.”
“He jumped really well and I didn’t have to spend any petrol to get across. We weren’t going that solid and I tried to hold him up as long as I could.”
“He pretty much did as he was told and it worked,” Claite summed up.
Vain Raider ($14) cruised home to beat proven big race winning stablemate Idyllic Prince ($3.50 fav).
Another half length back in third place was the second favourite Grand Nirvana ($4.20).
Taylor purchased Vain Raider, a winner of nine races and earner of over $426,000, for just $30,000 from the draft of Mungrup Stud at the 2006 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.
He is one of three winners produced by the twice winning Carry a Smile mare Tropical Minx.
Tropical Minx, who is from the performed performer Tropical Touch is a half sister to the outstanding South African dual Group Two winner Tropical Empire.
