Roulette King has instilled a sense of discernment in trainer Trevor Rogers, who never anticipated that his refusal to sell would lead to an expansion of his stable.
However, one prospective buyer, impressed by Rogers’ commitment to his undeveloped four-year-old, decided to add to the trainer’s stable instead.
Rogers acquired a horse from one of the many well-funded owners keen to purchase Roulette King, a situation he views as a bonus, especially since Roulette King remains under his care.
“I actually had one of the last bidders on the horse more or less said, ‘if I can’t buy him can I give you one’, so he gave me a horse to train,” Rogers recounted. “It’s worked out good for me.”
The Ghaiyyath colt, Winsilence, arrived at Rogers’ stable from Lindsay Park and is nearing a victory, having secured third and fourth placings at Sale.
It was at Sale where Roulette King achieved his inaugural win from start number two, initiating a four-race winning streak that culminated in the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on March 21.
Significant offers began to pour in thereafter, intensifying Rogers’ optimism about the potential of the Casino Prince colt, whom owners had secured for $50,000 at the 2024 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Roulette King is expected to be among the entries for the spring’s premier weight-for-age event, the $6 million Cox Plate (2040m), when nominations close on Tuesday. Nevertheless, Rogers has his sights set on an even more lucrative race.
With the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) exclusively for four-year-olds, Rogers is eager to provide Roulette King with the chance to demonstrate his worthiness for this unique opportunity.
He is scheduled to reappear at jumpouts mid-month before a potential return in the $175,000 Listed Tontonan Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on September 12.
“It’s hard to go past a race like the Golden Eagle,” Rogers stated. “I’m going to probably give him on a run in a benchmark 100 or the Tontonan over 1400 at Flemington to see if he’s got enough ping in his step when he’s fresh to take on those type of horses. If he can race well in that, that gives me plenty of time to freshen him up and take him to Sydney for the 1500. We’ll obviously experiment here first to make sure we’re not going up there for no reason. This preparation is going to tell us a lot about the horse. Everything we’ve asked him, he’s done everything and beyond, so who knows?”
The Golden Eagle, which will be contested at Group 1 level for the first time this year, is set to take place at Randwick on October 31.
For those looking to back a contender, exploring the latest racing odds at Australian betting sites could reveal value for the upcoming feature races.
