Rhodium Castle, a half-sister to Keppel Bay (above), debuts at Tabcorp Park this weekend
Tomorrow night’s Sapling Stakes for two-year-old fillies could be a stunning advertisement for the Harness Racing Victoria-initiated ownership scheme between Raceapacer and Pacific Bloodstock.
The first of six horses syndicated in the program aimed at introducing owners into harness racing, Rhodium Castle, will make her debut in the $20,000 two-year-old feature at Melton’s Tabcorp Park.
The Andy Gath-trained blueblood is by Western Terror out of Nickel Castle, making her a half-sister to dual Vicbred Super Series champion Blatant Lie and Australasian Breeders Crown heroine Keppel Bay.
Gath isn’t expecting Rhodium Castle to measure up to the class of her older half-siblings, but thinks she has enough talent to warrant giving her owners the chance to see her debut at metropolitan level.
“This is a great opportunity for the syndicate to see how she goes in a quality race at our main venue,” he said.
“We’ve been really happy with her the last month. She is still only small and will need things to go her way (tomorrow night), but we’re going in knowing she won’t disgrace herself.”
Rhodium Castle is raced by a team of 19 enthusiastic syndicate members and is one of three two-year-olds Raceapacer and Pacific Bloodstock have leased off prominent owner-breeder John Bagshaw.
David Murphy-trained Elsu filly Placid Castle and the Maree Caldow-trained Poetic Castle, a daughter of Grinfromeartoear, are the others that are leased.
The three horses owned by their respective syndicates are Mach Three colt Verendus, who is also with Caldow, the Amy Tubbs-trained Its Girl Power, a daughter of Christian Cullen, and a yet-to-be-named Artsplace filly in the care of Chris Alford.
Following the popularity of last year’s offering, Raceapacer and Pacific Bloodstock bought another three yearlings at this year’s Melbourne APG Sale that are up for syndication.
A Bettors Delight colt to be trained alongside Rhodium Castle has already been fully syndicated, but shares remain available in the other two.
A 10 percent share remains available in an Art Major filly to be trained by Caldow, while three 10 percent shares are left in an Elsu gelding to be trained by Lisa Miles.
Information on how to buy into the youngsters, or harness racing ownership in general, is available at
www.raceapacer.com.au
