The $250,000 Group III ATC San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday featured the return of Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes winner Devil Night and Golden Slipper runner-up Wodeton, but they were no match for the Darby Racing owned gelding Raging Force.
Trained by Peter Snowden, Raging Force was sixth on debut in the Group III ATC Breeders Plate last spring before being sidelined with an injury which saw him miss the autumn carnival.
He then cast off maiden status with a win at Muswellbrook in June followed by impressive metro wins at Randwick and Rosehill in June and July with Tommy Berry in the saddle.
Berry was keen to stick with Raging Force and his confidence proved well founded.
The speedy son of Cosmic Force led throughout and controlled the race with Wodeton closing off late for second beaten a length and a half a half ahead of Silver Slipper winner Beiwacht in third place with class colts Rivellino and Devil Night following in fourth and fifth.
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“That was a good test for him today. There was a Slipper placegetter, a Blue Diamond winner and a few other horses there that have shown a fair bit of ability,” said Peter Snowden.
“He beat the A-graders there, they weren’t benchmark horses and he has won well.
“The Run To The Rose is the natural progression we will take with him in a couple of weeks’ time. That will tell us whether he can go seven furlongs or whether we keep him to 12 (00 metres).”
Tommy Berry was well pleased with Raging Force and feels there is improvement to come given he raced a little greenly at the finish when wanting to lay in towards Wodeton.
“Full credit to him that he didn’t want to over-race and do things wrong,” Berry said.
“He was happy to be there and that’s a new string to his bow.
“He got a little bit lost in the straight and wanted to wander around a bit and I had to stop and grab hold of him but then he got going again.
“He’s going to be a better horse in the autumn but geez, we’re going to have some fun in the spring.”
A $150,000 Inglis Classic purchase from Mullaglass Stud for Darby Racing, Raging Force has the overall record of four wins from five starts with prizemoney topping $310,000.
Bred by Dr Richard McClenahan of Mullaglass Stud, Raging Force is the first winner from stakes-placed Stryker mare Miss Loren, who traces back to the family of Group III winning filly Dandolera.
Raging Force is the fifth stakes-winner for Newgate Farm based Cosmic Force, who stands at a fee of $16,500.
