*Article by The Trainers Hut Media
Rovno Amber is no longer a maiden and loftier targets beckon for the Shane Nichols-trained Russian Revolution colt.
Purchased by Nichols at the Magic Millions on the Gold Coast last year, he has shown a lot of potential, which translated to the racecourse at Bendigo on Sunday.
Given a great ride by Zac Spain, the pair careered away from the field, including the well-supported favourite, for a convincing win.
“He’s a pretty smart colt. We’ve got a lot of time for him,” Nichols said after the race.
“He was a bit underdone first-up, and then second-up, he just dawdled out of the gates and sat back last in a slowly run race. He got held up in the straight, probably when he was tiring on his run. Then he had a little foot abscess, so we had to wait and come here.
“I did say to Zac, and Zac showed some brains; he was back a little bit and saw them drop the speed, so he went and put them in the box seat, which was the winning move. He was strong to the line.
“He is a progressive colt.
“There are some options for him going forward. On the last day of the Flemington Carnival, there is a seven furlongs Stakes race. We will pick a run between there and now and go there. If he can win again, he will go to Flemington during the Carnival.
“He is a smart enough colt to be thinking like that. He’s out of a Group 1 winner by Russian Revolution, and he’s still got his pills, so you need to race them in races where they can become a stallion in time, and we haven’t dismissed that yet.
“He’s always trialled up really well, it’s just taken him a little while to find the winner’s circle.”
Spain was having his first race ride on the three-year-old but had done some work on him previously.
“He’s a progressive type,” Spain said.
“I remember I jumped him out at Balnarring, and he showed good ability then. He probably should have knocked his maiden out of the way earlier; he’s just been a little bit unlucky, but he won really convincingly today.
“His runs up to date have been really good. I don’t normally like to give them a rub after they step slow, but Shane was adamant to be on pace.
“He just dwelled out of the barriers, and I just let him flow until I found a spot, and it worked out perfect. They rolled along nice enough where I could slot in, and he dropped the bridle in behind them.
“When I pushed the button, gee, he let rip. He hit the front a long way from home, but he sustained his gallop. He’s a nice colt.”
Rovno Amber is out of the Group 1 Sangster Stakes winner Precious Gem and was bred by the China Horse Club.
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