Roll The Dice Racing expands into Sydney & aligns with Matt Smith
Dissident ex Excess Love and Rubick ex Lady Rah Rah fillies are the first set to join the Group 1-winning Warwick Farm trainer
Fresh off the back of two-year–old colt Profiteer’s (Capitalist) stunning success in the $2 million Inglis Millennium (RL, 1100m) earlier this month, Roll The Dice Racing has expanded into the tough Sydney market, aligning with Warwick Farm trainer Matt Smith.
The move is opportune for one of Australia’s fastest growing syndication companies, with the expansion coinciding with yesterday’s announcement by Racing NSW of a $20 million increase to its annual prize–money offering in the state from July 1.
“We are trying to crack the Sydney market and so it’s very timely for us, we are really excited, it’s perfect timing,” said Roll The Dice Racing’s operations manager Steve Travaglia.
Smith is the latest Group 1-winning trainer to join up with Roll The Dice Racing, who now have their horses well positioned in stables right along the Eastern Seaboard.
Tony Gollan is their preferred trainer in Queensland, David Jolly in Adelaide and Mick Price, along with his training partner MIchael Kent Jnr, in Melbourne.
“Sydney was the last market for us to set up in. It seems like more of a prestige market and a tough one to crack,” said Travaglia.
“I didn’t know a lot about Matt but I went through his resume and, crikey, he’s got an incredible resume and record.
“They are lovely people. Great to talk to and deal with and their communications are in good order.”
The introduction to Smith came about through their own regular dealings with highly respected bloodstock agents John Foote and Jeremy Rogers.
“John Foote has been buying for Matt for the past six to eight months. He advises us on bloodstock and other matters and he encouraged us to go with him,” added Travaglia.
“At the Inglis Classic sale John said to us he’s a very astute trainer and he’s the person to go with up there.
“It makes it easier and makes sense that we align with one trainer in each state. It works well for us.”
Roll The Dice Racing will send two of their recent yearling purchases to Smith, including a Dissident (Sebring) ex Excess Love (Exceed And Excel) filly from the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and a Rubick (Encosta De Lago) x Lady Rah Rah (Choisir) filly they picked up at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
“We are syndicating two with him at the moment and hoping to get up to five or six.”
Roll The Dice Racing’s banner horse, Profiteer, gave them just the nudge they needed to get a foothold in Sydney racing.
Travaglia reports the valuable Capitalist (Written Tycoon) colt has been ticking along quietly since his rousing performance in the Inglis Millennium at Randwick, while the likes of Home Affair (I Am Invincible) and Stay Inside (Extreme Choice) have burst onto the scene as his potential rivals in the Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) on March 20 after impressive victories in the Silver Slipper Stakes (Gr 2, 1100m) and Pierro Plate (1100m) respectively.
“He galloped on Tuesday morning,” said Travaglia. “Our ultimate goal is the Slipper and we will go to the Todman on the way. He won’t be fully ready and at 95 per cent for that race and, if he comes out of that, win lose or draw, he will be 100 per cent ready for the Slipper.
“A lot of judges are saying it’s going to be a strong year. Gee there’s a lot of nice horses bobbing up and most of them are colts.”
Roll The Dice Racing will be active at the upcoming Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale that begins on February 28.
“Hopefully we will walk away with three or four that meet our budget, but by all reports it’s going to be a very strong sale,” Travaglia added.
Inglis’ general manager of bloodstock sales, Sebastian Hutch, applauded yesterday’s Racing NSW prize–money announcement as inspections got underway for the Victorian sale.
“It’s evident to any bloodstock professional that Australia is the most lucrative bloodstock market in the world,” said Hutch.
“It’s not just about the volume of million-dollar-plus races, it’s prize–money across all levels. There’s tremendous strength and a conscious effort on the part of administrators to grow the prize-money pool. It’s a credit to the people responsible for that.”
Hutch said he’s “reasonably optimistic” of a good performing Premier sale and added that the impact of such bold prize-money lifts would inevitably stimulate the bloodstock market and the remainder of the yearling auction season in Australia.
“I think when prize–money in Sydney really started progressing there was always a feeling that once that flowed through to owners the knock-on effect would be very positive for us, coupled with fact it was demonstrated to be a very enjoyable and well-run sport during the Covid-19 pandemic.”