Footy Mates Kick A Goal

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Thoroughbred

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THOROUGHBRED

Progressive three-year-old Axel ‘R’ Eight scored his second win from three races for a group of mates associated with the Perth Demons Football Club at Belmont on Wednesday. 

Trained by Darren McAuliffe, the Gingerbread Man gelding defied a somewhat unorthodox approach when winning over 2200m at just his second start on September 9 and continued his winning ways with a strong performance against older horses on Wednesday.

Axel ‘R’ Eight ($10), ridden by Julien Kokotajlo in the 2000m event, powered to the line to beat Bristol Road ($10.00) by a length-and-three-quarters, with Prince Hal ($22.30) a further length away in third place.

Breeder Ian Rothnie, who was part of the 1967-68 Demons’ premiership teams led by hall of fame legend, Barry Cable, owns the galloper in partnership with eight friends and former teammates from the WAFL club.

Among the ownership group includes Wim Rosbender, a 1977-78 premiership star for Perth who was promoted to club legend status in 2016, as well as current Demons president, Daryle Mann, and Paul Ibbitson, the father of former Fremantle Docker’s footballer, Garrick.

Axel ‘R’ Eight is the second foal from Rothnie’s broodmare, Axes ‘N’ Taxes, and he hopes the stayer can extend his impressive breeding record.

“I bought the mare in foal from Graham Dawes at a dispersal sale,” Rothnie said.

“We bred Secret Monarch and he won Group and Listed races before being sold to Singapore for $600,000.

“I bought his dam, Tahoe Queen, at a dispersal sale as well.

“She had eight foals for seven winners and one of them also sold to South Africa so I’ve had some success along the way.”

Serpentine-based horseman McAuliffe, one of the state’s leading trainers, boasts a winning strike rate of 23 per cent from 170 runners since August 1, 2017.

Rothnie said the stable’s brilliant form caught his eye and was the catalyst for McCauliffe acquiring the galloper.

“I’m a bit of a studious sort of a bloke and I was just doing stats one night when we were looking for a trainer,” he said

“I was looking at training statistics and Darren’s jumped off the page at me.”

Despite his confidence in his trainer, Rothnie admitted having some concerns prior to the galloper’s sharp rise in distance from 1400m to 2200m at only his second career outing.

“I nearly had a heart attack when he stepped him up to 2200m,” he said.

“He declared him that day, too, so he’s very astute.”

McCauliffe was full of praise for Axel ‘R’ Eight following his win at Belmont on Wednesday.

“He’s obviously got a good aerobic capacity and he’s very trainable over that sort of trip,” McCauliffe said.

“Technically he was nearly two when he did that a couple weeks ago (September 9) because I think he’s a 30th of August foal.

“He’s a nice, progressive staying type.”

Axel ‘R’ Eight is Gingerbread Man’s first winner beyond 1650m, however, McCauliffe believed he always had the makings of a stayer.

“I love to take notice of pedigrees but we treat them all as individuals,” he said.

“When we get them in the heavy sand and he can do what he’s being doing for a long time, you just sort of know. 

“His recovery is great, he’s got a lot of energy and he gets through his work and he bounces back so we can keep it up to him and he copes with it.”

Axel ‘R’ Eight will now be spelled before being aimed at the $400,000 Group 2 WATC Derby (2400m) in April next year.

Rothnie confirmed the gelding’s dam, Axes ‘N’ Taxes, was recently covered by Taunton Vale stallion Demerit.

Michael Heaton