Roheryn adds to perfect first-up record as stable produces Stakes double

A brilliant victory by Roheryn (Michael Rodd) in Saturday’s Listed Falvelon Handicap at Eagle Farm enhanced his notable first-up recorded and maintained the Australian stable’s strong mid-summer momentum.

Roheryn’s Brisbane win, his fifth win from five first-up attempts, added to the success of Pandemic (Damien Oliver) in the Listed Christmas Stakes at Caulfield where the two-year-old Picarones (Damien Oliver) took out the ungraded Juvenile Handicap.

And in Sydney, the imported runner Best Of Days (Hugh Bowman) claimed another Stakes placing when second in the G3 Summer Cup at Randwick.

For Roheryn, the victory, his second at Stakes level, came at the expense of stablemates Isaurian (Michael Cahill), who finished a close third, and Viridine (Brad Stewart), who was fourth.

It was also a tribute to the determination of both horse and rider.

Roheryn turned for home some 10 lengths off the lead but under strong encouragement from Michael Rodd he maintained his momentum to score in the final stride from The Odyssey.

In Melbourne, Pandemic proved far more convincing in his 1-3/4 length win, his first at Stakes level.

Always chasing hard, the gelding turned for home poised to make a challenge that proved irresistible and which took him to the line clear of Brave Song with William Thomas in third place.

As significant as the Stakes successes was the win of Picarones at Caulfield.

A son of Darley stallion Shooting To Win, Picarones is the fourth individual two-year-old winner for the Godolphin Australia in Melbourne this season and his seventh juvenile winner overall for 2020-21.