Sponsor celebrates in style
Glen Mortimer is a sponsor of Gloucester Park through Retravision and he celebrated his 60th birthday in style on Friday night with the win of the promising 3yo Rolling Fire.
Trained by the State’s leading trainer of young horses Justin Prentice, Rolling Fire was driven by Gary Hall and it was the gelding’s eighth win in 13 starts and lifted his earnings to $73,879.
Rolling Fire is owned by a group of seven owners and was purchased from the inaugural Nutrien Yearling Sale in Melbourne for $31,000 and when he won in early March 2022 he became the first winner from that sale.
The ownership group includes Gloucester Park CEO Michael Radley, Gloucester Park President John Burt, Gloucester Park committeeman Rob Gartrell and first time owner Richard Sargent.
The gelding’s breeder Gary Crocker and regular Prentice stable owners Glen Mortimer and Ross Fitzgerald also have shares.
“Gary had been telling what a great colt he had bred and was in the sale, I told Rob Gartrell about him, and he was keen to look at him, so Justin had him inspected. The reports were all positive and we were lucky enough to pick him up.” Michael Radley said after Friday’s win.
Justin Prentice wasn’t able to attend the sale in person so did his bidding on-line from his stables in Boyanup.
“Gary Crocker was on the phone straight after he went through the ring asking to keep a share of the flashy colt.”
Rolling Fire was broken-in in Victoria before being sent to Western Australia where he became a stablemate of Australian 2yo Pacer of the Year Never Ending and $100,000 2yo Valedictorian.
“Rolling Fire has clearly benefitted from working with that pair but Justin has always said that he would improve as he matured,” Radley said.
The trio will all be candidates for the $200,000 WA Derby in early November.
Rolling Fire’s dam Incendio is an interesting story in that she was bred in New Zealand by Western Australian breeder Robert Watson who brought her to Australia as an early yearling.
Incendio won six races in WA under the care of veteran trainer Jesse Moore.
Watson bred the first three foals from Incendio, all winners, before selling her to Crocker and Rolling Fire is the first foal that Crocker bred from the mare.