Russian To The Bar had been in the doldrums since being rated one of Perth’s most promising prospects as an autumn 3yo after winning the LR Challenge Stakes (1500m) and LR Lex Piper Stakes (1600m).
The Luke Fernie-trained 5yo had not saluted at Ascot since December 2024 and was friendless easing from $31 to $41 for the Solutions Matchmaking Hcp (1400m) on Saturday. He defied that quote with a return-to-form victory that completed a treble for in-form jockey Chris Parnham.
“He’s been placed behind some good horses in some good races so his form hasn’t been all that bad,” Parnham said. “I was happy with his first-up run this prep over 1200m in The Joey but he didn’t run out the 1800m of the Digger’s Cup. He was freshened for 1400m today and that’s his best trip up to a mile.”
Russian To The Bar (Photo / Western Racepix) is a Dawson Stud-bred graduate having made $200,000 at the 2022 Perth Magic Millions. Graham Daws kept a share as managing part-owner and he races in the colours of David Reed for six wins earning $379,000 to date including Westspeed bonuses of $60,550.
”He’s been racing without any luck and Chris gave him every chance in the three-wide line with cover,” stable foreman Brian Carey said. “His work was very good on Tuesday and we thought today might be the day dropping back to 1400m.”
Russian To The Bar is a half-brother to Kissonallforcheeks (Written Tycoon) who earned over $1.72 million headlined by a Group 3 in the R J Peters Stakes (1500m) at Ascot before transferring to Melbourne where she won to Group 2 level in the VRC Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.
Their dam Rosie Rocket (Blackfriars) had won the LR Starstruck Classic (1600m) and LR La Trice Classic (1800m) at Ascot in 2011. She has unraced 2yo filly Investing In Rosie (Capitalist) with Fernie and a yearling filly by Dundeel that changed hands for $320,000 at the 2026 Inglis Australian Easter Sale.
Belmont Bloodstock’s Damon Gabbedy purchased the Dundeel filly as agent My Racehorse Director Ben Willis and he also paid $100,000 (as agent) on behalf of the same buyer for the Dawson Stud-bred So You Think filly out of Temptacion (All Too Hard) at Riverside Stables.
