Son Of Holy Roman Emperor Becomes Millionaire With Grade 2 Win

Rockemperor (6h Holy Roman Emperor - Motivation, by Motivator) took his earnings past the $1million mark when justifying favouritism in the Grade 2 Bowling Green Stakes at Saratoga.

Victorious in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic in October, Chad Brown’s charge had finished second in last year’s running of the race, but benefitted from his preferred firm turf on Sunday. Making his move approaching the turn for home, Rockemperor led in the straight and kept on well to deny Arklow by half a length, with the same distance back to stablemate and long-time leader L’Imperator (Holy Roman Emperor) in third.

“He'd been working really well,” Chad Brown later revealed. “The key to this horse is getting him on firm turf.” Winning rider Flavien Prat added, “I was traveling well all the way around. When I tipped out, he gave me a good kick.”

Rockemperor is owned by Madaket Stables and Michael Dubb, having been purchased privately from his native France, where he was Group 3 placed. Bred by Haras du Mezeray, he completed a Stakes double on the day for Holy Roman Emperor, with Jadoomi (4g Holy Roman Emperor - South Sister, by Sakhee) having landed the Listed Prix du Pays d’Auge at Clairefontaine.

Group 1 placed as a juvenile, Simon and Ed Crisford’s charge was Stakes-placed on his sole start last season and was making his first start of the season on Sunday. The bay raced prominently throughout under Theo Bachelot and was ridden to lead entering the final furlong, running on well to beat the favourite by three parts of a length on the line.

Owned by Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum, Jadoomi holds an entry in the Group 2 Celebration Mile later this month. The son of Holy Roman Emperor is the best performer bred by Elevage Du Moratalla out of South Sister, whose two-year-old Track Of Time (Gleneagles) is in training with Francis-Henri Graffard.