It was only last week that I extolled the virtues of Kenmares’ sons Tribu and Metal Storm on these pages. On Saturday another son, Kenvain, was to the fore through the deeds of his talented son Romilada.

A sprinter, Romilada competed with distinction, although not a lot of luck, throughout the recent Adelaide Cup Carnival. He ran fifth beaten 0.9 of a length by Windigo in the Honda Stakes and sixth behind Calming in the Liz Davenport Stakes. On Saturday, however, it was Romilada’s turn, chalking up his first win this campaign in the Best Bets Handicap at Cheltenham.

Romilada, or at least his dam McGinty’s Jewel, holds special interest for me. His breeder, Frank Matthews is a friend of my father’s through their mutual interest in golf. When Frank retired from his building business and moved from Melbourne to Adelaide he also retired from his considerable racing and breeding interests, which included McGinty’s Jewel and her Kenvain colt. When it came time to sell McGinty’s Jewel, however, there were no takers and Frank all but offered the mare to my father and I. Ruefully it is an offer we did not take up.

From his very first start in a Balaklava maiden the highly-strung Romilada stamped himself a potential star.

In his second preparation he confirmed his potential with three city wins from as many starts and followed with commendable performances during the 2001 Adelaide Cup Carnival, placing third behind Ateates and Miss Powerbird in the Group Two Yallambee Classic and winning the Listed Liz Davenport Classic.

Saturday’s win, his first in a little over a year, took his record to seven wins and $135,650 from just eighteen starts.

McGinty’s Jewel was a moderately performed mare and won just one race – a maiden at Albury. As her name suggests she is by the star galloper McGinty winner of the VATC Caulfield Stakes, STC Rawson Stakes, STC Canterbury Guineas, WRC George Adams Handicap, and ARC Air New Zealand Stakes (twice).

At stud McGinty has sired some 22 stakeswinners notably The Hind, The Gentry, Jolly Old Mac and Miltak. He is broodmare sire of 105 winners of over $3.3 million and the stakeswinners High Grove, McFlirt, Ariba, and of course Romilada.

McGinty’s Jewel is from the American mare Miss Leatherneck, a daughter of Lt.Stevens, himself the son of the influential mare Rough Shod, ancestress of Nureyev, Sadler’s Wells, Fairy King and company.

The third dam of McGinty’s Jewel, Chocolate Beau by Beau Max (Bull Lea – Bee Mac), is the grand dam of Group 2 winner Navajo Princess, the dam of Champion Dancing Brave. Dancing Brave’s wins in the Group One Prix De L’arc De Triomphe, Ascot King George VI & QE II S, 2,000 Guineas, and Eclipse S earned him the titles of Champion Three Year Old of England and France in 1986, as well as Champion Miler in England the same year.

For pedigree buffs Romilada qualifies for pedigree researcher Ken MacLean’s theories as discussed in the Tribu/Metal Storm story. He is linebred 5m x 5m to Grey Sovereign, and carries an additional four strains of Nasrullah through Nearula sire of Belle of the Ball, the second dam of Kenmare; Orgoglio dam sire of Vain the sire of Dancelot the dam of Kenvain; Never Say Die the sire of Sostenuto the sire of Hot Rhythm (dam of Dancelot) and through Nantallah, the sire of Lt. Stevens.

PICS - Jenny Barnes.

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