Source: Coolmore Stud

Impressive 2YO for Holy Roman
(12th May 2011)

The Lee Freedman stable produced a very impressive two year-old winner at Ballarat on Thursday in Berenger (2g Holy Roman Emperor x Oscar’s Pride, by Zabeel) .

He improved from a debut second at Mornington on April 24 to score a commanding win in the 1400 metre maiden.

Ridden forward by Ben Melham, Berenger controlled the race throughout and surged clear in the straight making light of the heavy conditions to win by six and a half lengths.

“He’s a nice horse and wasn’t entirely happy in the going either, he’ll be much better on top of the ground,” said Melham.

“He’s going to be suited over further as well, he has a good future.”

A $165,000 purchase for BBA Ireland from the Broad Crossing draft at the 2010 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, Berenger is a three-quarter brother to stakes-placed Acoustic Sound from the Zabeel mare Oscar’s Pride (NZ), a half-sister to dual Group I winner Spanish Mix.

Oscar’s Pride has been a regular visitor to Coolmore and has a weanling filly by Oratorio and was covered again by Holy Roman Emperor last spring.

Berenger is the third Australian first crop winner for Coolmore shuttler Holy Roman Emperor, who was also represented in Ireland by top class filly Banimpire, who posted her third successive stakes win when taking out the Group III Blue Wind Stakes over a mile and two furlongs at Naas.

A dual Group I winning juvenile by Danehill, Holy Roman Emperor has shuttled to Australia for the past four years but will remain in Ireland for 2011.