Stephen Ralph's confidence in Santa Monica (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) was shared by few in the G1 Railway S. at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day, but the Te Awamutu horseman was proved right on the money when the bolter got home at 76-1.
Ralph has always had great faith in the mare and predicted top-flight success for her from the outset.
“She’s only ever had one barrier trial in her life and that was as a 2-year-old,” he said. “She won that and I said then that she was a Group 1 horse. Now the strength has come – the ability has always been there.”
Santa Monica is owned by Stuart and Cherie Hope and they are also involved in another arm of the Ralph racing operation with the latter again certain it will be one to prompt celebrations in the future.
Ralph stands the well-related stallion Thunder Down Under (Street Sense {USA}), who served Santa Monica’s dam in the spring.
“Stuart and Cherie are in half-shares in Thunder Down Under with us and Monarch is in foal to him,” He said.
“He’s got an international pedigree and people just don’t realise what’s under their noses.” – Stephen Ralph.
“Some good mares have gone to him, but none better than Monarch. He’s got an international pedigree and people just don’t realise what’s under their noses.”
Santa Monica's winning connections
Monarch (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}) was empty this year, but Ralph has a 2-year-old sister and a yearling sibling to Santa Monica and a 3-year-old half-brother by Cape Blanco (IRE). Like Santa Monica, they are expected to take time to show the family ability.
Thunder Down Under was trained by Ralph and won on four occasions, including the Listed BMW 3YO Salver and an open handicap mile. He also finished third in the G3 Bonecrusher S. and placed for Chris Waller during a Sydney campaign.
Stallion experience
Ralph is no first-timer to the stallion business and worked alongside his father John, also a Group 1 winning trainer, when he stood Danseur Etoile (FR) (Lyphard {USA}) in the 1980s and early 1990s.
His best representatives were the G3 Rotorua S. and G3 Gold Trail S. winner Miss Etoile (NZ) and the multiple Listed winner Catering King (NZ).
Watch: Thunder Down Under
“Thunder Down Under was bred by the breeders of Winx and he only served 16 mares, not a lot in peoples’ eyes, but we think he’ll make it,” Ralph said.
“His pedigree is no fluke and we believe he’s a special horse.” – Stephen Ralph.
“His pedigree is no fluke and we believe he’s a special horse.”
Thunder Down Under was bred by John Camilleri’s Fairway Thoroughbreds and was purchased by Ralph from Curraghmore’s 2014 Select Sale draft at Karaka for NZ$12,000.
He is out of the unraced River Dreaming (IRE) (Galileo {IRE}), a grand-daughter of the five-time Group 1 winner and former USA Horse of the Year All Along (FR) (Targowice {USA}).
“He’s got such a well-balanced pedigree and he’s an absolute gentleman,” Ralph said. “He’s got perfect manners.”
Thunder Down Under
While Ralph is now fully immersed in racing, he first met the Hopes while working outside of the industry.
“I was a real estate agent and Stuart and Cherie asked me to sell a rental property for them and then their own property.” – Stephen Ralph.
“I was a real estate agent and Stuart and Cherie asked me to sell a rental property for them and then their own property,” he said.
“We’ve worked together with the horses now for 15 years and we’re good friends, but it’s been a long road getting to this point.”
Santa Monica
Future plans for their current star Santa Monica are uncertain, with the G1 JR & N Berkett Telegraph later this month an outside option.
“She could even be retired, she’s a Group 1 winner and a very valuable mare.”- Stephen Ralph.
“I’ve said to the owners that it’s their call, we could put in a late nomination,” Ralph said. “She could even be retired, she’s a Group 1 winner and a very valuable mare.”
The stable enjoyed a winning double on New Year’s Day with Marissa (NZ) (Fully Fledged {NZ}) taking the closing event on the card.
“We knew we had both horses ready to win. It is one of those days that you dream about and it was just our day,” Ralph said.
