In-form apprentice William Stanley made it a double at Rosehill with this win on Romeo's Choice - courtesy Bradley Photographers.

Rising seven year old gelding Romeo’s Choice is one of those horses punters like to include in their exotic investments because he’s unfailingly honest. A record of 48 starts for 8 wins, 17 placings and $641,000 tells you a lot about the homebred son of Choistar, a little known stallion who’s currently standing at a very modest service fee in Western Australia. Romeo’s Choice went into Saturday’s 1300m Racing And Sports Hcp off three tidy runs in recent weeks and was probably over the odds at $10.00. He’d been only 2.65 lengths behind Wanaruah in the listed Bob Charley Stakes, a half length third to Sunshineinmypocket at Randwick in a strong BM94 and a four length seventh to Dark Glitter at Rosehill after a wide run on July 4th.

On Saturday at Rosehill he had the luxury of a 3kg claim for in-form apprentice Will Stanley, a much improved barrier draw and track conditions to suit. After beginning fast Romeo’s Choice was caught a little wide early but quickly angled over to be “box seating” on the fence by the time they reached the first turn. Stanley had him in a good rhythm as he followed Elouyou and Midnight Opal into the straight and elected to stay where he was when the two leaders drifted wider in search of better ground. It took Romeo’s Choice quite a while to get the better of Elouyou but once he got the head in front he had no intention of surrendering. He held the gutsy Elouyou to win by a neck with Midnight Opal not far away third. The win completed an important Saturday double for Will Stanley who’d won earlier on Rolling Magic for the Richard and Will Freedman stable.

Romeo's Choice "dwarfs" Elouyou (Tom Berry) in the last few strides of the Racing And Sports Handicap at Rosehill - courtesy Bradley Photographers.

Also on a roll currently is trainer Richard Litt who posted his 41st win for the season when Romeo’s Choice saluted. “It’s the best season my stable has had since I took out a licence just over nine years ago,” said the Warwick Farm trainer. “We’ve enjoyed Gr 1 success with horses like Castelvecchio and Profondo, but another Saturday win with Romeo’s Choice gives us almost as big a kick. By coincidence he won the July Sprint on the same track at the same meeting last year. He’s such a magical horse to have in the stable. He’s a tremendous eater, does his work happily, has a super attitude and hasn’t taken a lame step since he arrived as a yearling. He’s truly the ultimate racehorse.”

The Romeo’s Choice story began when part owners and hobby breeders Sam and Theresa Gallo despatched their mare Romantic Zariz to a little known stallion called Choistar at a very modest service fee. The backstories behind both stallion and mare make for interesting reading. Choistar, a son of high profile Choisir was originally trained in Queensland by Michael Flanigan and won a maiden 2YO race at Toowoomba in January 2009. Three months later Flanigan brought him to Sydney to win the 1600m Fernhill Hcp by five lengths on a heavy track with Hugh Bowman on board. He later placed three times from five starts for Tony Sears before being retired.

Sam and Theresa Gallo with Will Stanley, Richard and the trainer's sons Thomas and Liam after Saturday's win - courtesy Bradley Photographers.

The racetrack achievements of Romantic Zariz were nowhere near as distinguished. In fact, her seven starts resulted in only one win and a narrow one at that, in an Orange maiden in late 2011 for Con Karakatsanis. Sam and Theresa Gallo purchased Romantic Zariz on her retirement from the track but were doomed to disappointment in her first few seasons at stud. She missed twice to Redoute’s Choice and once to Testa Rossa before finally delivering a filly foal to Choistar later known as Lexi’s Choice, a full sister to Romeo’s Choice. Although not nearly as talented as her younger brother, Lexi’s Choice was good enough to win races at Newcastle and Wyong.

The Gallos were delighted when Romeo’s Choice was foaled on their hobby breeding farm almost seven years ago. They immediately decided to keep the strapping colt and race him with family and close friends. His current prize money tally of $640,000 justifies that decision. “He was a nice mover from the time he came into work, but was massively built and very immature,” recalled Richard Litt. “He took a long time to get it all together and didn’t win a maiden until his twelfth race start on the Beaumont track at Newcastle with Aaron Bullock in the saddle.”

The first of eight wins for Romeo's Choice - a Newcastle maiden 21/03/2023 with Aaron Bullock in the saddle - courtesy Bradley Photographers.

Following that maiden win Romeo’s Choice reeled off four consecutive placings before going for a spell. It was obvious he had a genuine attitude and destined to be a very handy horse for connections. His form pattern has subsequently remained consistent highlighted by a metropolitan hat trick in the middle of last year. It’s worthy of note that he hasn’t been disgraced in five black type runs to date, the best of which was a 4.5 length fifth to Lazzura in the Gr 3 Show County Quality last spring.

Richard Litt’s recent winning trot has provided a buffer of sorts against his profound disappointment at losing Caffe Florian to a tendon injury following her unplaced effort in the Gr 2 Arrowfield on April 11th. The lightly raced filly had impressed with a hat trick of wins late last year culminating in the Gosford Guineas. She resumed in the autumn with a good fourth in the listed Fireball and followed up with a strong third in the listed Darby Munro Stakes, further bolstering Richard’s healthy opinion of the daughter of Snitzel. “She’s a filly of huge talent and I could see her winning a decent stakes race during the autumn but that all came tumbling down when she pulled up with a pretty severe tendon injury after the Arrowfield,” said the trainer. “Owners Ottavio and Wendy Galletta were equally devastated but have agreed to give her the opportunity to return to the track. The soon-to-be four year old will have one full year out before undergoing the best in rehabilitation, and then we’ll give her another try.”

Long striding Caffe Florian (Jason Collett) was too strong for Mareth in last year's black type Gosford Guineas - courtesy Bradley Photographers.

The expat Kiwi horseman rounded off a very pleasant day by attending his very first NRL game on Saturday night to watch the Canterbury Bulldogs smash the Wests Tigers 32-0. Richard’s attendance was organised by Bulldogs five eighth Lachie Galvin who happens to be a keen racing man and enjoys nothing more than calling into the Litt stables from time to time to pat a few thoroughbreds. “I’m embarrassed to say I haven’t seen a Warriors game yet but thanks to Lachie’s generosity I’ve seen the Bulldogs deliver one of their best performances of the season,” said the Warwick Farm trainer.

With a maximum of 35 boxes available at the Hope St. complex Richard fluctuates between 28-35 horses. In nominating a likely future winner from the current team he came up with a rising four year old gelding called Aleppo Pine who started his racing life as a member of the huge Godolphin team. He won a 2YO race at Ballarat for James Cummings and a 3YO Quality at Sandown for Ben, Will and JD Hayes after the restructuring of the Godolphin training format. He eventually found his way onto the Inglis Online Sale in May when he realised $100,000 to the bid of Monarch Racing Syndications. The son of Blue Point debuted for his new owners with a promising sixth only 1.23 lengths behind the much lauded Ice Kool at Randwick and followed up two weeks later with a respectable seventh (2.4 lengths) behind the impressive Polyglot who was having just his third start in the Darby Racing silks. “We’re sorting out a few little quirks with Aleppo Pine but he should be winning a race in Sydney sooner rather than later,” said Richard.

Richard Litt’s rapid emergence as a respected member of the Sydney training ranks has caught the 36 year old by complete surprise. It was intended that he and his father Jim would train in partnership when they first arrived but there was a sudden change of plans when Richard’s brother Jay died prematurely in NZ. Jim returned home indefinitely but strongly encouraged Richard to acquire his own licence and give the tough Sydney arena a serious shot.

He got the show on the road when he won the 2017 Braidwood Cup with a mare called Klisstra in 2017. Just two years later he was on the victory dais at Randwick accepting the trainer’s trophy after Castelvecchio’s win in the Gr 1 Champagne Stakes. The son of Dundeel had already won the Inglis Millennium and would later add a Gr 1 Rosehill Guineas to his CV. The colt’s second placing to Lys Gracieux in the 2019 Cox Plate took the young trainer to the stratosphere. Profondo’s win in the 2021 Spring Champion Stakes was Richard’s third at the elite level, while his overall win tally is now exceeding 200. He remains in disbelief that Ottavio and Wendy Galletta would entrust him with the care and training of expensive colts like Castelvecchio and Profondo. At the same time, he greatly values the support he’s had from all of his smaller owners since going commercial nine years ago. Richard Litt loves what he’s doing and loves the Sydney racing industry. It’s full steam ahead from here.

ROMEO’S CHOICE- THE KIND OF HORSE EVERY OWNER DREAMS ABOUT

ZOURIPPER HAS INHERITED SOME OF THE FAMILY TALENT