Taree preview: ‘Big Red’ is in the black

Underrated and undervalued stallion Red Henno could add another winner to his small but expanding tally when Diva Rouge makes her debut at Taree on Monday.

Ben Looker will hop aboard mate Jake Hull’s first starter Diva Rouge at Taree on Monday (Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)

TRAINER Jake Hull will break the seal on the latest ‘limited edition’ foal by the unheralded and underrated stallion Red Henno at Taree on Monday.

Hull’s hitherto unraced filly Diva Rouge is one of only 15 named foals sired by the former Michael Tubman-trained now 12-year-old stallion, Red Henno.

Red Henno has been on stud duties, albeit light ones, since the 2020 season.

In that time, the stallion has fathered a total of a mere 37 foals, 15 of them named, and most of those sent Hull’s way via owner/breeder – John O’Connor.

“Red Henno had three horses to the races, two of them have won and one of the others ran second so he is building a nice little record,’’ Hull said.

“(Offspring) Red Spectre won impressively and Rebellious Red won impressively, Qui Rouge has run a couple of seconds and is knocking on the door.”

While Red Henno isn’t quite a ‘revelation’ as yet, his early success has come as no surprise to his chief backer O’Connor and trainer Hull.

“He is by Redoute’s Choice out of Kishkat so he’s as well bred as good as any of them and it was just a shame that he carried injuries in his career, I am sure he could have had a lot better record than what he had,’’ Hull said.

Red Henno’s next opportunity to add one more winner to the tally comes in Monday’s opener at Taree via O’Connor’s home-bred Diva Rouge who is the sixth foal out of the one-time Warwick Farm winning mare Go Diva Go.

“The horses we have had out of the mare have all been quite quick and won their fair share of races,’’ Hull said.

“Diva Rouge has done everything right so far.

“I am not sure how much ability she has got, but I am happy enough with her work and her trials leading into her first attempt.

“She shows a bit of gate speed, she travels well, and she seems to have a bit more up her sleeve.

“I am not afraid to take on a heavy track if it’s that wet on Monday, personally I think it will only be to her advantage.”

Diva Rouge will be ridden by Ben Looker who shares an extraordinary 31.4 per cent winning strike rate with his former jockey’s room colleague and long time friend, Gosford-based Hull.

Former handy galloper Red Hanno is making a great fist, from limited opportunities, in the stallion ranks. Photo: Bradley Photos.

Diva Rouge will have company on Monday’s 500km round-trip from her much older stablemate Browned Off which has made the trek himself twice before with success.

The son of Australian Guineas winner Wandjina is almost 12 months without a win but to be fair has only raced three times since that Grafton victory on June 8 last year.

“He likes the track and the distance, he has raced there twice for a win and a third,’’ Hull said. “He is definitely hot and cold but he could run okay at the odds.

“He is an older horse and he is limited but he’ll head round there and hopefully he can find his old form.”

Browned Off can lay claim to one of the most intriguing pedigrees imaginable.

His ninth dam was by The Welkin out of imported British mare, Light.

If that doesn’t give any clue as to her majesty, her name certainly will – Gloaming’s Sister.

A winner of the first ever AJC Kirkham Stakes in 1925, Gloaming Sister was foaled eight year after her namesake, Gloaming, who won 57 of his 69 races.

He was second on every other occasion barring the one time when he fell after becoming tangled up in the starting tape.

Originally published as Taree preview: ‘Big Red’ is in the black