Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Perspiration (Too Darn Hot (GB))'s breeder, Gerard Nolan, has sung the praises of his trainer Ciaron Maher and stallion operation Darley, after his thrilling triumph in the Listed Heritage S. at Rosehill on Saturday.
The colt’s explosive dash inside the final 100 metres was too good for the rest of the field in the 1100-metre sprint worth $200,000, edging out Gatsby’s (Snitzel) at the finishing post.
Listed winner for Rosari Farm
A delighted Nolan – who runs the boutique Rosari Farm alongside his wife Jan at rural Gladfield in Queensland’s Southern Downs Region – said Darley and the Maher stable have done a fine job in developing the promising 3-year-old sprinter.
“Darley stood the stallion (Too Darn Hot), and they’ve been very good to us,” Nolan said. “Even up to the part of getting mares covered. We’re only small – we haven’t got big numbers, but they always look after us.
Ged Nolan | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“Because we usually drive the mare down, get her covered and come back home, if you had another mare who had a different mating time, they’d let you leave the mare there. All those things mean a lot to little people like us, especially a big organisation.”
Perspiration has perfect temperament
Nolan said Perspiration - out of Latitude (Casino Prince) - possessed an unflappable temperament in the paddock from day one. “He was always a nice foal, and then he grew into a beautiful yearling. Very good temperament. Hell, he had a good temperament.”
“He (Perspiration) was always a nice foal, and then he grew into a beautiful yearling. Very good temperament. Hell, he had a good temperament.” - Ged Nolan
A $270,000 purchase for Ciaron Maher Bloodstock and Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA) from the Rosari Farm draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Perspiration is a half-brother to The Reluctant Star (Epaulette), who was sold to Hong Kong after winning his first two races at Geelong and Flemington, and races in Hong Kong as Pakistan Legacy. Latitude's first foal, Peppi's Girl (Pierro), is unraced.
Perspiration as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Latitude's purchase assisted by Darley
Nolan also credited Darley for helping him scout and purchase Latitude in 2019. She won five races from 1000 metres up to a mile, and is a half-sister to Listed Mode Plate winner Sugar Boom (Spirit Of Boom) and Group 3-placed winner Intencion (Commands).
“We have quite a bit of that (Latitude) family. We bought out of New Zealand, and we’ve got a half-sister to Latitude called Seam Ripper. She’s still here, and she was a lovely mare and very good to us.
Latitude as offered in 2019 at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“We saw this mare (Latitude) come up for sale and I asked Allison Sedgwick to go and have a look at her. (Sedgwick) was at Darley, and now she’s at Kia Ora. She was very instrumental in us buying it because we’re busy here and we didn’t go to the sale.
“She bought her for us. We brought her home, foaled her out and then she had an Epaulette we sold as a weanling for not a lot of money. He’s (The Reluctant Star) come out and won two out of two in Melbourne, and then he’s gone to Hong Kong.”
Reluctant Star | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Long history with Perspiration's family
Nolan was thrilled to share Perspiration’s victory with Jan and his six daughters on Saturday. “We’re only small. It’s a huge result for us,” he said.
“To win a race like that for us is great. We breed roughly about 12-13 mares a year. We sell some as weanlings, and we sell the rest as yearlings.”
“We’re only small battlers. To win a race like that for us is great. We breed roughly about 12-13 mares a year. We sell some as weanlings, and we sell the rest as yearlings.” - Ged Nolan
Given the small breeding stable they operate, the Nolans certainly punch above their weight when it comes to producing quality racehorses.
They produced Anatina (Fastnet Rock), who ran second as a 3-year-old in the G1 Galaxy in 2014. A dual Listed winner Anatina is out of Quack (Magic Ring {Ire}) who is the third dam of Perspiration. Anatina is the dam of Listed winner Fake Love (I Am Invincible).
“We bought Quack from New Zealand (in 2008) and she had a foal at foot, that was Quack It, and she was in foal to Darci Brahma. Then we sent her to among others Fastnet Rock, and she had a mare called Anatina, that ran second in the G1 Galaxy. We sold her at the yearling (sales) and then we bought her back two years ago. She was a good mare too. There are a few in that family who have been really good to us.”
Quack It won twice and is the dam of Group 2 winner Quackerjack (Not A Single Doubt). Prior to being purchased by Rosari Farm, Quack also produced Listed winner Pricked (Thorn Park), Group 2-placed winner Acupunture (NZ) (Pins) who is the dam of Latitude, and stakes placed winner Fluffy Duck (Tale Of The Cat {USA}) who is the dam of Listed winner Miss Bux (General Nediym) and Atomic (Commands).
Ciaron Maher's influence on Perspiration
Nolan has been delighted at the work the Ciaron Maher Racing team has done with Perspiration. “We’re not up with all that (technology) stuff. They keep us informed so well. The past six months they’ve been very positive about him, and the work he does."
Perspiration had three starts at two, placing in his first two before winning at Mornington in April. Back at three, he ran mid-field in the G3 San Domenico S. before Saturday's Listed win to take his record to two wins from five starts and earnings over $230,000.
Perspiration (navy blue and pale yellow quartered cap) won the Listed Heritage S. on Saturday | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“The (assistant trainer) at Warwick Farm, Johann Gerard-Dubord, he’s excellent. He gives the reports of the gallops and barrier trials. Ciaron even said after his barrier trial he ran second to Growing Empire by probably 2l at Perspiration’s first trial (on February 26).
“And I think Ciaron was quite taken with that. Even to this day I think he thinks there’s more improvement in him. So that’s great for us.”
“Even to this day I think he (Ciaron Maher) thinks there’s more improvement in him (Perspiration). So that’s great for us.” - Ged Nolan
A family affair for Rosari Farm
Nolan said his family's effort was crucial to Perspiration’s Listed triumph in just his fifth start. “My wife is an integral part. It’s a team effort. She’s always there only too willing to help. And we’ve got six daughters as well, they’re great. They come in their school holidays. It’s great for us. They know how we think. They just get in and do it.
“We try to do our best. If you get the little things right, the big things will come, won’t they? Just attention to detail, and making sure there are no injuries or a foal hasn’t got a temperature.”
“If you get the little things (in breeding) right, the big things will come, won’t they? Just attention to detail, and making sure there are no injuries or a foal hasn’t got a temperature.” - Ged Nolan
Nolan said it was important not to get too carried away with feature wins in town because racing generally has a funny way of bringing you back down to earth.
“You don’t get too excited. When things like that happen with Perspiration on Saturday, you totally enjoy it because you know what? Just around the corner there’s a blue dog waiting to bite you on the backside.”
