Six-year-old Ghibellines gelding Smokin’ Romans firmed into favouritism for this month’s $5 million Caulfield Cup after his emphatic victory in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes over 2000m at Flemington on Saturday. Purchased by Jeremy Rogers at the 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale for NZ$52,500 under the Darren Weir Racing banner from the White Robe Lodge draft, he is in career best form. Before his Flemington win, he gained automatic entry into the Caulfield Cup by winning the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes over 2000m.

Taking his prizemoney past the $1 million mark, Smokin’ Romans is a credit to his trainer’s Ciaron Maher and David Eustace who have been very patient with the nine-time winner.