Written by Paul Vettise
Chapter And Verse (Rothesay) is poised to join the millionaire’s club and he’s proved to be an astute piece of business for Eagle Farm trainer Desleigh Forster.
The 5-year-old has won five races and success in Saturday’s Listed TAB Lough Neagh S. on his home turf would take his earnings beyond seven figures, a tasty return on his purchase price of $28,000 at the Magic Millions March Yearling Sale.
Chapter And Verse as a yearling
Chapter And Verse was bred and offered by Raheen Stud and is a son of the multiple winner and black type performer McFly (Perugino), who has also produced the winner and stakes placegetter Soaring Heart (Show A Heart).
The headline act in the pedigree is the G3 Vo Rogue Plate and Magic Millions Guineas winner Boomsara (Spirit Of Boom), although Forster was more sold on Chapter And Verse’s male line.
“I was at the sale and saw him and he was a good type. I like Rothesay and that’s the main reason why I bought him and put some stable clients into the ownership,” she said.
Early issues
It hasn’t all been plain sailing with the gelding, who began his career as a spring 3-year-old and opened his account at his second appearance.
“He’s been very good to do anything with, but he had a few little injuries and that’s why he didn’t race earlier,” Forster said.
Chapter And Verse cashed in heavily at last season’s Magic Millions Day at the Gold Coast where he won the $1 million QTIS and his likely target next month is the Magic Millions Cup.
In the meantime, he warmed up for this weekend’s Lough Neagh with a last-start barn-storming win in the G3 George Moore S. at Doomben and hadn’t missed a beat in between times.
“He’s going really, really well. He’s fully matured now and developed and he’s a happy horse,” Forster said. “He seems to know where the winning post is, which is really good.”
“He’s going really, really well. He’s fully matured now and developed and he’s a happy horse.” - Desleigh Forster
Chapter And Verse, who will be ridden by his regular partner Mark Du Plessis, will jump from a wide alley, but Forster doesn’t view that as any inconvenience.
“The draw is not too big a disadvantage to him. He will get back anyway and he likes the big Eagle Farm track so he’s going to get his chance,” she said.
“Mark has settled in so well in Queensland and he knows this horse very well.”
Mark Du Plessis and Desleigh Forster
