A year ago to the date of his maiden Group 1 win in the Randwick Guineas, Le Romain extended his current win streak to three and made it Group 1 number three with a victory over champion sprinter Chautauqua in the Canterbury S. Le Romain's two prior Group 1 wins had come over a mile–in the Guineas and the Cantala S. at the Flemington spring carnival in October–but the gelding had also campaigned successfully at shorter trips, winning over 1000 and 1200 metres. Le Romain wrapped up his 3-year-old campaign last autumn with a tame seventh in the G1 Rosehill Guineas, and was the bridesmaid in his first three outings last spring before dropping to fifth in the G1 Epsom H. He bounced back with his Cantala score on his next start and had opened this prep with a win in Randwick's 1200-metre G3 Southern Cross S.
Ugo Foscolo (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}) raced to the lead on Saturday with Le Romain pressing on his outside in second while favoured Chautauqua, away last from the barriers while stepping up slightly in trip, trailed in last about 10 lengths off the lead. Le Romain headed to the preferred stands' side ground when the field straightened for home with Chautauqua cutting the corner on the rail. Chautauqua made his way to the outside thereafter and he and Le Romain battled out the finish, with Le Romain prevailing in a head-bobber.
“He had a lovely spot in the run,” winning rider Glyn Schofield told racenet.com.au. “My fellow was as keen to get to the outside as I was. Once I got there I thought I was going to win quite comfortably then geez, Chautauqua, he challenged me quickly.”
Chautauqua's rider Tommy Berry said the veteran gelding didn't relish the testing conditions, “It's all about getting him to switch off to get the trip, which is good going towards the Doncaster if that's the plan they want to take, but he wasn't getting through the track very well early so to be any closer I'd have had to put him out of his comfort zone,” he said. “I had to do a bit of work before the turn and I was never going to be able to go around them because they were always going to the outside fence so I elected to cut the corner, banking on his turn of foot to be able to clear them and then get to the outside. It worked but Le Romain was out in the good ground and hadn't done as much work early.”
Pedigree Notes…
Le Romain is the third foal out of the winning Mignard, who is herself a daughter of Mielleuse (Aus) (Night Shift {Aus}), who was third in the G3 Reisling Slipper Trial. Mielleuse is a half-sister to G1 Rosehill Guineas and G1 Emirates S. winner Pursuits (Quest For Fame {GB}). Mignard has a yearling filly by Kuroshio (Aus) and a colt foal by that same sire to come.
Saturday, Randwick, Australia
CANTERBURY S.-G1, A$490,000, ATC, 3-4, 3yo/up, Open Weight For Age, 1300mT, 1:20.00, Heavy.
1–LE ROMAIN, 59.0, g, 4, by Hard Spun (USA)
1st Dam: Mignard, by Strategic
2nd Dam: Mielleuse, by Night Shift (USA)
3rd Dam: Collant Noir, by Lunchtime (GB)
O-A Carusi, A P Agius, L Nicaj, A Labbozzetta, G Serratore, J
Altamura, Miss M Bilusic & Mrs S Livaja; B-Mr A Carusi NSW;
T-K A Lees; J-G Schofield; A$295,000. Lifetime Record:
15-6-6-1, A$1,887,075. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Chautauqua, 59.0, g, 6, Encosta de Lago–Lovely Jubly, by Lion
Hunter. O-R & C Legh Racing (Mgrs: R & Mrs C Legh), G P I
Racing (Mgr: G Ingham), Gurners Bloodstock (Mgr: M A
Ramsden), G Pulitano, S W Kay, Ms M A Keating, Wright Racing
(Mgrs: P & R Wrigh); B-Woodbury Pty Ltd NSW; T-M, W & J
Hawkes; J-Tommy Berry; A$95,000.
3–Hauraki, 59.0, g, 5, Reset–Youthful Presence, by Dehere
(USA) . O-Godolphin; B-Darley NSW; T-J A O'Shea; J-B Shinn;
A$50,000.
Margins: 0.1 len, 3.1 len, 4.8 len. Odds: 3.60, 2.70, 11.00.
Also Ran: Impending, Music Magnate (NZ), Japonisme, Too Good to Refuse, Ugo Foscolo (NZ).
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.
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