Trainer Kris Lees considers the 1400m of the Group 1 $600,000 Schweppes All Aged Stakes at Randwick on Saturday is the pet distance for his stable flag bearer Le Romain.
Le Romain, above, will be well suited over the 1400m of the All Aged Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Even though Le Romain is a dual Group 1 winner over 1600m as well a winner at the top level at 1300m, Lees feels that his racing style will see him very well suited over the 1400m.
“Although he is a two-time group 1 winner at the mile, I think the 1400 metres could be his best trip because of his high cruising speed,” Lees told The Sydney Morning Herald.
“He won the Canterbury Stakes and I think that showed his strength is around this sort of trip.
“He can just sustain it for longer at 1400m and makes him very tough to beat. We will make a final decision on Tuesday after he works but I’m confident he will run, and run very well, on Saturday at the moment.”
Le Romain’s first Group 1 win was against the three year olds in the 2016 Group 1 $1m Girvan Waugh Randwick Guineas (1600m) at Randwick during the Sydney Autumn Carnival and then later in the year during the Spring he was able to win the Group 1 $1m Cantala Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.
The Hard Spun four year old then added another Group 1 win to his record with a victory in the $500,000 BMW Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick on March 4 at his second Autumn Carnival run.
Lees sent Le Romain to the paddock for a freshen up after finishing down track when fifteenth to It’s Somewhat in the Group 1 $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on the first day of ‘The Championships’ on April 1 and said that he is feeling great again.
“He went to the farm for four days after the Doncaster for a freshen up and looks great,” Lees said.
Hugh Bowman rode Le Romain in the Doncaster Mile and has been booked to ride the $4 favourite again in the All Aged Stakes.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained English is marked at $4.60 at Ladbrokes.com.au to win back to back All Aged Stakes after beating the Darren Weir trained Black Heart Bart last year in a photo finish.
Early betting for the All Aged Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4 Le Romain, $4.60 English, $6.50 Voodoo Lad, $9 Tavaci, $10 Redkirk Warrior, $11 Hellbent, $12 Jungle Edge, McCreery, $16 Spectroscope, $17 Divine Prophet, $26 Japonisme, $31 Counterattack, $34 Flamberge, $41 $Articus, $61 Arod, $101 Famous Seamus.
