Le Romain chasing back to back G1 wins in Rosehill Guineas

Improving three year old Le Romain gets his chance to win back to back Group 1 races when he lines up in the Group 1 $600,000 Sky Racing Rosehill Guineas (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Le Romain,above blue and yellow, beating Press Statement in the Randwick Guineas at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Le Romain,above blue and yellow, beating Press Statement in the Randwick Guineas at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Newcastle trainer Kris Lees is confident that Le Romain will handle the step up to the 2000m after beating odds on favourite Press Statement in the in the Group 1 $1m Girvan Waugh Randwick Guineas (1600m) at Randwick a fortnight ago.

“I thought the opportunity to race the three-year-olds and test him at this trip was too inviting,” Lees told AAP.

“I suppose there’s just a risk the distance but he’s probably been on trial at the trip in his last two.”

“I’m pretty confident he’ll run it. I think my bloke will run very well.”

“He’s a really laidback horse. He’s been very relaxed in his trackwork so all the signs are that he’ll run it.”

“He probably just keeps surprising us in some ways.”

Lees has considered missing the Rosehill Guineas in favour of running against the older horses in the weight for age Group 1 $1m China Horse Club George Ryder Stakes (1500m) on Saturday or heading to the Group 1 $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on April 2, the first day of ‘The Championships’, without another run.

But Lees elected to stick to his own age group in the Rosehill Guineas with the Doncaster Mile still an option.

“I thought the George Ryder Stakes looks a very strong race and the other alternative was to go four weeks to the Doncaster and again take on the older horses,” Lees said.

Le Romain has made a meteoric rise up through the ranks after winning a 1000m three year old race at Randwick on January 23.

The Hard Spun gelding then ran second to Spill The Beans in the Group 3 $150,000 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on February 6 followed by a second to Press Statement in the   Group 2 $400,000 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill two weeks later before turning the tables on Chris Waller’s glamour three year old in the Randwick Guineas.

Le Romain is on the third of betting for the Rosehill Guineas at $7 and has to take on the Victoria Derby winner Tarzino who has been posted the $2.50 favourite at Ladbrokes.com.au.

Rosehill Guineas market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.50 Tarzino, $6.50 Jameka, $7 Le Romain, $9 Vanbrugh, River Wild, $11 Montaigne, $12 Gold Ambition, $34 Crosley Hotshot, $41 Etymology, $51 Shards, $61 I’m Belucci, Hursley, $81 Spanish Stride, $126 Oh So Splendid.

 

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.