Le Romain to undergo vet check before Epsom

Randwick Guineas winner Le Romain will have to pass a vet’s check on Saturday before being cleared to run in the Group 1 $1m Epsom (1600m) at Randwick.

Le Romain, above, will have to pass a vet's check before being cleared to run in the Epsom at Randwick. Photo by  Steve Hart.

Le Romain, above, will have to pass a vet’s check before being cleared to run in the Epsom at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Newcastle trainer Kris Lees notified Racing New South Wales Stewards late on Thursday that Le Romain had some minor swelling on the near side of his neck as a result of a routine intramuscular treatment yesterday.

Racing NSW released the following statement saying that the Racing NSW Senior Official Dr Craig Suann will inspect Le Romain when he arrives at the Randwick tomorrow.

“Trainer Mr Kris Lees has reported to Racing NSW Stewards this afternoon that Le Romain, which is engaged to run in the Group 1 TAB Epsom Handicap at Royal Randwick on 1 October 2016, was found to have a small, superficial skin plaque (minor swelling) on the near side of its neck, following a routine intramuscular treatment yesterday.

Mr Lees advised that Le Romain was not sensitive in the region and had full movement of the neck.

Le Romain will continue to be monitored by the stable and will be subject to an inspection by Racing NSW Senior Official Dr Craig Suann when it arrives on course Saturday,” the statement read.

If given the all clear, Le Romain will be returning to the scene of his greatest win when he took out the Group 1 $1m Girvan Waugh Randwick Guineas during the 2016 Sydney Autumn Carnival over the same course and distance as the Epsom.

The Hard Spun four year old hasn’t been able to find the winner’s stall since but has been runner up at his three Spring Carnival runs and is overdue for a win.

Le Romain resumed for a second to Tycoon Tara in the Group 3 $125,000 Bob Ingham Show County Quality (1200m) at Randwick on August 20 followed by a second to Epsom favourite Hauraki in the Group 2 $175,000 Tattersalls Club Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on September 3.

Le Romain then stepped out with 59kg as the $3.70 second favourite in the Group 3 $150,000 Australian Bloodstock Cameron Handicap (1350m) on the Beaumont track at Newcastle on September 16 but failed to run down the John O’Shea trained Chetwood who recorded a one and a half lengths win.

The John O’Shea trained Hauraki heads the market order for the Epsom at $5.50 with Ladbrokes.com.au ahead of the top weight Palentino and the Chris Waller trained McCreery who share the next line of betting at $6 while Le Romain is marked as a $12 chance.

Market order for The Epsom at Ladbrokes.com.au: $5.50 Hauraki, $6 McCreery, Palentino, $8.50 Fabrizio, $9 Happy Clapper, $10 Mackintosh, $12 Le Romain, $16 Sons Of John, Heavens Above, $20 Vanbrugh, $21 Torgersen, $26 Dibayani, $51 Mighty Lucky.

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.