Trainer John O’Shea will consider adding winkers to Romantic Moon for the Golden Slipper after the filly scored an upset win Group 3 $125,000 Les Johnson Memorial Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m) at Warwick Farm today.
Romantic Moon scores an upset win in the Sweet Embrace Stakes at Warwick Farm. Photo by: Steve Hart
O’Shea was pleased that Romantic Moon after able to turn her form around after being well beaten on a heavy track in the Group 3 $125,000 Hyland Race Colours Skyline Stakes (1200m) at Warwick Farm on March 16, but would like to see her a bit closer in the run in the Group 1 $3.5m Tooheys New Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on April 6.
“We might have to just give consideration to toying with some gear,” O’Shea said.
“I’d probably like to see her a little bit closer to be honest in the slipper. If she was a bit tardy away in the slipper she’d be back with the cap catchers. So we might just look whether we put a set of winkers on her just to help her a little bit into a forward position.”
“But I was very happy with her, she was strong to the line and will run a strong six.”
Jim Cassidy on Calming Influence led the fillies into the straight with James McDonald sitting just behind the leading bunch on Romantic Moon.
McDonald was able to get Romantic Moon into the clear and hold off Thump and the Gai Waterhouse trained filly Greytfilly to gain an exempt free passage into the Golden Slipper .
“Her last run was good. We just got too far back on a wet track. At least today we were able to put her into the race a little bit and when I sent her for home she quickened up beautifully,” McDonald said.
“She feels a beautiful filly and hopefully she is one in the making.”
Romantic Moon started at the good odds of $15 and had a length to spare over Thump ($26) with Greytfilly ($8) another quarter of a length away in third spot.
The biggest disappointment of the race was the poor performance of the short priced $1.85 favourite Assail who was never in the race and failed to run on in the straight to be beaten just over six lengths.
The Clarry Connors trained filly was having her first start since her scratching from the $2m BMW Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 14 because of a foot abscess and was expected to be in the finish.
