Rising Romance is set to run in the 2014 Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington on Saturday and trainer Donna Logan has revealed that she could not be happier with the talented mare heading into the Group 1 event.
Rising Romance was narrowly denied by Admire Rakti in the 2014 Caulfield Cup, but will have the chance to return to winning form in the Mackinnon Stakes. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Rising Romance produced the best performance of her career to date when she finished a close second behind Admire Rakti in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 18 and Logan has elected to give the Ekraar mare an opportunity to record a maiden win during her 2014 Spring Racing Carnival campaign in the Mackinnon Stakes.
Logan took Rising Romance to work on the course proper at Sandown this morning to work alongside stablemate Telepathic and she told Sky Racing HQ that she was thrilled with the work of the Australian Oaks winner and is delighted with her condition ahead of the Mackinnon Stakes.
“I was very pleased with both mares work this morning,” Logan said.
“I am very pleased with how she has come through Caulfield.
“She put on weight, she looks a treat and I could not be more pleased with her actually.”
Rising Romance flew under the radar heading into the Caulfield Cup after she performed fairly without winning in the Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m), Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m) and Group 3 Craven Plate (2000m), but she was almost able to steal victory in the $3 million race after being aided by an outstanding ride from jockey James McDonald.
While Logan would have loved to win the Caulfield Cup, she was still thrilled by the performance of Rising Romance and was quick to pay credit to the effort of Admire Rakti in the Group 1 event.
“We were beaten by a better horse and I wouldn’t begrudge them the win because I don’t like running second, but when you are beaten by something that good you take it on the chin,” Logan said.
“He is an exceptional horse and you walk away from that being pleased with the effort that we put in.
“He didn’t do it the soft way; we had a nice soft trip really and he did it the hard way and carried top weight.
“It was very impressive.”
Rising Romance will be sent to the spelling paddock following the Mackinnon Stakes and is likely to be set for the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) during the 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.
Rising Romance is currently available at Mackinnon Stakes odds of $6.50, while Happy Trails ($6) and He’s Your Man ($6.5) have both leap-frogged Criterion ($6.50) in the betting market for the Group 1 event with [ladbrokes].
