Resuming Romancer (NZ) Superb in Straight Six

After a brilliant first-up performance in Saturday’s A$140,000 Listed Hilton Nicholas Straight Six (1200m) at Flemington, Karaka graduate Romancer (NZ) (Redwood) is now a stakes winner on both sides of the Tasman and has amassed over A$600,000 in stakes. 

Romancer was a $110,000 purchase at the 2015 Select Sale by his original trainer Donna Logan, who guided him to four victories in New Zealand including the Listed Mufhasa Stakes (1300m). He has built on that success since moving to Australia, now with nine wins and A$600,309 to his name from 44 starts.

The gelding had already proven himself at black-type level in Australia, placing in five Listed features including three at Flemington, but Saturday’s sprint feature was not expected to be the scene of a well-deserved breakthrough win. He was making his first appearance since November, and he appeared likely to take improvement from a resuming run against a talented sprinting line-up.

But apprentice jockey Lachlan Neindorf put him in a prominent position just behind the leaders through the early stages of the race, and then Romancer scythed through the inside with a brilliant burst that carried him out of his opponents’ reach.

The chasers lined up across the track and gave their all to try to reel Romancer in, but the seven-year-old maintained a one-length margin all the way to the finish.

“Jeez, he was super,” Neindorf said. “I jumped him out at Caulfield on Tuesday, and there were a few nice sprinters there. It was only meant to be a fitness gallop for him, but I couldn’t fault him at all on the way he jumped out.

“He relaxed and travelled nicely in the race today, and when I blew him up through the inside, I knew I was going alright.”

Romancer is trained by Graeme Begg and races in the colours of OTI Racing.

“I thought he was well over the odds today,” Begg said. “He’s got a very good record at Flemington, albeit mostly over a bit more distance than this.

“With the wet weather over the last couple of weeks, we’ve been selective about the tracks to work him on, but he did jump out very, very well at Caulfield on Tuesday – finishing right up alongside Sartorial Splendor (Brazen Beau) at the finish.

“I thought the distance today would be just a bit too sharp for him, but he’s a grand old horse. He goes to the races and puts in every time. He’s a lovely horse who’s great to do anything with.

“The owners have been very supportive, and it’s fantastic to be able to get a Listed win here with him.

“He’s a very honest horse, we’ve had a lot of thrills out of him, and he’s been a great horse to have around the stable.”

Vendor	Westbury Stud
Purchaser	DM Logan Racing Stables (Ruakaka)
Breeding	Redwood – Romantically
Sale	Lot 644, 2015 Select Sale, $110,000
Bred by	NZ Thoroughbred Holdings & Whangateau Thoroughbreds