RANDWICK, MARCH 5: GUINEAS GLORY FOR LE ROMAIN

By Graham Potter | Monday, March 7, 2016

Randwick, March 5, 2016.
GIRVAN WAUGH RANDWICK GUINEAS
Group 1 - 1600m.
WINNER: LE ROMAIN (3 b g Hard Spun - Mignard).
Owners: Mr A Carusi, Mr A P Agius, Mr L Nicaj, Mr A Labbozzetta, Mr G Serratore, Mr J Altamura, Miss M Bilusic, Mrs S Livaja.

Trainer: Kris Lees. Jockey: Christian Reith.
Second: Press Statement. Third: Gold Ambition.
Won by 0.20 lengths at a starting price of $21.
Track: Good 3. Rail: True. Penetrometer: 4.96.
Time: 1: 33.83. Last 600m: 36.58. Weight carried: 56.5.

********************************************************************************************************

THE RUN OF THE RACE:

In what was expected to be a cakewalk for the $1.30 favourite Press Statement, the race produced an upset result when the $21 chance Le Romain beat the main fancy to the line by 0.20 length margin. While arguably some excuse can be made for Press Statement, who encountered significant traffic problems early in the straight, the bottom line is that Christian Reith produced the ride of the race on Le Romain, in spite of traveling a touch wide, and his mount played its part to perfection to seal an impressive victory.

Reith in fact had Press Statement in a pocket as the field turned for home and he held him there just long enough before asking Le Romain to come to the party, which the colt did by producing a strong, sustained finishing effort. Press Statement duly got out and chased hard but Le Romain had established a winning break and he showed good commitment in maintaining his advantage to the line.

*Le Romain, who is now a three-time winner from seven starts with just under $1.4 million in stake earnings, was, in fact, turning the tables on Press Statement here. In their previous clash in the Group 2 Hobartville, Press Statement had beaten Le Romain by 2.30 lengths over 1400m at Rosehill. This was 1600m at Randwick and the winner stopped the clock in under 1:34 for the mile, underling the quality effort of both the winner and the runner-up.

*********************************************************************************************************

WINNER FEEDBACK:

TRAINER KRIS LEES:

“When Hughie (Bowman on Press Statement) drew the wide gate and was underneath him I went ... how did he get there ... but in the end that's what might have won us the race. We had a great run and Chris (Reith) was able to make his run at a vital stage. I didn’t really think Press Statement had used that much petrol. I thought he was stalking ready to put in that real effort the last furlong, but we really fought hard. It was a good solid win.”

JOCKEY CHRISTAIN REITH (who landed his first Group 1 victory since his success on Complacent in the Champion Stakes in 2013).

“I knew exactly where he (Bowman) was and I knew once I let go I would have to go quick because he (Press Statement) had to come back and get outside me. I just had my horse where he was comfortable and we had clear running which you need today. They're running slick times so you need fresh air coming into the corner because you can't stop and start.

“My fellow is very gallant. He is tough horse. He’s got a lot of improvement. Even though he was winning a Group 1 today, he is still learning. He was really good.”

********************************************************************************************************

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:

DATA POINT - slow to begin.

MONTAIGNE - on jumping was badly crowded between Shards, which shifted out, and BalmainBoy, which shifted in. After making contact with Stay With Me in the incident, Montaigne wasthen buffeted for some distance between Balmain Boy and Shards. Held up for clear running
until near the 200m.

STAY WITH ME - near the 1100m was hampered when taken in by Gold Ambition. As StayWith Me improved to the outside of the heels of Balmain Boy on straightening, it came intocontact with Dal Cielo, resulting in Dal Cielo being taken out onto Shards and in turn causing Mackintosh to be hampered. G Schofield, rider of Stay With Me, was told to exercise more care when shifting ground.

GOLD AMBITION - near the 1100m had to be steadied when crowded by Press Statement which, after improving to the inside of Le Romain, was taken in by that runner. The Stewards found that, prior to shifting in, C Reith, rider of Le Romain, had looked on two occasions to ascertain if he was clear to shift, however, Press Statement then came across his horse's heels and improved quickly to his inside, as Le Romain was being steadied and was shifting in to obtain a position closer to the rail. C Reith, rider of Le Romain, was told he must exercise more caution when restraining and shifting ground.

ETYMOLOGY - approaching the 600m was steadied from the heels of Gold Ambition.

PRESS STATEMENT - badly held up in the early part of the straight and near the 250m shifted out to the outside of the heels of Le Romain to obtain clear running and, in doing so, made contact with Gold Ambition.

MACKINTOSH - near the 200m was steadied when crowded between Press Statement and Shards, which was taken out by Dal Cielo, when Dal Cielo shifted out away from Stay With Me, as that runner improved to the outside of Balmain Boy.

DAL CIELO - a post-race veterinary examination revealed the colt lost its off-fore plate.

More articles