Newcastle Over Winx Clash for Le Romain

September 15, 2016

Newcastle Over Winx Clash for Le Romain

Newcastle horseman Kris Lees has opted to run his Group 1 winner Le Romain at home in Friday’s Cameron Handicap over a clash with champion mare Winx at Randwick on Saturday.

Le Romain

2016 Epsom Handicap-bound Le Romain is likely to run at Newcastle on Friday over a George Main run at Randwick on Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart.

Winner of the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) as a three-year-old in the autumn, Hard Spun gelding Le Romain is a dual acceptor this Friday – Saturday.

Connections paid the final acceptance fee for the $854,025 earner for both the $150,000 Group 3 Cameron Handicap (1350m) at Beaumont on Newcastle Cup Day as well as the $500,000 Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m) on Saturday at Royal Randwick.

Lees has since confirmed that bar the scratching of Chris Waller’s reigning Cox Plate winner Winx from the weight-for-age George Main Stakes field or heavy rain at Newcastle, Le Romain would take on an easier field of rivals in the Cameron Handicap.

“At this stage, Le Romain is running in the Cameron,” Lees said in a statement on his website.

“He would be running only for second at Randwick [behind Winx].

“But it is definitely not going to be an easy task here [at Newcastle].”

For the elite level Sydney Spring Racing Carnival clash on Saturday Lees’ galloper is drawn barrier one, a tricky gate at Randwick, with Christian Reith booked for the ride on 58.5kg.

Reith will likely miss out on a chance at a Group 1 upset, but will partner Le Romain at Newcastle from barrier three on the 59kg top weight in the Cameron Handicap.

Shooting for her eleventh win on the trot and her seventh career Group 1, Winx is the $1.16 odds-on favourite through Ladbrokes.com.au in George Main Stakes betting.

Le Romain, yet to be officially scratched, is at $15.

He at a shorter $3.30 in Friday’s Cameron Handicap odds, the markets led by early mover Chetwood ($3.10) from the Godolphin stables who comes off back-to-back wins at Canterbury (1250m) and Rosehill (1350m) in August respectively.

Lees added that along with the firming favourite, he also rated the Kim Waugh-trained His Majesty from Wyong a definite Cameron Handicap danger.

“I’ve got great respect for Kim Waugh’s His Majesty and also John O’Shea’s Chetwood,” he said.

Shamardal seven-year-old His Majesty pays $6.50 in the latest Cameron Handicap betting markets, the gelding after his second win from as many starts at the track.

He won over 1100m at Rosehill narrowly two back before a close fifth when only a length off the winner Sir Bacchus at Rosehill Gardens last time out on August 27.

In that Benchmark 85, the Irish-bred His Majesty carried 61.5kg to victory with Tim Clark aboard.

Clark is on rival Chetwood in the Cameron Handicap and is replaced on Waugh’s hopeful by Brenton Avdulla.

His Majesty also drops notably in weights to Friday’s 54kg minimum and is a big chance at that weight.

Le Romain has had two runs this time in finishing runner-up to Tycoon Tara in the Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m) and second to Hauraki a fortnight ago in the Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m).

His main aim this campaign is the $1 million Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on October 1.

Lees, who chases his first Epsom success, admitted that a Cameron Handicap win by Le Romain would affect his Epsom Handicap weight and chances of adding another Group 1 win to his record.

“If he won the Cameron, there’s every likelihood he would get top weight for the Epsom at Randwick on October 1,” he said.

To back Le Romain this week at the right price and to access the best George Main Stakes promotion, make sure you head to Ladbrokes.com.au today!

Racing fields and data are copyright 2011-2021 © Racing Australia Pty Ltd (RA) (and other parties working with it).
Racing materials, including fields, form and results, is subject to copyright which is owned by RA and other parties working with it. Full copyright notice.

Spring Racing

Military Mission Fires in 2023...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field �...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field & Odds Update: Vow And Declare Defends Title

Danny O’Brien’s 2019 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare continues to show a...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbott...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbottom Stakes Field & Betting Markets

Bjron Baker’s The Everest performer Overpass is tipped to return to winning...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 R...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 Race Field & Betting

The Chris Waller-trained Pierro four-year-old Osipenko is firm favourite in...

2023 Railway Stakes Field ...

2023 Railway Stakes Field & Betting Update: Tuvalu Narrow Favourite

The Lindsey Smith-trained top-weight Tuvalu is narrow favourite in the latest...

Horse Racing Today

2024 The Galaxy Results: Zapat...

Golden Slipper Results 2024: L...

Golden Slipper Results 2024: Lady Of Camelot Beats Coleman, Storm Boy Third

Co-trainer Gai Waterhouse extended her record to eight victories in the 2024...

2024 George Ryder Stakes Winne...

2024 George Ryder Stakes Winner Veight Beats Older Rivals

Veight joined an elite list of three-year-olds to beat home the older horses...

Rosehill Guineas 2024 Results:...

Rosehill Guineas 2024 Results: Riff Rocket Flies Home Late Ahead of ATC Derby

Chris Waller’s VRC Derby winner from the spring, Riff Rocket, now has the...

2024 Ranvet Stakes Results: Vi...

2024 Ranvet Stakes Results: Via Sistina Too Good Debuting for Waller

Yu Long Investments lucrative European purchase, the now Chris Waller-trained...

Race Results

2024 The Galaxy Results: Zapateo Upsets Sunshine In Paris

Golden Slipper Results 2024: Lady Of Camelot Beats Coleman, Storm Boy Third

Imperatriz Defends Title in 2024 William Reid Stakes

2024 George Ryder Stakes Winner Veight Beats Older Rivals

Rosehill Guineas 2024 Results: Riff Rocket Flies Home Late Ahead of ATC Derby

Race Previews

UK Raider Post Impressionist Heads Tancred Stakes Field & Odds

2024 Australian Cup Field & Betting Update: Pride Of Jenni v Mr Brightside

Golden Slipper 2024 Tips & Betting Update

The Galaxy 2024 Race Field & Odds: Ozzmosis Leads Betting on Slipper Day Sprint

2024 Rosehill Guineas Field & Betting Update: Riff Rocket Set to Take Off

Fields & Form

UK Raider Post Impressionist Heads Tancred Stakes Field & Odds

2024 Australian Cup Field & Betting Update: Pride Of Jenni v Mr Brightside

Golden Slipper 2024 Tips & Betting Update

The Galaxy 2024 Race Field & Odds: Ozzmosis Leads Betting on Slipper Day Sprint

2024 Rosehill Guineas Field & Betting Update: Riff Rocket Set to Take Off