Six-year old Le Romain submitted a bold claim for an Everest (1200m) bid two months ago after securing a first-up win in the Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m) at Randwick.
Eventually Kris Lees’ multiple Group 1 winner earned a slot in Saturday’s $13 million race, and as it just so happens, heavy rain plus a very wet track could suit nicely.
Le Romain ran second behind Winx last start.
“He’s a warhorse and loves it wet” Lees told The Courier Mail earlier this week.
A Group 3 win was only the beginning for Le Romain, who also placed second behind Winx in the Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m) a fortnight ago.
As far as Lees is concerned though, Le Romain’s form earlier in May could be a sign of things to come.
“He has a better 1200m record than what people perceive, I remember he was unlucky in a Doomben 10,000, he has had a couple of wins at 1200m and a Group 1 win at 1300m in the Canterbury Stakes” Lees said.
Also racing on a wet track at Doomben, Le Romain was unlucky to run third by only a half head behind Impending and eventual winner English.
He did however, beat home last year’s Everest winner Redzel down the straight, who also happens to feature in this year’s field.
“With the wet track it will now be a testing 1200m which will suit him,” Lees said.
With jockey Glyn Schofield on board, who saddles up Le Romain again on Saturday, the pair managed to finish runner-up a week later on equally soft conditions in the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Stakes (1350m) at Doomben.
Of course, Le Romain’s impressive track record on sticky ground dates back well before May, and like Lees said, the veteran six-year old won the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) beating home Chautaqua in heavy conditions last year. He also doesn’t seem to think barrier 11 will be much trouble.
“The wide barrier I don’t think is that bad for him either as he should be able to cruise across and settle on the speed.”
With so many specialist sprinters in this race that are unproven in the wet, Le Romain is a worthwhile roughie bet at $18.00 with Ladbrokes. The step back from the 1600m last start to the 1200m should suit in these conditions, especially if he can find some cover early and establish a spot on the outside down the straight.
Full The Everest odds can be seen below.
