Romancer will start long odds to win Saturday’s $160,000 Listed Bel Esprit Stakes (1100m) and even trainer Grahame Begg would be slightly surprised if the eight-year-old Redwood gelding scored at Caulfield.
Begg affectionally dubs Romancer as ‘The Quaddie Killer’ after winning last year’s $140,000 Listed Straight Six (1200m) at Flemington on May 22 at $101, paying $124.60 on the SuperTAB tote.
Romancer is one of 22 horses to win at $101 or greater in Melbourne since August 2007. He will make his third consecutive appearance in the Straight Six next month, but unlike his previous two starts in the race, will not be resuming but rather second up.
“There’s a lack of races for him,” Begg lamented. “I want to run him over 1200 metres but he doesn’t want it too soft so going to Warrnambool for the Wangoom Handicap isn’t an option as it can be bottomless.
“The Straight Six is in a month’s time so we’ll give him a run on Saturday in the Bel Esprit and then go back to Flemington.”
Romancer has won nine of 51 starts, with three of his victories at Flemington from 1200 to 1720 metres.
“He’s great at Flemington and his form is terrific down the straight,” Begg said.
“He ran second to The Astrologist in last year’s Aurie’s Star Handicap and he’s going particularly well. He doesn’t know his age, he is a beauty.”
Romancer has been prepared for the Bel Esprit with two Cranbourne jumpouts, winning the latest over 1000 metres on April 4.
This article was written by Carl Di Iorio and can be read in full through Racing.com here.