Add CategoryAS soon as Le Romain finished the TJ Smith Stakes a fortnight ago trainer Kris Lees knew he was back on track for Saturday’s $600,000 Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick.
Le Romain, who was second in the race last year, finished seventh of 11 to In Her Time when first-up in the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) and even though it was well short of his best trip, Lees wanted to see more from him.
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It came a fortnight ago when second-up in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) and back at his favourite track at day one of The Championships.
He was finishing hard behind star runners Trapeze Artist, Redzel and In Her Time and Lees was given the thumbs up by jockey Glyn Schofield.
“It was good to see him turn it around,” Lees said. “He was OK without being over-impressive in The Galaxy, which was way too short for him.
“I was really pleased with his TJ Smith run and this was the race we targeted with him.
“He’s got a terrific Randwick record and he’ll love the trip.”
Lees will also saddle-up another Group 1 winner, Clearly Innocent.
He has finished sixth three times this preparation but has been in a few races where the pace hasn’t suited and has ran behind Happy Clapper and the champion Winx in the Canterbury Stakes and George Ryder Stakes.
It’s by far the strongest form reference in Australia racing at the moment.
“He wasn’t that impressive in the George Ryder but that can happen when Winx is in the field,” Lees said. “He’ll get a bigger field with a more solid tempo, which will suit him. He just needs a bit of cut in the ground.
“You could make a few excuses for him this preparation and he raced against Winx and Happy Clapper who are the two benchmark horses in the country at the moment.”
Lees said Le Romain is his top pick but said Clearly Innocent was “more than capable” of causing an upset against the race favourite Trapeze Artist.
He’s coming off a scintillating TJ Smith Stakes win and 1400m is arguably his best trip.
“He’s a classy three-year-old who will get a weight advantage and he couldn’t have been more impressive in the TJ, so he’s the one to beat,” Lees said.
“There’s no real query on Le Romain but it’s looking like a stronger All Aged Stakes than last year and it’s always a good race.”
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