Le Romain’s performance in Saturday’s Group 1 $1m New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield will decide if he will gain a slot in The Everest.

Le Romain, above, is one of the main chances in the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Steve Hart.

Le Romain, above, is one of the main chances in the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Steve Hart.

Newcastle trainer Kris Lees said that there had be some interest shown towards Le Romain by some slot holders for the $10m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 14 and it will be clearer after the Memsie Stakes has been run and won.

“There’s a few sniffs around for an Everest slot but I also thought the Makybe Diva in a fortnight suits him as well,” Lees told AAP.

“I can understand everyone keeping their powder dry and waiting.

“It’s October 14 so there’s still a plenty of time to freshen for 1200 metres if he was heading that way and he could still go to the Makybe Diva possibly.

“But if he was to gain a slot in the next week or so I’d probably take him home.”

Any indication that Le Romain would be grab a slot in The Everest, Lees would take him back to Newcastle and freshen him up for the 1200m otherwise he will continue on with a Melbourne campaign and step the three times Group 1 winner up to his pet distance of 1600m in the Group 1 $750,000 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington on September 16

Lees doesn’t see a real problem of dropping Le Romain back to the 1200m for The Everest if required and pointed out that the five year old did beat The Everest favourite Chautauqua over 1300m in the Group 1 $500,000 BMW Canterbury Stakes at Randwick during the 2017 Sydney Autumn Carnival.

“He did beat Chautauqua over 1300 metres at weight-for-age on a heavy track,” Lees said.

Le Romain heads into the Memsie Stakes on the back of a first up second to stablemate Invincible Gem in the Group 2 $200,000 Missile Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on August 5 and is well in the betting at $6.50 with last year’s winner Black Heart Bart behind the Lindsay Park trained Vega Magic at $2.50.

Vega Magic returned to the race track in winning form with victory in the Listed $120,000 Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on August 19 while the Darren Weir trained Black Heart Bart will be fitter for a first up third in the Group 2 $200,000 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 19.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.