Co-trainer Tom Dabernig has revealed that Rising Romance could return to the races in the 2015 Let’s Elope Stakes at Flemington on September 12.
Rising Romance has not been seen at the races since she finished second behind Scratchy Bottom in the 2015 Epona Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart
Rising Romance started her racing career under the care of Donna Logan in New Zealand and she took out the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) and finished second in the Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) and Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) under the care of the talented trainer, but she was transferred to the Lindsay Park team at the end of her 2015 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival campaign that was plagued by injury.
The Ekraar mare was set to start her 2015 Spring Racing Carnival campaign in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 29, but Dabernig told Racing Ahead this morning that he now plans to give the five-year-old two jump outs ahead of the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.
“She is a great pick-up for the stable,” Dabernig said.
“She has a really great constitution, she looks lovely and sound and I have been pleased with her track work.
“She will have a jump out tomorrow.
“Early on we had the Memsie mapped out, but we are just going to wait now and she is going to have two jump outs and possibly run first-up at Flemington on the 12th in the Let’s Elope over 1400.”
Matthew Cameron rode Rising Romance in the early stages of her career in the Let’s Elope Stakes, but James McDonald took over the ride when she made her Australian racing debut in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens in April of 2014 and he steered her to victory in the Australian Oaks.
McDonald rode Rising Romance throughout the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival and he almost pinched the Caulfield Cup on her, but he is now the stable jockey for the Godolphin operation and Dwayne Dunn appears likely to partner the talented mare throughout her spring preparation.
“Dwayne Dunn at this stage,” Dabernig said.
“We are trying to lock in Dwayne and he is riding her in the jump out tomorrow.”
The Lindsay Park team are yet to decide on the exact path that Rising Romance will follow during the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival, but she has been included in the nominations for the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m), while she will also be nominated for the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).
Rising Romance is currently available at 2015 Melbourne Cup odds of $51 with Ladbrokes and is at $26 to go one better in the 2015 edition of the Caulfield Cup.
