Trainer Donna Logan has confirmed that Rising Romance will likely back-up in the 2015 The BMW at Rosehill Gardens this weekend before stepping-up to 3200 metres for the first time in the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) at Royal Randwick on April 11.
Rising Romance was beaten in The Epona Stakes on Saturday, but will have the chance to return to winning form in The BMW this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart
Rising Romance returned to Australian racing in the Group 3 Epona Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday and she was beaten as a short-priced favourite, but it was discovered after the race that the Ekraar mare had suffered a bruised near fore heel that may explain her lackluster effort in the Group 3 event.
Logan told Sky Racing HQ that Rising Romance had responded well to work done on her heel in the past 48 hours and she is confident that the Group 1 winning mare will be passed fit to contest the Group 1 The BMW (2400m) this weekend before she presses on to the Sydney Cup, rather than the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) during The Championships.
“It is just bruising on the quarter of the heel,” Logan said.
“We have removed that pressure and put her shoe back on to sit it a bit different and take the pressure off that quarter and she is a lot happier.
“I think it is like the ladies getting home from the races and taking their heels off.
“That is the plan (to run in The BMW).
“I think that the sensible path is to look at the Sydney Cup because she gets in so well at the handicap.
“It will be a nice test at two mile and she has had the conditioning for it.”
Rising Romance made her Australian racing debut with an unlucky fourth behind Lucia Valentina in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens a year ago and has been ridden by James McDonald in her six subsequent race starts in Australia, but the leading hoop is unable to maintain his association with the four-year-old in The BMW due to a prior engagement to partner Hartnell in the Group 1 event at Rosehill Gardens this weekend.
Logan said that she is yet to decide who will replace McDonald on Rising Romance and will wait until the field is released before she decides who will partner her star mare in The BMW.
The talented mare is currently available at 2015 The BMW odds of $15 with Ladbrokes, while she is available at a quote of $11 to become the first mare to win the Sydney Cup since John O’Shea-trained Jessicabeel took out the 2010 edition of the race.
