Le Romain might be a lucky last minute inclusion into the final field for the $5m All-Star Mile (1600m) but trainer Kris Lees said that his stable star will be at his peak when he steps out at Flemington today.
First emergency Le Romain, was late in inclusion into the field for the All-Star Mile at Flemington. Photo by Steve Hart.
First emergency Le Romain was given the late call up into the fourteen horse All-Star Mile field on Friday morning after nine year old Foundry was denied a return to the race track after a long lay off when he was passed unfit by Racing Victoria vets to take his place in the field.
Trainer Kris Lees said that despite Le Romain not being in the original top fourteen horses in the field, he had still prepared the six year old for the 1600m contest and is giving him a great chance to figure in the finish.
“I’ve prepared him as if he was getting a run. He ran well in a jump-out last Friday and he had a good gallop on the course proper on Tuesday,” Lees told the Herald Sun.
“It’s not that way I wanted to get into the race at the misfortune of someone else and I feel for the connections of Foundry but now we’re in I think we’re a realistic chance.”
“He’s got a terrific Flemington record over a mile and third run in is one of his better runs.”
Le Romain has raced three times over the Flemington 1600m course for a win in the 2016 Group 1 $1m Cantala Stakes and a second in the same race two years later.
The All-Star Mile will be Le Romain’s third up run after a first up second to Alizee in the Group 2 $200,000 Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on February 2 followed by an eighth, beaten two lengths, to Alizee in the Group 1 $500,000 Yulong Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield three weeks ago.
Le Romain can race on the pace and Dwayne Dunn is going to give him a perfect run from in the inside gate.
Race morning betting for the All-Star Mile at Ladbrokes.com.au has Le Romain marked as a $15 chance while Alizee ($4), Happy Clapper ($4.20) and Mystic Journey ($4.20) are fighting it out at the top of the market order for favouritism.
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