Romantic Maid has quickly turned her racing fortunes around, so much so that trainer Roger James believes she is capable of making her mark at Group One level in Australia during her first preparation.
“I see no reason why not,” the Cambridge trainer said of his impressive debut winner.
Romantic Maid was successful at Avondale last month after showing sharp improvement following the second of her two trial outings.
“When I went to the first trial I didn’t know what to expect as she had showed me nothing at home, but her trial was nice,” James said.
“In between that and the second trial, which she won impressively, her work had improved.
“Leading into her first-up run her work had improved again and I expected a forward performance.”
Romantic Maid made short work of her rivals over 1400 metres to earn herself a shot at an age group feature at Trentham on Saturday.
“I’m angling toward the Wellington Guineas for her,” James said. “She’s owned in Queensland and longer-term I’d like to get her to a race like the Doomben Roses, I’ve won that a couple of times before, and possibly the Oaks over there.”
The Gr.3 Doomben Roses, in which James was successful in with Gaze (2006) and Melora (1998), will be run on May 21 with the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks on June 4.
By High Chaparral out of the Group Two winner Returntosender, Romantic Maid is raced by her expatriate New Zealand breeder Judi Wanless who is no stranger to Queensland winter carnival success.
Lights Of Heaven, a Kiwi-bred daughter of Zabeel trained by Peter Moody, carried her colours to Group Two victories in the Brisbane and Eagle Farm Cups and the Hollindale Stakes.
- NZ Racing Desk \ Pic Trish Dunell
