One of the more significant families in the Australian Studbook welcomed its latest winner in a no-nonsense two-year-old at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Romantic Touch, with Gooree Park Stud’s best horses heavily influencing both sides of his pedigree, was racing in blinkers for the first time when he scored a breakthrough win in the Tab.com.au Plate (1400m).
The youngster is by Northern Meteor, a stallion who is making a name for himself as a first-season sire, and his dam is Dearness, a half-sister to the Gooree stars Desert War and Laser Hawk.
Add jockey Jim Cassidy to the mix and Tulloch Lodge spokesman Mark Newnham says it’s a formidable combination.
“Jimmy Cassidy in front on a good, hard-fit Gooree horse and he’s going to be hard to run down,” Newnham said.
Newnham was in charge of raceday duties because trainer Gai Waterhouse spent her second day at the annual Warrnambool carnival in country Victoria as controversy over her row with owner John Singleton continued to make front page news.
And, in typical Waterhouse-style, Newnham was eager to talk up the progeny of Northern Meteor, a horse Waterhouse trained to win a Group One race for Gooree before his retirement to stud.
“We’ve got plenty of them at home and we’re pleased to have them,” Newnham said.
Romantic Touch, a $2.70 to $2.40 firmer, wanted to fight Cassidy in the early stages but the veteran rider got his own way and the gelding settled well to provide a strong kick when it mattered most.
He set up a two-length lead into the straight and held that advantage over the favourite Diva Dee ($2.10) with Darley first starter Lanneret ($9.50) finishing another length away third.
Romantic Touch was among first entries for the J J Atkins (1600m), the only Group One two-year-old race of the Brisbane winter carnival, but Newnham said the horse was not locked into a Queensland campaign.
“It will be a case of wait and see what happens,” he said. “Nothing’s ruled in and nothing’s ruled out.”
Chris Waller’s latest import to make an impact in Sydney racing is heading to the spelling paddock after a breakthrough Australian win in the More Than Ready Handicap (2400m).
Mulaqen was expected to win, going out as the $1.80 favourite, but he had to rally to stave off the challenge from Dawnfire Dancer ($26) by a nose.
The nailbiting margin convinced Sydney’s leading stable to call an end to the stayer’s first Australian campaign.
“He’s been in work since January and has been to Melbourne and back so he deserves a break,” Waller’s racing manager Liam Prior said.
