Nash Rawiller is confident Romantic Touch’s first Group One win in the JJ Atkins at Eagle Farm on Saturday won’t be his last.
Starting favourite, Romantic Touch ($2.35) led all the way to win the Atkins by a half length from Zoustar ($4) with Paximadia ($8) a short head away third.
Romantic Touch, Nash Rawiller - Photo by Daniel Costello
“He’s the perfect racehorse and a race like the Caulfield Guineas would suit him down to the ground the way he races,” he said.
“To come from such humble beginnings and win a Group One race like this is an unbelievable performance.”
Despite an early scare when Romantic Touch was fractious in the barriers, the gelding settled perfectly in the lead and accelerated at the 300m when Rawiller began to urge him along.
“Once he got into stride he soon found his rhythm and he’s got a really high cruising speed,” he said.
“He’ll only keep improving because he feels like he’s just starting to grow into himself. It’s exciting times ahead.”
Bruce Slade, racing manager for trainer Gai Waterhouse, said the transformation in Romantic Touch had been remarkable since he was gelded after his first start.
“Gai has done a magnificent job with this horse who has just improved every month, every gallop and every race,” Slade said.
Romantic Touch was Waterhouse’s first Brisbane Group One winner since Bentley Biscuit won the BTC Cup in 2007 and her first in the Atkins which was formerly named in honour of her famous father TJ Smith until this year.
After being embroiled in the More Joyous saga for the past month, Slade said Waterhouse would derive great personal satisfaction from Romantic Touch’s win.
“It’s been a crazy sort of month and this will mean so much to Gai,” he said.
“She’s the queen of two-year-olds and she’s got this horse to relax and he’s going to develop into a magnificent three-year-old.”
Jockey Jim Cassidy said Zoustar tried hard but was unable to peg back Romantic Touch while Kerrin McEvoy said third placegetter Paximadia will improve as he steps up in distance next campaign.
