While Jason Deamer wore a punch after training Our Renaissance to beat a Group One winner first-up, he is hoping it’s the horse who will be in for the fight at Rosehill.
The six-year-old mare is set to hit the road from Newcastle to run in a benchmark handicap over 1100 metres on Saturday.
Our Renaissance returned from a spell in fine form at Muswellbrook on November 25, winning the $50,000 Skellatar Sprint and covering 1000m in 56.27 seconds.
JK Racing’s James Lovegrove, who bought Our Renaissance online as a tried horse before syndicating her, could hardly contain himself after the race.
“He got a bit too excited,” Deamer said.
“I was just about to go up behind him and pat him on the back and say ‘well done’ and he’s thrown his hands in the air and clocked me under the chin.
“Better getting one that way than one for losing.”
Our Renaissance held off Dal Cielo, who won a Group One race in New Zealand and was placed in last year’s Group Two Sandown Guineas.
Dal Cielo flashed home late to finish second carrying four kilograms more than Our Renaissance.
That weight discrepancy will be erased when they meet again on Saturday with the pair now sharing the same handicap rating.
It was Dal Cielo’s first run for trainer Kris Lees after being transferred from New Zealand trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman.
Lees also has Upscale nominated for Saturday’s race along with Awasita and Zetful who are both entered for Friday night’s Canterbury meeting.
The Gary Nickson-trained dual Group placegetter Voilier is another among the 21 nominations for the race.
Deamer said Our Renaissance had recovered well from her first-up victory and was working well in training.
“Obviously it was a bit easier grade than this on Saturday but she’s improved with the run and she couldn’t have done anything more,” Deamer said.
The time also impressed Deamer and he is hoping for a similarly firm surface at Rosehill to aid her chances.
While rain is forecast around Sydney early in the week, after Tuesday no significant falls are expected.
Our Renaissance scored her first metropolitan win at Rosehill in May and Deamer believes she is well placed in off-season racing.
“If everything goes her way she’ll be competitive,” he said.
“The way she came back the other day she might have even improved just that little bit from last time in.”
