Glyn Schofield won't be surprised if Le Romain can beat Winx
The Kris Lees-trained Le Romain has played the role of giant killer before and jockey Glyn Schofield won’t be surprised if he can do it again against Winx.
The gelding faces the daunting task of taking on Winx in Saturday’s Group One George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill where the champion mare is expected to post her 16th win in succession.
Le Romain scored a major upset in the Randwick Guineas last year when he downed popular favourite Press Statement, a stablemate of Winx.
Schofield refuses to concede the George Ryder is at the mercy of Winx and says Le Romain is a top horse in his own right.
“I’m really looking forward to getting on him against the good mare,” Schofield said.
“I’m certainly not going there hoping to run second.
“If he happens to beat her it won’t be a shock because he is a top class horse himself.”
A Group One winner in Melbourne during the spring, Le Romain has returned in outstanding form.
He lumped a big weight to win first-up and consolidated it with a determined victory over Chautauqua on heavy ground, the same conditions he will face in the George Ryder.
“His last win was at weight-for-age which is the real test and he clearly likes a wet track,” Schofield said.
Winx is at $1.15 with Chautauqua second elect at $8 despite the George Ryder being his first attempt at 1500 metres in his illustrious sprinting career.
Le Romain is at $11.
Schofield rides Diamond Tathagata in Saturday’s $3.5 million Golden Slipper and says the $35 chance with WilliamHill has flown under the radar given his form lines boast a second to Slipper fancy She Will Reign and a victory over subsequent Pago Pago Stakes winner Single Bullet.
