5 Win Tuesday - Romancing the Moon Marvellous

Fourth in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) at her previous start, Romancing The Moon (3 f El Roca - Underthemoonlight, by El Hermano) had the form to rate a shots eye in the $20,000 Rating 65 1200 metres on 3 January at Matamata.

Runner-up in both the The O'Learys Fillies Stakes (Listed, 1200m) and Soliloquy Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m) before a notable performance in the fillies' classic, Romancing The Moon trialled on 23 December at Matamata, had finished second and first respectively in two course attempts, and was hard to go past.

Continuing the trifecta vein, after Alminette, Sorcha, and Redsheis, provided both a stable trifecta and first three for stallion Burgundy (Redoute's Choice) in the previous race, Romancing The Moon, led home stable-mates Image Of You (Pins), and Hayate (Maurice) - all purchased by David Ellis CNZM.

Away well as usual, Romancing The Moon perched second under Opie Bosson, travelled sweetly nearing the home turn, and sprinted clear to win easily by two and three-quarter lengths.

Second placed Image Of You staged a huge run from last, while Hayate snuck up the rail for third.

Interestingly, when Romancing The Moon won her Maiden over 1400 metres on the course in October, she headed up a Te Akau first four.

“It was a good solid performance and a lovely ride by Opie,” said trainer Mark Walker. “That will set her up perfectly for the Wellington Guineas, and she is coming up nicely.”

The $140,000 Wellington Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m) is scheduled to Saturday 14 January at Trentham.

On footing that remained Soft5 throughout the day, Romancing The Moon ran the 1200 metres in 1:10.2 and was quite prohibitive on the NZ TAB to return $1.90 & $1.30.

Owned by Te Akau Moonstruck Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Romancing The Moon was purchased as a yearling by David Ellis CNZM for $50,000 at the 2021 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft Westbury Stud.

“She was very impressive winning today,” Ellis said. “At the end of a pretty long three-year-old campaign to the 1000 Guineas, she's freshened up really well and there is no shortage of toughness in her attitude to racing.

“And I thought Image Of You must be close to winning a race, when coming from so far back on a day when the pattern was very much on pace.”

El Roca, by Champion Sire Fastnet Rock (Danehill), was a terrific racehorse, winning two stakes' races over 1200 metres and a strong Group performer that placed at Group One level. In his early days at stud he has already sired Group One winning Travelling Light who scored in the Levin Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m) and horses to win 12 stakes' races.

Undermoonlight was an underrated mare, noted for her tenacious qualities. She was a Listed, Group Two and Group Three winner to 1400 metres and Group One placed over 1400 metres.

Romancing The Moon was strapped by Stephanie Hyde-Richards.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz