Romanised ends losing streak in Irish 2000 Guineas upset

Favored Elarqam had no punch but longshot Romanised delivered a late knockout posting a major upset Saturday at The Curragh in the Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas.

Romanised snapped a four-race losing streak that had followed his debut success more than one year ago at Navan Racecourse, while his trainer, Ken Condon, won his first race of 2018. This was easily the most important win in the five-year head-training career of Ireland-based Condon, who was an assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher in the U.S. before working in the same capacity for Irish trainer John Oxx.

This wasn’t an absolutely shocking result since Romanised had finished second to the good colt Masar ending his 2-year-old campaign in the Group 3 Solario Stakes and had run into traffic problems last out in his first start at age 3. Jockey Shane Foley brought Romanised down the outside after tracking the pace, and with a late surge he got onto terms with pace-setting U S Navy Flag and pushed out to 2 1/4-length victory.

Aidan O’Brien has won the Irish 2000 Guineas 11 times but this year had to settle for sending out the second-, third-, and fourth-place finishers as Gustav Klimt and Threeandfourpence followed Romanised across the line.

Elarqam, who had earned favoritism with a strong performance in the English 2000 Guineas earlier this month, had decent position but came under pressure more than three furlongs from the finish Saturday and never picked up his pace, checking in sixth.

Romanised is by Holy Roman Emperor and out of the Indian Ridge mare, Romantic Venture. He was timed in 1:38.93 over good-to-firm ground while racing at one mile for the first time in his career. Romanised could next start in the Commonwealth Cup or the St. James’s Palace Stakes at the Royal Ascot meeting next month.

Battaash squeaks out Temple win

Odds-on favorite Battaash didn’t run to his best 2017 form but still managed to launch his 4-year-old campaign with a win when home by a head over Washington D C in the Group 2 Temple Stakes on Saturday at Haydock Park in England.

Battaash ranked among Europe’s best sprinters last year and because he was a Group 1 winner, Battaash had to tote five more pounds than all his Temple rivals. The five-furlong straight-course dash further was complicated when the field split into two distinct groups, and Battaash might never have seen Kachy, who was racing many yards to his left while leading into the final furlong. Battaash didn’t so much kick home as grind, but still managed to post the win as Washington D C just edged Kachy for second.

Dane O’Neill rode the winner for trainer Charlie Hills and owner Hamdan al Maktoum. Battaash – a 4-year-old by Dark Angel out of Anna Law, by Lawman – has won six of his 11 starts. Royal Ascot figures to be his next stop.