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Hong Kong swansong beckons for Classic-winning miler Romanised

3 minute read

Top miler Romanised is being trained for the Hong Kong Mile, where he will end his career racing in front of his owner Robert Ng.

Romanised winning the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas (Group 1) Picture: Pat Healy Photography

The five-year-old Irish Classic winner will have his next start at Dundalk before heading to the Far East, where he will attempt to end a frustrating 2020 on a winning note. He is then expected to retire to stud.

Trained by Ken Condon, Romanised won the Irish 2,000 Guineas in 2018 and last year captured the G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois. His latest campaign was built around a second tilt at the Deauville prize but he finished fifth behind Palace Pier in a race run on heavy ground.

"Romanised's remaining target is the Hong Kong Mile," said Condon. "Before that we are planning to run him in a conditions race on November 16 in Dundalk. He will go there and if he shapes well and everyone is happy we will be looking at Hong Kong.

"He's never worked at Dundalk or on Polytrack but he will go there anyway," added the trainer. "We have freshened him up and we think in hindsight they were atrocious conditions in Deauville. He tried hard and travelled like he always does but got very tired in the last furlong.

"His next race in the Moulin came up a little bit quick and he didn't run his race. He jumped slowly and we just knew it wasn't going to be his day.

"Everything is fine with him; we weren't tempted to go to America or anywhere else. We will work back from the Hong Kong Mile subject to a good performance in Dundalk."

Because of the pandemic, Romanised missed Royal Ascot and didn't reappear until July when he won the G2 Minstrel Stakes for the second time on the first of only three starts this year.

Even though his season hasn't unfolded as expected for Romanised, Condon has enjoyed other Group success from his two-year-olds Miss Amulet and Laws Of Indices, both G2 winners who have been G1-placed.

"Laws Of Indices has been let down for the season," said Condon. "It was very soft ground as well in the Lagardere but he ran with great credit to finish third. Thunder Beauty will come back next year and be aimed at the Guineas.

"Miss Amulet will run in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. She would have a little bit of a chance on her Newmarket run [second in the Cheveley Park] and remains in very good form. We are working towards that and she would like nice ground."