Romanee To Fore As Monaco Flops
- Saturday, 26 December 2009 07:54
Underrated galloper Vosne Romanee became a million dollar earner after winning his second Group One race of the season at Ellerslie.
Vosne Romanee took advantage of a good draw and a quality ride by Matt Cameron to race clear of a top field and win Saturday's Zabeel Classic (2000m) easily from Red Ruler and Tell A Tale.
The big disappointment was favourite Monaco Consul, who finished third last in the 12-horse field.
Co-trainer Paul Moroney said the horse appeared to feel the very firm ground and was "on one rein throughout".
While connections of Monaco Consul were left with more questions than answers, it was the second time in three months that Vosne Romanee won a Group One at long odds.
He won the Kelt Capital Stakes (2000m) at Hastings at odds of $55.40 on the New Zealand TAB in October, and was at odds of $26.30 for Saturday's $200,000 feature.
He was still sufficiently underrated that jockeys were hardly banging trainer Jeff Lynds' door down to get the ride in the Zabeel Classic despite his regular jockey Buddy Lammas being injured.
"I got one call," Lynds said.
"But that's racing, it happens sometimes."
Cameron, who had ridden Vosne Romanee some years ago in a barrier trial, was eventually engaged and he used the horse's number two barrier draw to get a good run three back on the fence.
"It was his first time racing right-handed so being on the rail probably helped him," Cameron said.
"He travelled beautifully and he just stuck his little white nose in the gap and took off."
It was the second Group One victory for Cameron, a former top apprentice who is coming back after a six-month disqualification for falsifying statements in November 2007.
"I was going pretty hopeless and the rides weren't coming like they were when I was an apprentice," he said.
"But you've got to be a man when you come out of your time and I think I've got the hang of it now."
Lynds said he would seek further Group One glory in the International Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa in February.
Red Ruler had a beautiful trail and looked the winner 300m out but could not withstand Vosne Romanee's finish and was 2-1/4 lengths away second on the line.
