Romanised Captures Prix Jacques Le Marois

The Ken Condon-trained Romanised (4c Holy Roman Emperor - Romantic Venture, by Indian Ridge) gained the second top-level success of his career when taking Sunday’s Group 1 Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville.

The 2018 Irish 2,000 Guineas victor was last seen winning the Group 2 Minstrel Stakes at the Curragh and stepped back up to a mile on Sunday under regular rider Billy Lee. Success Days and Vocal Music set the pace as Romanised raced in midfield, taking closer order from two furlongs out and was driven to lead inside the final furlong. Running on well, he beat Shaman by a length and a quarter, with just a nose separating the second horse from Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner Line Of Duty (Galileo).

A delighted Ken Condon commented after the race, “Romanised came here last year and ran into an exceptional filly in Alpha Centauri (Mastercraftsman). We think after his Guineas win that he wasn't as good, but this year he's come back in good form and has kept improving. He was very professional and loves this ground. He has a lot of acceleration and gears and I'm delighted. I think he could go for the Prix de la Foret or the Breeders' Cup Mile.”

The Robert Ng-owned colt was purchased privately as a foal from breeder Mrs Monica Aherne and has since earned connections prize money nearing €1million. He is a closely related to dual Stakes scorer Rock Of Romance and a half-brother to Irish Leger Trial winner Fictional Account, while their dam is a half-sister to the top-class Designs On Rome (Holy Roman Emperor), a four-time Group 1 winner in Hong Kong.

Holy Roman Emperor is enjoying a terrific season, with his juveniles headed by recent Group 3 Anglesey Stakes winner Roman Turbo. The son of Danehill commands €15,000 at Castle Hyde Stud.