Romanised Lands Back-To-Back Minstrel Stakes

The ultra-consistent Romanised (5h Holy Roman Emperor - Romantic Venture, by Indian Ridge) made a winning return to action on Saturday, when taking the Group 2 Minstrel Stakes for the in-form Ken Condon team.

The winner of last year’s running of the seven furlong contest, the dual Group 1 winner was last seen finishing a close second to Circus Maximus (Galileo) in the Prix du Moulin in September. Regular rider Billy Lee rode the bay to track the leaders and after becoming short of room two furlongs out, was forced to switch left to challenge. Running on well, he was pushed out to lead inside the final furlong and won by a length and three quarters from the favourite Lancaster House (Galileo).

Speaking after the race, Condon said, “It's lovely to see him back after a long ten months. We were anxious to start him on his own doorstep and what better place than here in a race he's won before? He has good form here and I'm delighted with that.” On future plans, he added, “He'll go back to Deauville now to try and win the Jacques le Marois again. It's in four weeks so there's a nice bit of time between now and then for him to take this race and get something from it.”

Owned by Robert Ng and bred by Monica Aherne, the son of Holy Roman Emperor has proved a model of consistency throughout his career. Successful on debut in April of his juvenile career, he is now the winner of four Group contests and has been placed in another two, his performances earning him over £1million in prize money.