Romantic Proposal
Noted after she won her maiden, Romantic Proposal is worth noting again after she ran out an impressive winner of the seven-furlong handicap. Settled nicely in mid-division on the far side through the early stages of the race, she made nice progress from the two-furlong marker to easily arrive there in the front rank. She was the only horse still on the bridle as they raced to the furlong marker and, when Wayne Lordan gave her a squeeze, she picked up nicely. Her rider just rode her out hands and heels, and she came away from her rivals impressively. Katiymann ran on well for second, just in front of The Broghie Man, who did best of those who raced on the near side.
It was a really nice performance from Eddie Lynam's filly. She was raised 12lb by the handicapper to a mark of 83 for this, but it was just her sixth race, she was unraced as a juvenile last year, and it was just her second over seven furlongs, so she still has plenty of scope for progression. It may be that she will still be under-rated, and it is interesting that her trainer had her in the listed race at The Curragh last Sunday that Make A Challenge won before he took her out because of the ground.
She handled the easy ground okay at Cork, but her maiden win was on good ground and, while her two best runs now have been on Cork's straight seven-furlong track, there is no reason to think that she cannot be as effective on another track. Seven furlongs is a good trip for her, but she is by Raven's Pass and her dam won over a mile as a two-year-old, so there is no reason to think that she won't get a mile if she needs to. That said, given how her trainer excels with sprinters, it may be that she will be even more effective over six furlongs. She is a seriously progressive filly, and she remains exciting.
Cork, 1st October 2019
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