Romantic Moon was a topical tip for the Spring Carnival On Sale Hcp (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
The daughter of Vinery champion More Than Ready gave co-trainer James Cummings a timely present in advance of his wedding to Monica Barrera in Italy this week. The winner is a Gooree Pastoral homebred and Barrera is a grand-daughter of Gooree owner Eduardo Cojuangco.
“She was a well overdue and it was perfect timing for James and Monica,” jockey Blake Shinn said. “I was happy to lead and it was a good, strong win.”
ROMANTIC MOON (3f More Than Ready – Tropical Affair by Danehill) had not saluted since the G3 Sweet Embrace Stakes in March 2013 when trained by John O’Shea. She transferred to Cummings earlier this year.
Her dam Tropical Affair won the Listed VRC Maribyrnong Trial Stakes for Cojuangco and trainer Lee Freedman. The mare foaled a More Than Ready colt in September last year.
More Than Ready stablemates Samaready and More Radiant are primed to step up their training for the spring carnival after prep work at Vinery Stud.
MORE RADIANT is due to arrive at Caulfield this week and trainer Mick Price has pencilled in the G3 Quezette Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 16 as a possible first-up option. “I’ve got a pretty good opinion of the filly,” Price said. “She was a stakes-placed first-up at Flemington and the main aim now is a black-type win.
“I don’t think she’s a 1600 metres filly. We won’t go to the Thousand Guineas – the long-term goal is the Coolmore Stakes.”
SAMAREADY is another Vinery homebred with Price and she has already notched Group 1 victories in the Blue Diamond and Moir Stakes. “We’ve got her mind on the job and she looks fantastic,” Vinery general manager Peter Orton said. “She will head to Melbourne towards the end of July.”
More Than Ready has sired the winners of 8 black-type races in Australia this season. He will stand for a $66,000 (inc gst) fee at Vinery this year.