Promising three year old Romping provided another city winner for emerging Swettenham Stud sire Dash For Cash, when he won the Members Equity Bank Handicap at Moonee Valley this evening.

Putting in a sustained run in the straight, Romping finished all over his opposition, winning by a half neck from the favourite Gentry ($3.50-$5.00-$4.60F) with a neck to Lost Oscar ($26).

Drawn very wide in the 1200m sprint, jockey Steven Arnold did a great job to get into a good position in the race. 

"They rolled along a bit early and we ended up in a pretty good spot", Arnold said.

"We really wanted Steven to be positive from his wide barrier", said Gino Mata, Assistant Trainer to Danny O'Brien who also won the first race with Sparkling Satine.

"They went quick early, he slotted in beautifully and then timed his run to perfection."

Romping came into today's race fresh from a 3.5 length win at Seymour at his last start.

"Two in a row and he's got some nice scope", observed Mata.

"We're quite fortunate in that we gave him an easy prep when he was a colt, we gelded him and its paid dividends now", he continued.

Mata was not getting too carried away with tonight's performance, but felt that Romping had untapped potential. 

"He's only just won a Class 1 race tonight and they're always hard to win these city class ones."

"We'll give him his chance at a city Saturday one and see where we go from there."

Arnold also believes that Romping has potential.

"He's a nice horse and Danny's stable is in form", he said.

"It was a good win the other day and he had to take another step today."

"He's still a new horse but it was a good effort."

Romping, out of the Last Tycoon mare Romalpa, was purchased by O'Brien for $62,000 at the 2006 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale from the draft of Collingrove Stud.

He was syndicated among O'Brien stable clients. 

The leading Victorian first season sire last year, Dash For Cash had a stellar stud season last Spring, covering 221 mares, the fourth highest tally in the country.

He stood at Swettenham stud at a fee of $14,850 for the 2007 season just concluded.

Photos: Fiona Tomlin

© Cyberhorse 2024 Bill Saunders Published 25/01/08