Le Romain (image Steve Hart) beat superstar sprinter Chatauqua in a desperately close finish on
the heavy track and, in doing so, took his earnings to nearly $1.9 million.The son of former Darley Northwood shuttle sire Hard Spun was bred by Mark Carusi and his brother Anthony at Greta West Stud, the property of Laurie and John McCarthy.
Saturday's major win was the third Group 1 for Le Romain following his efforts in last year's Randwick Guineas and Flemington's Cantala Stakes.
"The Carusis are great clients of ours, they have four or five mares and we are just really happy for them, and we're stoked too," Laurie said.
"It's nice to have these winners come from the farm!"
Greta West walked the mare on to Darley's Northwood property, foaled and raised Le Romain before sending him to Vincent and Shaun Nolens at Benalla to be broken in.
"He was a good foal, not a standout but it was the way he kept improving that impressed me," Laurie said.
"They (the Nolens) really liked him to break, and he just continued to grow into a much nicer horse than what we initially thought. He just kept getting better and better.
"He has won three Group Ones on the really big days, and although he will run into the mighty Winx at his next start in two weeks, they won't mind running second if he is going to win the Doncaster two week later."
Le Romain is the third foal of Hawkesbury maiden winner Mignard who was purchased for $18,000 from a Darley reduction in 2009.
The daughter of Strategic is out of the Night Shift mare Mielleuse who was placed in the Group 2 Reisling Slipper and is a half-sister to the stakes winner and multiple Group 1 placed Pursuits (Quest For Fame).
Mignard has a two-year-old filly by Domesday named Isabeau in training with Kris Lees. She also has a yearling filly by Kuroshio and foaled a colt by the Exceed And Excel stallion again last season.
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