Romansh excellent in Excelsior
When Godolphin's Romansh captured his first G3 event in the Discovery Handicap last November at Aqueduct, his 110 Beyer Speed Figure rating showed that he was horse with a degree of talent. His first start of the year in the G1 Donn was a troubled one, but on March 22 back at Aqueduct, the four-year-old son of Bernardini again showed that he is a horse loaded with potential with a strong win in the G3 Excelsior Handicap.
One look at his past performances and it’s apparent that he is a horse that presses the pace and today was no different. Romansh relaxed just off the lead for the first mile of the one and one-eighth mile event until the field made the turn for home. He was able to gain the lead late in the stretch where he outlasted his stablemate, Long River.
Bred in Kentucky by Darley & Lynn B Schiff, Romansh was a $750,000 Saratoga yearling. He is out of the multiple Stakes winner and Graded-placed Cologny, herself a half-sister to Stakes winners Selective and Keep It S. S., as well as the dam of Graded Stakes winner Twice The Appeal.
Romansh is one of 18 career Group or Graded winners sired by Bernardini. Others include 2014 G1 winner Boban and G2 winner Spellbound. His other G1 winners include Stay Thirsty and Alpha, back-to-back winners of the Travers Stakes and Cigar Mile winner To Honor And Serve.
Bernardini stands the 2014 season for $100,000 live foal, stands and nurses.