SPRING ROMANCE (pictured maroon silks) bounced right back to form yesterday at Nottingham with a battling 25/1 success by a neck, albeit after surviving a lengthy Stewards’ Enquiry!
A winner four times last year for Solario Racing (Berkhamsted), he ran well on his reappearance when fourth at Lingfield in February but then put in two uncharacteristic lack lustre displays at Chelmsford and Salisbury.
Given plenty of time to come to himself, it was eight weeks since his last race and despite his big price, there was a quiet confidence that he would run a big race despite him being one of the rank outsiders.
Twelve went to post and the going was Good To Soft, which was going to be unchartered territory for the 4yo son of Zebedee. Joey Haynes was riding him for the first time but he had had the leg up on him at home the day before and reported him to be in good order. He was also no stranger to Solario Racing, having ridden Dancinginthewoods to a 50/1 victory at Newmarket last month!
Spring Romance jumped from the stalls well and went straight into the lead. Headed by Zumurud at the two furlong pole, the stable runner showed great battling qualities to get his head back in front a furlong out. He did drift right a little, carrying the eventual runner-up off a true line but there was no contact and at the line there was a neck between them with the running-on Zeyzoun, a further neck back in third.
The stewards deliberated for a good ten minutes but the placings remained unaltered much to the delight of Solario Racing’s owners as they let out a huge cheer when the result was confirmed.
Spring Romance has now won five of his fourteen starts and shouldn’t go up too much in the handicap. It was the stable’s seventh winner in 15 days and puts the yard on 25 wins for the year.