Romneya landed her first Group Two victory in the Fillies Classic at Moonee Valley on Saturday and trainer Lee Freedman is eyeing a Group One success for the diminutive filly.The daughter of Red Ransom and Danehill mare Mannington, owned by Sheikh Mohammed, gave Freedman his fifth victory in the race which was known as the Moonee Valley Oaks until 2004.Ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, Romneya ($3.70 fav) wasn't fast away and drifted back to eighth of the 10 runners before making her winning move.She sho
Romneya landed her first Group Two victory in the Fillies Classic at Moonee Valley on Saturday and trainer Lee Freedman is eyeing a Group One success for the diminutive filly.
The daughter of Red Ransom and Danehill mare Mannington, owned by Sheikh Mohammed, gave Freedman his fifth victory in the race which was known as the Moonee Valley Oaks until 2004.
Ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, Romneya ($3.70 fav) wasn't fast away and drifted back to eighth of the 10 runners before making her winning move.
She shot well clear in the straight in the 1500m event and gamely held out the fast-finishing Lamarr by a half-length with Turquia 1-1/4 lengths away third.
"There was a lot of speed on and fortunately Kerrin had her back and away from the speed and produced her at the right time," Freedman said.
"I think during the spring we were a bit hard on her and she subsequently couldn't run out the mile (1600m).
"We'll see how she pulls up but we would be under pressure freshening her up in time for the Swettenham Stud Stakes in Adelaide so we might go the other way and take her to Sydney for the Coolmore."
The Group One $600,000 Coolmore Classic (1500m) is at Rosehill on March 21.
Romneya has been a model of consistency throughout her career having raced 11 times for five wins and four seconds.
As a two-year-old she was unbeaten in three starts including a win in the Listed Plate (1350m) at Cheltenham.
Last spring she was fourth to Gallica in the Group One Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield.
Romneya made it two straight this preparation having won the Group Three The Vanity (1400m) at Flemington first-up on January 31.
Freedman's other wins in the race were Just A Runner in 1996, Kensington Palace, who dead-heated with Champagne in 1998, Ribe in 2003 and Special Harmony in 2004.