Romanised blows away big guns at 25-1

– Romanised gave trainer Ken Condon his first classic race success when springing a 25-1 surprise in the Irish 2000 Guineas at The Curragh on Saturday.

Ridden by Shane Foley, Romanised ran out an authoritative winner as he came from way off the pace.

Mark Johnston’s English raider Elarqam – fourth in the recent 2000 Guineas at Newmarket – shared the pace with Aidan O’Brien’s US Navy Flag.

The race looked wide open with several in with chances, including Charlie Appleby’s Symbolization, Gutstav Klimt and Threeandfourpence, but Romanised was produced with a sweeping run in the centre of the course to land the Group 1 spoils.

US Navy Flag and Gustav Klimt were second and third for the O’Brien team.

Condon – winning his first race this season – said: “He worked the best he’s worked all spring last Tuesday. We knew we were a long shot coming in here, but I felt he was going to run a big race.

“He’s always shown talent and he just seems to have come to himself in the last few weeks.

“I’m in a bit of shock and it will be a few days before it sinks in. It’s just amazing to win a classic. It’s all I wanted to do when I entered racing.

“We just train 30 and are lucky enough to have a few stakes performers among them. The country is full of very good horsemen and very good riders and we’re all looking to get our hands on a good horse and show what you can do.”

Looking to the future, Condon said: “He’s in the St James’s Palace and the Commonwealth Cup (at Royal Ascot). We’ll see how he comes out of this.” –

London