Another Auret graduate takes Group One stage

[Wandering Eyes]

Marton horseman Fraser Auret has enjoyed the limelight in recent years as the man behind star sprinter Ka Ying Rising.

The outstanding son of Shamexpress was bred and originally trained by Auret, and the world’s highest-rated galloper will step onto the biggest stage when he contests the A$20 million Everest at Randwick on Saturday week.

But while Ka Ying Rising will dominate the headlines for the next week, Auret will be closely watching another of his graduates, Romantic Encounter, who contests Saturday’s Gr,1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m).

A New Zealand bred son of Ghaiyyath, Romantic Encounter stepped from a debut Bendigo maiden win to finish second in the Gr.2 Stutt Stakes (1600m) and will enter the Guineas at his third start for trainers Ben, Will & JD Hayes.

Romantic Encounter was knocked down to PR Thoroughbreds and Lindsay Park Racing at last year’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale for $425,000 from the draft of Phoenix Park, after Auret had originally purchased the horse at the Book 2 Karaka Yearling Sales for $60,000 from the draft of Wentwood Grange.

“He was purchased from the yearling sales on behalf of a client and we did the prep work with him before sending him to the Ready to Run Sale,” Auret said.

“He was just a magnificent horse all the way through. He was very impressive at a jump out before heading to the sale. He stamped himself right from the time we were breaking him in as a really serious horse.”

Auret has been impressed with the way the colt has progressed under the care of the Hayes team and he believes the $26 shot is not without a chance in what shapes as an even Guineas.

“He is a young colt having just his third start so he’s come a long way in a very short space of time, but the Hayes team have handled him beautifully,” Auret said.

“He’s got to be in there with some chance. The way he’s just continued to improve from his first run to his second run, and he obviously does need to raise the bar again, but there’s no reason why he couldn’t take the leap.”

Other Ready to Run graduates prepared by Auret have also found success in Australia.

“We sold Mongolian Mission, by Dubious out of Tinjirarni, at the Ready to Run Sale last year. He won at the trials and then won on debut in Australia for Danny O’Brien. Also an El Roca colt, Lion City Express, that we sold has had two trial wins for Tim Fitzsimmons in Australia as well.”

Meanwhile, Auret has been staggered by the scrutiny of Ka Ying Rising’s trial in Sydney earlier this week as the David Hayes-trained sprinter prepares for the Everest.

“I’ve never seen so much feedback from everyone about a trial,” Auret said.

“It was certainly scrutinised to every degree, but at the end of the day, I think it was a really nice trial. You could see that he needed it, but I think he’ll be cherry ripe on the day.

“I just hope it’s run on a hard and fast track. When you’re going into a massive sprint race like the Everest you want the fastest horse to be winning. He looks a picture to my eye anyway.”

Auret said the family would be gathered around the television on Saturday week.

“We are just getting the family together to watch, and certainly can’t wait for that Saturday, that’s for sure, but I’d also love to see Romantic Encounter run well in the Guineas this weekend,” he said.

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