Romantic Proposal gone in 60 seconds

RACING

Trainer Edward Lynam was smiling with his family at the Curragh on Sunday after Romantic Proposal took only 59.77 seconds to win the Group 1 Flying Five Stakes over five furlongs.

Rated 68 when winning a seven-furlong Cork maiden with Declan McDonogh, Romantic Proposal made it win number five at the second day of Champions Weekend.

The five-year-old filly landed the Group 1 Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes in fine style with Chris Hayes on steering duty this time at the Kildare track.

From handicapper to winning a Group 1 is testament to the skill of the Dunshaughlin-based trainer who heaped praise on his daughter Amy who bought Romantic Proposal as a foal.

Edward Lynam, nicknamed 'Fast Eddie' due to his ability with sprinters, would be wellknown for his globe-trotting exploits with the legendary Sole Power, which won this race in 2015 with Hayes on board also.

“I always believed an improving filly like her was capable of running a big race and she did everything great," he commented.

"It’s six years since I had a Group 1 winner - I had gone 30 years without having one and didn’t know what they were like, but when you get a bit of a taste for it you want more.

“I only have 30 horses and Sarah (another daughter) has 11, we have a smaller team, but I’m happy and I’m not looking for 100 horses.

“I would have thought she’d go next for the Abbaye (in Longchamp),” he concluded with the prospects of some more globe-trotting on the horizon.