Beautiful Romance lands G2 Zipping Classic

Beautiful Romance has completed a Sandown stakes race treble for three different Godolphin trainers with a fighting win in the Zipping Classic.

Her victory on Saturday gave trainer Saeed bin Suroor a Group Two victory after Qewy had earlier in the program won the Listed Sandown Cup for English trainer Charlie Appleby and Morton’s Fork took out the Group Two Sandown Guineas for John O’Shea.

Godolphin spokesman Andy Makiv said he was not sure if the feat had been done before.

“It’s a great achievement to get three stakes races on the one day for three different stables,” Makiv said.

Ridden by Glyn Schofield, Beautiful Romance was backed from $6 to $5 before defeating Almoonqith ($5.50) by a short half-head with Big Orange ($5.50) a head away third.

Along with stablemate Secret Number, Beautiful Romance was sent to Melbourne on the second shipment of international horses for the Melbourne Cup and performed best of the pair behind Almandin.

“She was very brave in the Melbourne Cup and as we know the form from the Melbourne Cup holds up well into this race,” Makiv said.

“She certainly presented with a great chance and ran right up to it.”

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Schofield had Beautiful Romance racing in fifth position early in the 3200m contest but feared his hopes may have been dashed when she lost her momentum around the hometurn.

“Who Shot Thebarman shifted off the fence slightly on the corner and my stablemate (Secret Number) outside me was going nowhere and I had no horse to drag me into the race,” Schofield said.

“She lost a little bit of momentum at that stage but when it was needed she picked up and went again.”

Schofield said Beautiful Romance had produced a creditable Melbourne Cup performance after knuckling at the start.

“It was fitting she won today,” he said.

Oliver, chasing a double aboard Almoonqith, said the stayer had turned victory into defeat.

“He was home for the world but he pulled-up on me,” Oliver said.

Damian Lane, rider of third placed Big Orange, said the English stayer wasn’t helped by the strong wind down the back straight but had fought the race out courageously.