[PHOTO: Western Racepix]
Super Romani justified his short-priced favouritism at Belmont on Wednesday when defeating stablemate Who Be Whatee in the National Pump & Energy Handicap (1650m).
Starting at $1.60 with William Pike aboard, the big Super One four-year-old settled one-out and three-back in running before peeling three-wide to be put into the race from the 600m mark.
The gelding travelled up strongly to glide past his rivals and take the lead passing the 200m mark and booted clear over the final stages to beat Who Be Whatee ($5) by one-and-a-quarter lengths in a Pearce Racing quinella, with Do It Right ($21) a further nose away in third place.
Super Romani put the writing on the wall for his winning return when finishing third first up at Belmont on December 24 and has now had 11 career starts for two wins and five minor placings.
Co-trainers Daniel and Ben Pearce have prepared 33 winners so far in the 2023/24 season and will saddle up one runner – Manhattan Strip – at Saturday’s Ascot meeting.