Romantic Proposal Returns Lynam to Top in Flying Five

Eddie Lynam's title as the sprint king was only ever in danger of falling to his reputation for one-liners and his first group 1 triumph in six years suggests he hasn't lost the knack for either discipline.

"That's why they put rubbers on the top of pencils," Lynam said after Chris Hayes produced Romantic Proposal  to run down Glass Slippers  and Dragon Symbol  in the Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes (G1) Sept. 12 at the Curragh. "People make mistakes. Today was a group 1 day and he got it spot on."

Lynam was referring to Hayes's endeavors when Romantic Proposal, who was returned at 16-1, finished a staying-on third in the Paddy Power Sapphire Stakes (G2) over course and distance in July. The partnership got caught in behind before finishing with a flourish after Mooneista  and Gustavus Weston  had flown.

It was only the second time Hayes had ridden the 5-year-old mare, having won the Dubai Duty Free Dash Stakes on her here the first time, and he feared it might have been the last. However, Lynam, and Steve Parkin of owners Clipper Logistics, stuck with him.

The result on her group 1 debut, was a spectacular vindication of that vote of confidence. On rain-softened ground, officially given as good, Hayes executed the tactics with aplomb, prevailing by half a length from A Case of You , with Glass Slippers third.

"I made a complete hash of it the last day," said Hayes, who was recording a first success at the highest level since he landed the day's feature, the Comer Group International Irish St. Leger (G1), on Search For A Song  in 2019.

"I rode her too confidently on ground that was a shade too quick. I should have probably been a little bit more aware that I needed to get rolling early on. The ground was lovely for her today, and the fact connections put me back up, I was always going to be able to ride her with loads of confidence.

"I was praying all week we'd get a drop of rain and that connections would put me back on her," he added. "Thankfully they did and it all clicked."  

For Lynam, who farmed some epic sprints with stable stalwarts Sole Power  and Slade Power , the victory was particularly sweet. The daughter of Raven's Pass  was bought by his daughter Amy, so it was a landmark occasion for the family.

"She has bought a group 1-winning sprinter as a foal, so I'm really proud of her and delighted for her," he said.

Romantic Proposal may now be Prix de l'Abbaye (G1) bound, and Lynam added: "She's just kept improving. I always believed, the way she was progressing, she was capable of running a big race. I thought it would go to England to be honest with you, but she did everything great."

On returning to the big time, he quipped: "It's six years since I had a group 1 winner, although I have gone 30 years without one! I didn't know what they were like, but then, when you get a bit of a taste for it, it's nice to have another. Days like this make it all worthwhile."

The Flying Five is a "Win and You're In" race that awarded Romantic Proposal a berth in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) Nov. 6 at Del Mar, a race won last year by Glass Slippers when held at Keeneland.