Eddie Lynam: this will be a different test for her - Paris is like a Nunthorpe

Eddie Lynam, the man known as the sprint king following the exploits of Sole Power and Slade Power, is hoping his latest top-notch speedster Romantic Proposal can follow up her victory in the Group 1 Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh when she lines up in Sunday's Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp.

Lynam admits that Paris will represent a new challenge for Romantic Proposal, but he is confident that his stable star has been sufficiently sharpened up for the demands of the Prix de l'Abbaye.

He said: "She's getting quicker and quicker. Around this time two years ago, she was winning at Cork over seven furlongs. This will be a different test for her.

4.25 Longchamp Sunday: Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp Longines racecard and betting

"The Flying Five is more like a King's Stand in that the Curragh and Ascot are a stiff five furlongs, whereas Paris is like a Nunthorpe. York and Longchamp are a sharp five."

He added: "We're happy with her. We haven't asked her any big questions since the Curragh but she seems to be in great form. There are only a certain amount of races of this calibre every season so if you're in good nick, it's worth having a go."

While Lynam is unrivalled for his handling of sprinters, his daughter Amy is proving an excellent spotter of talent, having sourced Group 2 winner Soffia and now the stable's latest Group 1 star Romantic Proposal at the sales.

Eddie Lynam: trainer credits daughter Amy for buying Group 1 winner Romantic ProposalCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

The trainer explained: "My daughter Amy is making it look easy and, in fairness, she has bought me the last two good sprinters I've had – Soffia and now Romantic Proposal.

"Next year will be my 40th year training and I've had three Group 1 horses in that time. I've had a number of Group 2 and Group 3 horses and horses who were Group 1 placed, but Sole Power, Slade Power and now Romantic Proposal are the only Group 1 winners.

"That's something like an average of one every 13 years. I have the belief that if we have one good enough, we can deliver. But getting them is hard, they're like hen's teeth. They don't come along too often."

'I have loads of confidence in her'

Lynam confirmed Chris Hayes will retain the ride aboard Romantic Proposal in France and also revealed the filly would be kept in training as a six-year-old next season.

He said: "Her owner [Steve Parkin] landed in his chopper on Tuesday to see her and he was very happy with her. He's decided to keep her in training next year, which is great."

Hayes said: "This filly has buckets of pace. Eddie told me to jump and slot in behind the pace in the Flying Five but I could have been bang on the pace if I wanted to. She has enough pace to be effective in a fast-run Abbaye and I have loads of confidence in her."

"I’m not in a privileged position to have horses like Romantic Proposal to ride every weekend so to have her to look forward to is pretty special. To get on one that has a live chance in a Group 1 is huge and I’m grateful connections have kept the partnership intact."

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