Eddie Lynam hopes his latest sprint star 'will end up at the highest level'

No trainer has played a more important role in raising the profile of Irish sprinters than Eddie Lynam, famed for his handling of speedballs Sole Power, Slade Power, Anthem Alexander and more recently Soffia.

It is fitting that the man they call Fast Eddie – for good reason – has another high-class sprinter in his care with Romantic Proposal, who has Group-race targets after romping home in a Listed contest at the Curragh on Irish Derby day.

Romantic Proposal has gone from strength to strength this season and is already rated 1lb higher than Soffia before her victory in the Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh two seasons ago.

That race could be next up for Romantic Proposal, according to Lynam, who is quietly confident his rapidly progressive five-year-old mare can prove a ticket back to the top of the sprinting tree.

Romantic Proposal: progressive mare will run in the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes next timeCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Lynam said: "The Sapphire could be a very good race but it's a race we're definitely thinking about for her. She has a couple of entries in Group 1 races, mainly because the likes of the Nunthorpe and the Flying Five are early-closers, but it's a bit early to be talking about that.

"The important thing is that she's running well enough to keep the dream alive though and we can't complain about what she's done so far this season anyway."

He added: "She did it very impressively in the Listed sprint on Saturday and her rating has gone up a few pounds [to 105] now so you could argue that it was a career-best run.

"What I like about her is she seems to be progressing with every run this season. She took her race at the Curragh very well – she lost no weight – so we are very happy with her."

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There are parallels between Romantic Proposal and Soffia, the most recent sprint star to emerge from Lynam's base in Dunshaughlin, County Meath.

Not only were both supremely talented they were also pinhooked by Lynam's daughter Amy, making their successes on the track extra special.

Lynam explained: "Amy sourced Romantic Proposal and Soffia. You could count the number of horses she has bought on one hand so she has a very good strike-rate. Long may it continue."

Asked if he could compare Romantic Proposal to any of his former stable stars, Lynam said: "She is not a morning glory, although we always felt she was nice. She is going in the right direction. All of my good sprinters got better with age and she is following that trend."

He added: "Fingers crossed she'll end up at the highest level but she has the best part of a stone to find. She won the Scurry last year off 83, so she has improved 22lb in the last 11 months. If she can improve the half of that again, well then we're in business."

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