The Roma Cup hasn’t been a kind race to Comfort Me in recent years, but Rhys Radford is confident his prized eight-year-old can end the hoodoo in two weeks.
Comfort Me appeared sharp and full of zest when winning a 1000m Belmont trial this morning (Monday), leading and holding out Western Empire by two lengths.
Comfort Me finished 13th of 16 in the 2022 Roma Cup, fifth a year later behind boom filly Amelia’s Jewel and 12-months ago trailed the field to run last.
The Roma Cup is one of the few races where Comfort Me hasn’t shone, an anomaly as he regularly tries his heart out in most races that he goes in.
The son of Playing God has collected $1.6 million in prizemoney and multiple times he has gone close to claiming a win at racing’s highest level.
While his record in the Roma Cup is not to his usual high standard, conversely, he has run three seconds in the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m).
He won’t go down in the annals as a great of the WA turf, but that doesn’t matter an iota to Radford, he would love a stable full of Comfort Me’s.
Another Railway Stakes attempt beckons again in 2025 after he completes a cameo campaign this year, beginning in the Roma Cup.
Radford walked away from the trials pleased with what he saw but not surprised.
Despite rising nine, he says Comfort Me shows no signs of slowing down.
“Yeah, it was very good,” Radford said to Racing WA.
“He trials like he usually trials, but very happy.
“We keep all the calendars away from him, so he doesn’t know he’s getting old.
“He seems as fresh as ever and is definitely as keen as ever.
“We’re back into it.”
Two weeks after the Roma Cup is the 1200m Kia-Quokka slot race at Ascot.
At $5 million, it’s Perth richest race and has only ever been won by eastern states raider, Overpass (2023-2024).
Comfort Me wasn’t offered a slot in either edition of the race, a fact Radford doesn’t think will change this year.
“Nobody has rung,” Radford said.
“I would definitely think about it if there was a call.
“But nobody has rung at the moment.
“He deserves to have a crack.
“It’s full steam ahead wherever we go.”
The $200,000 Joey (1200m), run on the same day as the Kia-Quokka on April 26 is the alternative option for Comfort Me.
The Roma Cup at 1100m is run two weeks prior.
Comfort Me has recorded eight wins and 13 placings from 44 starts.
His best win came in the Group 3 Eurythmic Stakes (1400m) when first up last campaign.
Julio Santarelli