5 WIN WEEKEND: Royalty Reigns

A course/distance winner and twice Group Two placed, Born To Be Royal (4 m King’s Legacy – Fatal Rendezvous, by All American) continued her progression when winning the $40,000 Comag Rating 65 2000 metres on Saturday at Matamata. 

Placed in the Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) and Group 2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) before winning over 2000 metres on the course in January, Born To Be Royal had produced two solid efforts for fourth at Te Rapa this time in, and looked a top three prospect from the handy gate (4). 

Ridden by reigning Champion Jockey Craig Grylls, Born To Be Royal began smartly to trail and following a gorgeous trip, she got her head in front to prevail with plenty of resolve in a driving finish.

“She’s been a little bit of an enigma, because she has been knocking on the door, so it's good for her to win another race today,” Grylls said.

“She began really well, so I was able to take advantage of that and she’s kicked away nicely. There were challengers late, but she kept digging deep.”

On Soft5 footing, Born To Be Royal ran 2000 metres in 2:05.1, last 600m in 36.0, and drifted in betting to pay $4.60 & $1.70 on the NZ TAB tote.

“She had the run of the race and Craig (Grylls) gave her a beautiful run,” said Mark Walker, training partner with Sam Bergerson. “For a split second, at the top of the straight, she needed an out and quickened up nicely when the gap appeared.

“She’s been racing consistently well and it’s good to get another win on the board. She’s already proved herself up in class and continues to develop into a really nice staying mare.”

On course, assistant trainer Reece Trumper said: “She put herself in the race, it got a bit messy turning for home and she got up on heels, but it opened up, and that’s why we put blokes like Craig (Grylls) and Michael (McNab) on. They get the job done when it needs to be.

“Her track work at home, you honestly can’t fault her. She works as well as any horse, so well done to the whole team at home, they’re doing a great job.

“And special shout out to our good friend Butch Castles, who has a share in this mare. She did the job at two, getting black type, more at three, and hopefully she can carry on with it because she does have a lot of ability.

“We’ve got a big group of Warriors' players involved, too, and they’ll be absolutely thrilled.

“She was well sourced by Dave (Sir David Ellis). We loved her at the sales. I remember seeing her in the barn at Riversley, a big, strong, horse, and although she’s taken a while, now she’s up in trip she can be really progressive.”

Owned by the Te Akau Moments Stolen Racing Partnership (Mgr: Lady Karyn Ellis MNZM), Born To Be Royal was purchased by Sir David Ellis for $200,000 at the 2024 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Riversley Park. 

“It was a big thrill to see her win again and we’ve got a lot of great supporters in her ownership group,” Ellis said.

“She was by a first season sire that is doing a good job and it was exciting to buy a filly that is a direct descendant from the family of the stallion Not A Single Doubt.”

Born To Be Royal is from the first crop by Coolmore stallion King’s Legacy, by breed shaper Redoute’s Choice (Danehill). King’s Legacy was a very good dual Group One winning two-year-colt, scoring in the Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) and Champagne Stakes (1600m). 

A half-sister to dual 1600-metre winner Okami Star (Justify), Born To Be Royal carries a bloodline cross of breed-shaping sire Danehill (Danzig), as the grand-sire of King’s Legacy and on the dam line of Fatal Rendezvous. 

Born To Be Royal was strapped by Laura Macnab. 

Photo credit - Kenton Wright - www.raceimages.co.nz