A Royal Success Indeed

In a grandstand finish to the $30,000 ISCL Rating 85 1400 metres on Saturday at Rotorua, Royal Success (5 g Savabeel - Royal Show, by Deputy Governor) had his head in front where it counted most.

Having clocked one of the fastest final 600m (35.2) when resuming with a close second in the Rating 85 1400 metres on 4 October at Ruakaka, Royal Success extended his outstanding record to five wins and two seconds from ten starts.

“He's a pretty smart horse and he's got a really good strike rate,” said David Ellis, who purchased the horse for the Te Akau Royal Success Syndicate.

“He's had to dig deep in a couple of his wins and it's the sign of a horse that really wants to win.

“He's another good horse that I bought from the [NZB] Ready to Run Sales and those I've bought at that sale have had a fantastic last twelve months. Gingernuts has won three Group Ones and a Group 2 and was close up in both Champion Three-Year-Old and Horse of the Year, Hall of Fame won a Group One and Listed event, and Te Akau Shark has had two starts for two wins.”

With the next Ready to Run Sale coming up on 22 and 23 November at Karaka, Ellis will be on the lookout for future stars.

“We'll buy quite a few at the sale and people have registered a lot of interest."

Sent forward from barrier four by rider Opie Bosson, Royal Success briefly received cover before cruising up to the quarters of leader Kitaya (Lawman) and he gained a narrow advantage near the line after the pair fought neck and neck in the straight.

“I loved the way that Opie really got stuck in and drove him over the line,” Ellis said. “He needed a strong ride over the concluding stages and Opie timed it perfectly.

“On buying him, I told the owners they would have to be patient and that he would grow and develop into a really good horse.  Like a lot of Savabeel's he likes the tracks around a Dead4, not too hard, and the patience shown by the owners is being rewarded.”

Trainers Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards lined up three in the race: with Our Abbadean (Lookin' at Lucky) flashing home from off the pace to dead-heat for second and staying horse Zambezi Warrior (Pentire) circled widest and ran on from back in the field.

“Our Abbadean is going to win a race very quickly for Wentwood Grange and it was a super run,” Ellis said. “It was probably the run of the race.

“It's great to be supported by breeders in the industry and Des and Janet Hawkins and the Hawkins family have a staying mare with a lot of promise.”

On Dead4 footing, Royal Success ran the 1400 metres in 1:23.7, returning $3.30 & $1.45 fixed odds and $2.90 & $1.60 on the NZ TAB tote.

“It was a big battle the length of the straight and bob of the head, but the run was from the other horse (Our Abbadean) for sure,” Autridge said.

“(Royal Success) He's a real racehorse and he'll improve a bit with that, but we have some reservations on good tracks and we'll just have to wait and see.  He can do anything up to a mile, but we'll see how he pulls up and see what Opie (Bosson) says."

Commenting on Our Abbadean, Autridge said: “We said to ride her quiet and as long as she was finding the line then we'd happy, because she wants to go further. Every preparation she's continued to get better and she could be a cups' contender.”

Royal Success was strapped by Raj Rasheed.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.com