Dropped Whip No Hindrance

The Informant's Richard Edmunds reported on what could have turned into a challenging final 400m ...

Royal Success has completed an impressive campaign with his third consecutive win, scoring a strong victory at Te Rapa this afternoon despite rider Matt Cameron dropping his whip during the race.

The Savabeel gelding was a maiden winner just over a month ago, but after a gutsy performance in today's Norris Ward McKinnon 1600 he is now the winner of three of his four career appearances.

Royal Success won a maiden race at Pukekohe on May 6, then added a six-length win in Rating 65 grade at Otaki on May 26.

Today he took another step up to Rating 75 level and again was up to the task, outfighting Maestro Tom, Roc de Bank and Prize Lad in a desperate battle to the finish of the 1600-metre event. Under vigorous urging from a whipless Cameron, Royal Success prevailed by a neck.

“That was a top performance,” co-trainer Jamie Richards told www.theinformant.co.nz. “I think Matt must have dropped his whip somewhere around the top of the straight - I was watching the race live and will need to look at a replay to see where it happened. But luckily it didn't stop him getting the job done.

“He's a very progressive horse. His owners have been very patient, letting us give the horse all the time he needs and bring him along patiently. He's paying them back now.

“It's not easy to start as a maiden and go bang, bang, bang, but that's exactly what he's done. It's been a very impressive campaign.

“I think he probably deserves a break now. He's been good to us in this campaign and now we'll be good to him and give him some time off. He could develop into a lovely progressive staying horse next season.”

Royal Success is a son of the Listed-winning Deputy Governor mare Royal Show. She is the dam of five winners from six foals to race including the multiple Group winner Folding Gear.

The gelding is a graduate of the 2014 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka, where Richards and Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis bought him for $250,000.