Royal Success set to shake off early career concerns
ROYAL Success is looking to shake off some early racing injury issues as the horse nears its return.
The talented son of Savabeel has been lightly raced due to injury, which has restricted the gelding just eight career starts. When the five-year-old has managed to get out onto the track it has impressed however, amassing four wins and a placing.
Royal Success’ trainer Jamie Richards said getting Royal Success into consistent racing shape is the biggest challenge with the talented galloper.
“He’s got plenty of ability there’s no doubt about that, but unfortunately he’s got issues we have to manage,” said Richards, who trains in partnership with Stephen Autridge.
Royal Success won three of his first four starts last season and resumed in style with a Premier day success at Trentham in December before another break. The gelding subsequently placed in one of his three autumn starts.
“He’s back now and we’re taking him along quietly. Hopefully, we can get a couple of trials into him on slower ground that will help his joints,” the trainer said.
Royal Success is not the only promising horse in the stable making progress toward trials and a return to racing.
Highly touted duo Beaumarchais and Fashionably are nearing their competitive return, and Richards has lofty expectations for both.
“We would expect them to improve between three and four and certainly they’re black type horses,” he said.
Beaumarchais defeated the older horses twice this season before it finished a solid fourth in the Group One New Zealand Derby and runner-up to Charles Road in the Group Three Manawatu Classic.
The trainer said there is no rush to bring the horse straight back into group company.
“He’ll probably trial at Te Teko on Tuesday and then we’ll get him working through the grades, he’s very promising,” Richards said.
The plan is slightly different for the daughter of Redoute’s Choice Fashionably. The team will wait until the end of the year before they unveil the promising type.
“We left Fashionably out spelling for a bit longer and she’s looking good.
“We’ll be looking towards the carnival at Ellerslie at Christmas time with her.”