Royalify "dashes" home

STEVE O’Halloran used blinkers and an “old trick” to help Royalify finally shed his maiden status at Bathurst today.

Having his 15th start, $10 chance Royalify, ridden by apprentice Emma Ly, broke through in the Maiden Handicap (1400m), downing recent city placegetter and $1.75 favorite Jason Darren (trained at Newcastle by John Bannister) in a drive to the line.

The pair had the finish to themselves as third placegetter, fellow Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup’s Dodgy Freckle ($6.50), was eight lengths astern.

Making the result even more palatable was that the experienced Hawkesbury horseman owns Royalify outright.

The Justify four-year-old had been placed four times and, whilst he hadn’t won until today, this was only his second start outside the provincial area, having been placed at Goulburn in March last year).

O’Halloran understandably was both pleased and relieved to get a victory on board with the gelding.

“I’ve tried pretty well everything with him; blinkers on and off, tongue tie, bubble cheeker and ear muffs pre-race,” he said this evening.

“He was going so well this time back that I took all the gear off Royalify.

“But when he ran last at home on April 5 in a 1500m Maiden Plate, I decided to put blinkers back on.”

O’Halloran had another ace up his sleeve before he headed off to the country today.

He spent many years working with Gai Waterhouse AO, and did a lot of work with a bevy of her Golden Slipper winners.

“Gai didn’t mind dashing a horse up in the morning before a race to wake them up,” O’Halloran explained.

“So I decided to do that with Royalify early this morning at home before we headed to Bathurst.

“It must have helped because he hasn’t been the bravest horse in the past when another got past him, but he showed plenty of fight today.

“When the favourite challenged him on straightening, I thought we would at least run second.

“But he didn’t give up, and it was good to see.

“Credit to Emma (Ly), who claimed 2kg and rode him well.”

O’Halloran said Ly is working with fellow Hawkesbury trainer Blake Ryan, and has been an eager helper to him at jumpouts.

“Emma is a good worker, and I felt she deserved a reward by getting the mount on Royalify.”

O’Halloran, who claimed his fifth winner of the season and posted the Hawkesbury training base’s 123rd, admitted he was hesitant about taking the gelding to Bathurst.

“He’s a big horse standing nearly 17 hands, and Bathurst is a sharp circuit,” he said.

“I was worried it wouldn’t suit him, but he handled the track well and no doubt we’ll take him back there.

“Hopefully getting his first win will really lift his confidence.”

*Words by John Curtis for hawkesburyraceclub.com.au