Royal Request prevails in 2017 Darwin Cup

Darryl Sherer - Monday August 7

It was fourth time lucky for Royal Request who carried topweight to victory in Monday's $200,000 Darwin Cup (2000m) at Fannie Bay.

Advertisement
Royal Request and Jarrod Todd. Photo: Neil Dyer Racing

The Neil Dyer-trained seven-year-old son of Bel Esprit had contested the dirt race the previous three years with a best effort of second in 2015 but made no mistake this time under Jarrod Todd, coming from midfield at halfway to finish powerfully in the home straight.

Royal Request ($8) ran to the front 250m out and drew away to defeat Saturday Sorceror ($21) by three lengths with Lieder (7.50) a head away third.

Billet Doux started the well backed $3.20 favourite but never threatened, making up some ground late to be beaten more than 10 lengths into fifth place.

Todd paid tribute to his friend and jockey Roger Booth who passed away from a heart attack following a race at Fannie Bay in July after riding a horse for Dyer.

"This is what we come up here for and I had Roger Booth, a great mate of mine, on my back for this one," Todd told Sky Racing.

"You couldn't fault the horse coming into the race - I love him, I came here in my first year and won the Derby (Northern Territory) on him.

"He's just an out and out dirt horse and he's the real deal."

Todd said he was lucky to be able to get some cheap runs under 60.5kg.

"I was tracking into it at the 700(m) and I kept getting runs but I was three deep at the time so I went back in," Todd said.

"With the weight I just had to keep taking the runs - if I could help him and save a bit of ground then I would.

"All credit goes to the horse - he's a champion."

It was the third win in the race for Dyer who said he went into the race thinking he had the best horse.

"I thought he was the best horse in the race, I was a bit worried when he got the penalty from the Metric Mile last start but he's big and strong and it didn't worry him that much," Dyer said.

"The horse lived up to what we thought he could do and Jarrod deserves a Darwin Cup.

"We've had a rough old time with Roger (Booth) this year but we're thinking of him today."

Advertisment
More Reading...
Day 1 Tattersalls July - Humam Top Seller 190,000 guineas
The opening day of the Tattersalls July Sale saw solid trade headed by the Kingsclere Training Stables consigned HUMAM at 190,000 guineas, one of six lots to realise over 100,000 guineas. A typically international buying bench saw purchasers from France, Libya, Qatar and the UAE as well as Great Britain and Ireland represented in the day’s top ten lots.
Invincible Filly Wins on Debut
There were some nicely bred three year-old fillies looking to shed maiden status at Canterbury on Wednesday in the opening race and it was $850,000 I Am Invincible filly Infusion that got the job done at the first time of asking.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday July 9
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Tie the Knot Family Still Producing for Tait Family
The Tait family colours were making news last Saturday carried by progressive 2YO Buccleuch, who won the Listed VRC Taj Rossi Series Final and back in 2020 they won the same race with Cherry Tortoni and his half-brother was a winner at Canterbury on Wednesday.
Myracehorse Celebrate with Sapphire Rose, then Make it a Winning Double!
The Myracehorse syndicates bring new owners into racing and fresh from a big win at Ballarat on Tuesday with Volkano, the familiar colours were back in the winner’s circle at Canterbury with the Bjorn Baker trained two year-old Sapphire Rose.
Progressive Mare Bred on Magic Cross
The magic Fastnet Rock x Galileo cross that has produced champion mare Via Sistina (IRE) was in the frame overnight in Ireland where six year-old mare Goodie Two Shoes scored a career best win in the Group III Stanerra Stakes (1m6f) at Fairyhouse.
G1 Sprinter Crocetti Returns to Work
Group One-winning sprinter Crocetti has returned to Danny Walker and Arron Tata’s Byerley Park stable with some lofty summer targets in-mind.
Sebring Sun Delivers for Owner Breeders
The legacy of Sebring was highlighted last month when his classy daughter Tashi won the Group I Tatts Tiara and for fans of the much missed Golden Slipper winning sire he does have several sons at stud and they include Glenthorne Park Stud’s Sebring Sun, whose winner to runner strike rate is brushing 70%.
Weighty issue in Royal Request’s Darwin Cup pursuit
The Neil Dyer-trained Royal Request is facing a Darwin Cup weight penalty as he aims to become the fifth horse to complete the Metric Mile-Darwin Cup double since 2005.
Carrazzo Melbourne Sport of Kings Tax Talk
It gives Baumgartners great pleasure to announce that Paul Carrazzo’s “Sport of Kings” horse tax talk returns to Inglis Melbourne on Wednesday 13 August.