 Talented jumper Regal Royal has strengthened his claims for the
feature hurdling events in the coming month after a second straight win at Flemington
today.After enjoying a lovely run just off the
frantic mid race pace set by Sylvan Heights, the Robbie Laing trained gelding finished the
race off in style to hit the front and stride away for a comprehensive victory in the LV
Lachal Hurdle (3200m).
Over the final stages top jumps jockey Craig Durden eased the
gelding down to win by nearly two lengths.
Sylvan Heights may have pressed the winner a little moore had
he not wrapped the second last jump nearly going down. After picking himself back up that
gelding battled hard to hold out Wilson Road for the minor end of the prize.
Winning trainer Robbie Laing has always said that Regal Royal
is a "sensational steepler" and despite this he won't be heading for the
steeples until after both the Australian Hurdle and Grand National Hurdle.
 "We'll now go straight to the
Australian Hurdle and on to the Grand National Hurdle," Laing said after today's
victory.
"In between he will run on the flat in the 1MW (one
metropolitan win) race over a mile and a half at Sandown," he added. "That race
is three days before the National (Hurdle)."
Next season the eight-year-old son of Forever Regal is
expected to tackle the feature steeple events.
Laing said that following the Grand National Hurdle the
gelding would head toward the Hiskens Steeplechase and set up a mouth watering clash with
the Nakayama Grand Jump hero St Steven.
"We'll look at steepling him a bit more consistently
next year," Laing added.
It was the second straight hurdle win for Regal Royal after a
dashing and equally as comprehensive win in the Moonee Valley Hurdle a fortnight ago.
Racing pic - Quentin Lang. |
