Rockhampton Cup: Regal Stage gives Gai Waterhouse a new first

Racing’s first woman Gai Waterhouse can add Rockhampton to her enormous record of cup winners after Regal Stage stormed away with the meat capital characteristic on Saturday.

Stranded in Sydney on account of strict Covid-19 restrictions, Waterhouse was pleased to speak the discuss pre-race, declaring the tough-as-nails gelding relished racing away from residence, and she or he was once more confirmed to be right with jockey Matthew McGillivray holding off a wall of challengers to seize the $150,000 prize.

With a deluge drenching southeast Queensland final week, Regal Stage was robbed of a run within the Listed Glasshouse Handicap at Caloundra so the choice was made to move additional north with Waterhouse’s first Central Queensland runner.

Pre-race, Waterhouse joked Regal Stage might preserve travelling north so far as Cape York, such is his affinity for Cup races, and now he will get his probability with McGillivray saying he desires to accomplice the six-year-old in no matter is subsequent for him, with $150,000 Cups in Townsville and Cairns to come back.

“I’m one from one for her now. She (Waterhouse) has got my number now so hopefully she doesn’t lose that,” McGillivray joked.

“There is a lot of upside when you’re on one of Gai’s, they are a very powerful stable. The horses are always fit and tough, they always give 110 per cent too.

“I knew I had the horse underneath me. Even though there were some vulnerabilities going into the race, he missed a run, but at the end of the day the job is done for him now – he is such a tough horse.”

Regal Stage ($6) held off the Peter and Will Hulbert-trained Hail Manhattan ($7.50) and main native hope Bollente ($6.50).

Battling to determine himself within the Brisbane jockeys’ room, McGillivray mentioned he was pleased to journey with the intention to show himself, and he admitted his coronary heart skipped a beat when he came upon he was using for Waterhouse.

“My heart opened up a bit, it was a bit of a surprise because it was my first ride for the stable,” he mentioned.

“It was a great opportunity, with all the washouts going on around Brisbane, with Caloundra and that.

“I was a bit hesitant about it because I wasn’t sure what they were going to do, but I am glad they pressed on and ran him here second-up.

“Everything is a bit quiet for me in town at the moment. it is a bit busy there with all the riders from down south coming to Brisbane.

“I call Brisbane home but I am making the most of the opportunities I get at the other meetings.”

Regal Stage had the ending touches placed on by Brisbane coach Chris Munce, who ready the gelding for the 2 weeks prior the race

“Chris has done a lot of work with Gai in the past so he knows through and through what Gai wants,” McGillivray mentioned.

Rockhampton Guineas: Super begin for Namazu

Former Godolphin galloper Namazu has marked himself as one among Central Queensland’s most promising up and comers following a dominant win within the Magic Millions Capricornia Guineas at Rockhampton.

The three-year-old landed the $50,000 characteristic in simply his second begin within the area after making the journey north from Sydney when he was offered for $40,000.

Trainer Ricky Vale was unable to be on-track to witness the win, after Queensland Racing Integrity Stewards banned him for 12 months due to an altercation, the place he was discovered to have headbutted a Rockhampton Jockey Club workers member, breaking his nostril within the course of.

Vale pleaded responsible to the costs, which allege he additionally bought into an early morning altercation with three different workers members on June 11 throughout monitor work.

After concentrating on the race for a while, jockey Ryan Wiggins produced a affected person trip to land the prize.

Kicking off his Queensland marketing campaign a fortnight earlier, Namazu was spectacular whereas working second regardless of being new to the area.

Wiggins was fast to level to Namazu’s kind behind the likes of The Elanora in Group-level firm late final 12 months.

“He is a nice horse, they set him for the race,” Wiggins mentioned.

“After his run the other day he had only been here for 10 days or so, it was a bit short of time.

“He only got beat a few lengths in a Group race, he is a big horse so will probably have some soundness issues but if they keep him going he will win plenty of races.”

Namazu ($3.70) was well-supported in betting late whereas race favorite Corvo ($3.50) didn’t fireplace a shot after looming up early within the lengthy Rockhampton straight.

Only evenly raced, Namazu is about for larger and higher issues with the northern carnival about to kick off in Queensland.