Lady Royale (NZ) Reigns in Group 2 Breeders Stakes

Speedy filly Lady Royale (NZ) (Captain Rio) displayed improved racing manners as she streaked to victory in the Group 2 $100,000 J Swap Contractors Matamata Breeders’ Stakes for two-year-olds on Saturday.

Lady Royale (NZ) winning the Group 2 J Swap Contractors Matamata Breeders’ Stakes.

Trained by the Richard Collet & Gareth McRae partnership for owner Arthur Avis, the Karaka Select Sale graduate had raced erratically two starts ago on the right-handed track at Ellerslie, trying to qualify for the $1m Karaka Million. At her last start, she returned to racing left-handed at Te Rapa and was a dominant six-length winner.

Ridden by Sam Spratt, who earlier in the day captured the other two-year-old feature aboard Prince Mambo (NZ) (Thewayyouare), the filly by Captain Rio showed her usual good gate speed to sit second outside the leader Steel Rose (NZ) (Guillotine).

Lady Royale and race-favourite Steel Rose matched motors entering the straight and the pair drew away from the field to fight out the race. It was Lady Royale that got the upper hand and drew away in the last 100m to win by a length from Steel Rose with Silk Belt (NZ) (Alamosa) finishing well into third a further two lengths away.

“She has always had plenty of raw, natural ability,” stated Collet. “She is a very athletic filly, from the first time she went three-quarter speed we knew she was a natural runner but in saying that, she is quite a relaxed filly as well.

“She has always been awkward working right-handed, I don’t know if it is a balance thing. Once we worked her left-handed at speed it was obvious she was far more comfortable that way so that is why we keep boxing on down that road, and glad we have.

“I briefly thought about turning her out after Ellerslie but then I thought I had to keep boxing on as she is a natural two-year-old.

“We will probably bypass the Group 1 Diamond Stakes at Ellerslie because of the right-handed factor and reserve her for the Group 1 Manawatu Sires Produce at 1400m. She may not race in between times, we may just give her a quiet trial or a gallop between races somewhere to keep her up to the mark.”

Lady Royale has won two of her four starts along with a second placing on debut, earning $85,350 in prizemoney.

Bred by Watson Bloodstock Ltd, Lady Royale is out of Cackles (Catbird) who is a three-quarter-sister to Australian stakes winner Chuckle (Danehill), the dam of New Zealand and American stakes winner Hoofit (Mossman).

Robt Dawe Agency purchased Lady Royale for $40,000 from Westbury Stud at the 2013 Karaka Select Sale.

Karaka graduates won all three stakes races at Matamata on Saturday with Princess Kyoto (NZ) (Shinko King) winning the Listed $50,000 Marks Ewen & Associates Kaimai Stakes adding to Prince Mambo’s victory in the Listed $50,000 Reid & Harrison (1980) Ltd Slipper.