A lack of race fitness and a distance query has Bill Pholi concerned about Royal Reign’s prospects in the Listed Brisbane Handicap at Doomben.
But the Ballina trainer is happy she is in his stable and not the broodmare barn and believes she still has some nice race wins left in her.
Royal Reign stamped her class when successful in the Listed Tails Stakes (2136m) at Eagle Farm in April but failed to measure up in the Group Three Chairman’s Handicap (2020m) at Doomben and Listed Tatt’s Mile (1600m) at Eagle Farm during the Brisbane winter carnival.
The seven-year-old daughter of Viscount was never a winning prospect when she resumed with a struggling 12th to Fillydelphia over 1350 metres at Doomben on November 5.
“I was happy enough with her first run but she likes it a lot further than 1350 metres,” Pholi said.
He said the mare was still “as big as a house” for her second-up assignment and could still find Saturday’s 1630-metre feature too short.
But Pholi expects Royal Reign to be competitive before she’s aimed at fillies and mares races next month.
“She has a go every time I put a saddle on her,” Pholi said.
“I’m a bit worried she’s still lacking match practice and she’ll probably find this too short.
“She’s never won over a mile (1600 metres) and you won’t see the best from her until she stretches out to a middle distance.”
Royal Reign’s owner, Sydney accountant Malcolm Moss, decided not to send her to stud this spring.
“She’s a very good mare but Malcolm’s in no hurry to breed from her,” Pholi said.
“She’s as sound as a bell and Malcolm and I think she can win a few more races before she goes to stud.
Pholi revealed he had been been to campaign Royal Reign in Sydney during the winter months and toyed with giving her a Grafton Cup preparation.
“I asked Malcolm to give her a preparation aimed at some fillies and mares races in Sydney while the winter carnival was on in Brisbane but he preferred to run her in Brisbane,” Pholi said.
“I also had a thought of running her in the Grafton Cup in July but she was weighted out in one of the lead-up races so we gave it a miss.”
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