One time buckjumper to Eagle Farm winner.
That’s the successful transition Royal Jester made when he won the Timeform Handicap (1300m) at Eagle Farm after a mental meltdown in the Magic Millions Maiden at the Gold Coast last month when he put on a rodeo exhibition soon after the start.
Trainer Liam Birchley was required to barrier trial Royal Jester at Deagon after the Magic Millions debacle before he was allowed to race at Eagle Farm.
“He’s actually a really quiet horse,” Birchley said.
“The two times he’s bucked in races have been when we drew well and tried to bustle him to take a spot and he just resents it for some reason.”
Ryan Wiggins was instructed by Birchley to allow Royal Jester to settle wherever the three-year-old was comfortable without being pressured to take up a forward position.
“He was back third last and I got a chance to improve three deep before the turn which allowed me to come to the outside and he finished the race off strongly,” Wiggins said.
“The way he won today he shouldn’t have any trouble measuring up to Saturday class races.”
Birchley plans to increase the distances of Royal Jester’s races for the remainder of his campaign.
“He’s out of a Grand Lodge mare and hopefully he’ll get better as he gets out over more ground,” he said.
“The last 50 metres of that race he was hitting the line nicely and I think he’s a classy horse.
Meanwhile trainer Michael Lakey said Gypsy Pearl was “mildly distressed” after she finished fifth as the $1.45 favourite in the Fillies and Mares Class Three Plate (1200m).
“On pulling up she was hardly blowing but about fifteen minutes later she had an elevated heart rate and was mildly distressed,” Lakey told stewards.
Gyspy Pearl suffered a bruised heel which ruled her out of last month’s Nudgee Quality at Doomben but Lakey didn’t blame that setback for her Eagle Farm defeat.
