Royal Descent was one of the revelations of the Sydney autumn carnival but Chris Waller is open minded about her spring campaign.
The Australian Oaks winner will be among a handful of high-profile horses stepping out in barrier trials at Warwick Farm on Friday along with stablemates Shoot Out and Sacred Falls.
Royal Descent - Photo by Steve Hart
“She looks great. Friday will tell us how far away she is from racing,” Waller said of Royal Descent.
Waller has slated the Toy Show Quality (1300m) at Warwick Farm on August 24 as a possible return race for rising four-year-old.
But if any of the early season features are light-on for numbers, he might fast-track her resumption.
“She will probably run on the 24th, that’s the plan,” Waller said.
“But she’s ready to go if a race like the Missile has small nominations.”
The Missile Stakes (1200m) is the first Group race in Sydney of the new season and will be run two weeks from Saturday.
Royal Descent’s 10-length thumping of her Oaks rivals has prompted bookmakers to place her on the fifth line of preliminary Melbourne Cup markets at $26.
Waller says a Melbourne campaign is on the cards but he is cautious about the transition from three-year-old fillies grade to open company.
“You’ve got to keep their confidence up and gradually make that step up,” he said.
Royal Descent will have nine rivals in her 800m heat including Sacred Falls, Shoot Out and the promising Rebel Dane from the Gary Portelli stable.
Doncaster Mile winner Sacred Falls is being readied for a first-up tilt at the Warwick Stakes (1400m) on August 24 while that race and the Memsie Stakes in Melbourne are being considered for Shoot Out’s return.
The Memsie has been upgraded to a Group One this year and will be run at Caulfield on August 31.
