Cuban Royale has proven that you can teach an old dog new tricks, stepping up to black-type company for the first time at start number 60 and overpowering his rivals to claim the Carrington Stakes.
It was a remarkable career-peak for the eight-year-old, who took nine starts to break his maiden and 36 starts to notch a metropolitan victory before making the most of his first stakes-race opportunity in Saturday’s Listed Randwick sprint.
Luke Price, who trains Cuban Royale in partnership with his father Robert, said the gelding had been anxious as a younger horse and had had to learn to harness his talent, but had always shown ability.
“He has been very unlucky in a lot of his runs. I’ve had full confidence in the horse for a long time,” Luke Price said.
“Time after time he worked with (stakes winners) Count De Rupee, he worked with Jamaea and he can work with them no worries at all.
“He is a Casino Prince and they just keep getting better and better with age.
“Early days he used to lead and his versatility, he is coming from last these days and he is racing as good as ever.”
Brock Ryan was happy to settle Cuban Royale at the rear of the small field but once the pace slowed mid-race, he elected to ride for luck and pinch runs along the inside.
Just as on-pace runners Titanium Power and Vreneli looked set to fight out the finish, Cuban Royale ($14) got into the clear and launched his run, downing Vreneli ($4.40) by a neck with another long neck to Titanium Power ($4.20 fav).
Price was especially delighted to get a stakes win for the stable’s long-time supporters and Cuban Royale’s managing owners Keith and Jan Meadows, who also dabble in breeding and raised Cuban Royale after buying his dam, Cuban Girl.
“This is their first ever stakes runner today and they’ve come out a winner so hats off to them,” Price said.
“Keith and Jan had had one winner, if any, when they first started owning horses with us. To get that for them is just so special.”
Cuban Royale’s win in the Carrington Stakes (1400m) gave Ryan a double after he led throughout aboard Irish Legend for Les Bridge in the Furphy Handicap (2000m).
