Trainer Rod Ollerton’s decision to go to the well one more time has paid off with a Rosehill victory to Royal Tudor.
Ollerton set Royal Tudor for the Scone Cup and was disappointed when the four-year-old finished 11th, seven lengths from the winner Duca Valentinois.
The Newcastle trainer decided to give him one more start this preparation and it paid dividends on Saturday when the $6.50 chance beat Sir Bacchus ($5.50) by a half head in the Octagonal Handicap (1400m).
“His last start was his target but I don’t think he ran the 1600 metres,” Ollerton said.
“Two starts back he ran fourth only beaten a length and a half by Redzel and that horse went on to win the Doomben 10,000.
“He (Royal Tudor) is a tough, honest horse but he does have a habit of wanting to get in which can cost him.
“We’ll probably give him a break now and set some targets for him.
“I think he’s probably done enough for now.”
Royal Tudor’s eighth win at his 21st start took his earning past $300,000.
He was ridden by apprentice Blaike McDougall who had gone within a short head of victory on Arbeitsam in an earlier race on the program.
