New colt has Sears excited

By Jordan Gerrans

Toowoomba trainer Tony Sears is bullish about the prospects of colt Royale Return ahead of his Saturday metropolitan debut at Doomben.

The son of Charge Forward won well to start his career at Ipswich earlier this month over 800m and now looks towards the QTIS 2YO Handicap (1050m) to open proceedings on Saturday.

Royale Return is one of four starters the Sears team will have in for Saturday, with three of the four runners being $7 or under with the TAB.

“I think we go there with a couple of real good chances,” Tony said.

Sears, who is a co-trainer with his daughter Maddysen, says the bay colt has not done much galloping since his first-up effort but believes he has improved again since then.

He described Royale Return as compact and still a little bit immature but admits he has a fair opinion of the horse.

One concern for the stable is drawing barrier 10, which jockey Georgina Cartwright will need to contend with, but Sears says the pacey newcomer should be close enough to the speed in the run.

“He has drawn a bit awkward, but I really like him,” Sears said.

“He did a lot wrong that day at Ipswich, but he has improved a lot since then and I think a win would not surprise me if he can get a bit of luck from that barrier.

“Unfortunately, he is not a QTIS horse … we will probably give him this run and then spell him.”

Royal Return was bred and is owned by John Harvey and his family.

“They are great clients that we have had for a very long time,” Sears said.

“They own Tycoon Ace and a few other ones.”

Experienced miler Prometheus will get a chance to make amends for his last-placed finish at the Gold Coast earlier this month in the Open Handicap (1600m).

Sears thinks Prometheus can bounce back sharply.

“I really like Prometheus, he went to the Gold Coast the other day and bombed the start really bad,” Sears said.

“I would probably just forget he went around that day, he is up to the mile on Saturday with Jim Byrne on him – he will be pretty hard to beat I think.”

Later in the day, Sears will throw Terrius in the deep end after a pair of recent mid-week and provincial wins.

Sears described the son of Red Dazzler as a progressive horse and believes he will measure up to Saturday company.

A different hoop will ride each of the Sears stables hopefuls on Saturday afternoon.