Regal Stage the king of Rocky

By Tony McMahon

Another chapter was etched into Rockhampton Cup history when the glamour Sydney training partnership of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott claimed its first such victory with widely travelled Regal Stage at Callaghan Park last Saturday.

In the process of his three-quarter length win over the Hulbert-trained Hail Manhattan, the aristocratically bred Regal Stage became the highest purchased price horse to win the coveted Cup in its 103 year history.

The six-year-old was purchased in partnership by Gai Waterhouse at the 2016 Sydney Easter Yearling Sales for $1.8 million.

However, purchase price has little bearing on the outcome of the Cup or for any race in fact, as the 2018 Rocky Cup winner Mamselle Corday sold as yearling at the 2013 March Magic Millions Sale for a meagre $5000.

Regal Stage is raced by a sizeable syndicate including Adrian Bott, Kate Waterhouse along with other Sydneysiders including Susie Montgomery and Dave and Shiralee Lilley.

Regrettably, the winning connections could not attend the meeting because of prevailing COVID restrictions, but they would have been cheering confidently throughout the running.

McGillivray always had Regal Stage travelling smoothly just in behind leader Fly For Yulong, who he claimed near the 200-metre mark to break away and hold on to win from a swag of late finishers.

While runner-up Hail Manhattan was strong at the finish, it was easy to make a case that third placegetter, the Nick Walsh-trained Bollente could easily have won.

Bollente was stopped in his tracks when the tiring Fly For Yulong shifted ground outwards inside the final 200 metres with Butler having to restrain his mount and then try to regather and finish off.

To finish up just under a length away third to Regal Stage was nothing short of remarkable and stamped him as likely to avenge that defeat in the impending northern Cups circuit.

Regardless, that is not detracting in any way from Regal Stage’s win which came about at his first start in a month and only his second since Boxing Day last year.

Considering Regal Stage missed a run-in last Saturday week’s postponed Glasshouse (1400m) at the Sunshine Coast, the win was all the more meritorious but not surprising given his mentors renowned training fitness regime.

The $150,000 Rockhampton Cup win was Regal Stage’s third major trophy race win over the last eight months.

Some 1794 kilometres south of Rockhampton on November 13 last year, Regal Stage won the $100,000 Snake Gully Cup (1400m) where the dog sits on the tucker box at Gundagai.

The start before Regal Stage had won at his home track at Randwick but next after Gundagai, he went for a 271-kilometre float trip to Mudgee on December 4 to claim the $75,000 Cup there.

Which raises the question, what Cups are next on the agenda?

According to local trainer Kerrod Smyth where Regal Stage was enjoying R&R at his Pink Lily property on Sunday, that will be decided forthwith.

“He (Regal Stage) has pulled up brilliantly and never left any of his night feed on Saturday,” Smyth said.

“He was kicking up and playing in his paddock this morning (Sunday). I was speaking to Adrian Bott and a decision has to be made as to whether he goes on to the Mackay Cup or heads back to New South Wales for the Coffs Harbour Cup.

“Adrian is very mindful of the COVID restrictions and how they could impact on his owners.”

The $150,000 Mackay Cup (2000m) is run on Saturday, July 24 while the Coffs Harbour Cup (1600m) carrying the same purse is set for August 5.

Saturday’s Rockhampton Cup meeting was run before a big crowd under idyllic winter weather conditions.

The co-feature race - the $50,000 Magic Millions Capricornia Guineas (1500m) was won by Rocky Cup sponsor Pav Cheimardinov’s latest southern acquisition, the well performed Namazu trained by Ricky Vale.

Other local winners were Kevin Miller’s Isis Carmella ($5.00); Nick Walsh’ Aleysa’s Dream ($1.40); Kerrod Smyth’s Mocial Chief ($31.00) and Jared Wehlow’s Courtesy Bus ($4.40).