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 In winning the $150,000 Group 3 Standish Handicap today at Flemington Royal Ida has amassed three quarters of a million dollars in career earnings.
Royal Ida ($5.50,$6.50) was tucked in behind the leader by Oliver (Damien) for the majority of the straight six race and when peeled to the inside finished strongly to score by a long neck over the fast finishing Beltrois ($4.20,$5) with early leader Juggle The Books ($20,$26) fighting on for third almost a length away. For trainer Luke Oliver is was a nice change of luck after a run of outs and being his sprinting star the win was even more sweet. "We had a plan about eight weeks ago to go for this race and it was a great win," said Oliver. "Damien (Oliver) had a big bearing on this plan as he was having trouble holding him over the 1400m trip and wanted to be able to get a sit over the shorter distance." It was the second win the nine-year-old gelding has had for Oliver since being purchased out of his retirement paddock by the trainer.  "There was a story in the paper that he had been retired and we thought that was a little premature," said Oliver of the Royal Ida purchase.
"So we contacted the owners and made an offer and they were happy for him to keep racing with us," he added. Premier jockey Damien Oliver rode confidently on the gelding and justified his suggestion of dropping Royal Ida back in ground. "I discussed the distance with Luke and it really paid dividends today which is great," said Oliver. "They went very slow and I got a great run in behind them," he added. The win brings up the second Group 3 win of the nine-year-old career. Photos by Quentin Lang
© 2010 Published 01/01/10
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