Regal Castanea finds express lane
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Trainer Ron Macrae, jockey Scott Galloway and connections discuss their first metropolitan with Regal Castanea (Noel Pascoe photos)
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Regal Castanea may have been caught in traffic at the back of the field in the Norris Motor Group Country Cup Handicap 1400m but the $2.40 favourite found the express lane just in time to record his first city win.
The gelding had trainer Ron Macrae worried when he struggled to find a way home in the Eagle Farm race.
“He got back to about 13th on the corner and just didn’t seem to be going anywhere and all of a sudden he found another gear and came home very well,” Macrae said.
Ridden by Scott Galloway, Regal Castanea (G4 Sequalo-Sera) managed to win by a long neck over Scarlet Sari (Luke Dillon) with Primeval Demand (Bobby El-Issa) a further three-quarters of a length behind in third place.
The four-year-old has had a host of placings on city tracks and ran third at his previous start at Doomben setting him perfectly for the Eagle Farm run.
“He’s run into some pretty handy horses like Albert the Fat, Heart of the Citi and Borsha’s Mark and that was in his first preparation,” Macrae said.
“I thought he had done an almighty job and this time I think he has come back a bit bigger and stronger and I think he might go on to better things.”
Regal Castanea hasn’t always raced in the same fashion by sitting at the tail of the field.
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Regal Castanea and Scott Galloway return after their city win
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“Early in the piece he used to have a lot of speed and I think when he won his maiden in Toowoomba first up after EI he sat second and sprinted like gazelle and won by almost five (lengths),” Macrae said.
“He broke the minute which is very good for Toowoomba as not many horses get under the minute for the 1000m.
“After that he changed his pattern of racing completely and he wants to get back and get home which is good. You might get the heart in the mouth a few times but you’re never beaten until the winning post is reached.”
Regal Castanea’s form is showing signs that the horse might suit distances over 1600m.
“I think he will be looking for the mile. Scotty said to me the further he goes the stronger he gets so that’s a pretty good sign,” Macrae said.
QUEENSLAND Racing web news: Claire Power – August 11
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