Warwick Farm trainer Matthew Smith reports his Casino Prince colt Surfers Royale has pulled up in good order following a dominant debut win in Canberra.
A 3yo homebred for Hobartville Stud owner Graeme Mapp, he had been placed in a Randwick barrier trial before facing the starter for first time in the Specialized Forklift Maiden (1200m) at Thoroughbred Park last Friday.
Surfers Royale came through the away-day okay and will now start working his way through the grades. “He’s a professional and you could tell he wanted to be out there,” Smith said after the front-running victory. “He’s a straightforward colt and it was a very good win.
“He showed enough speed to lead and Robbie (Dolan) said he was strong on the line. At the same time, he’s still a bit green and not fully there mentally so we’re expecting more improvement to come.”
Surfers Royale is the latest breed-to-race winner by Vinery sire Casino Prince and his dam Myfavouritethings (Snitzel) descends from a Hobartville family going back to Champion Australian Filly Slight Chance (Centaine) and her sire-son Dane Shadow (Danehill).
Dane Shadow has been represented by four Group 1 winners to date and they include Hobartville mare Hurtle Myrtle who was trained by Smith to win the 2011 VRC Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.
Smith has another Vinery link through his new-season 2yo Cordiality. The Zoustar filly was a $300,000 buy from Vinery (as agent) at the 2022 Gold Coast Magic Millions on behalf of Frank and Christine Cook. Her dam Graciousness (Street Cry) is owned by Gerry Harvey and is a winning half-sister to Casino Prince.
Casino Prince also provided Randwick trainer Anthony Cummings with homebred winners Caesars Palace at Rosehill in July and Reginald at Newcastle last week. He trained Casino Prince to a career-high Group 1 victory in the 2008 AJC Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) and has given both gallopers plenty of time to mature.
Caesars Palace went for a break after fading from view behind Niffler (NZ) at Randwick a fortnight ago. “He had a pretty tough run that day after going way too quick,” Cummings said. “He got the better of Jason (Collett) unfortunately and that told in the finish. There are plenty of options and we will wait until he’s right before coming back.”
Cummings stretched Reginald out to 1880m second-up and there were no excuses for the beaten division in the Sharp Office Plate last Tuesday. The 4yo gelding sat on the speed and had the field covered in the straight to defeat imported gallopers Inuwashi (Ire) and Free Eagle (Ire)
Reginald endured a searching initial prep last year racing seven times without filling a place between October and December. The 4yo gelding has well and truly paid his dues and might make a nice middle-distance horse this season.
Cummings bred Reginald by booking Casino Prince for his maiden mare High Heaven (High Chaparral). She was bred by Bart Cummings and her second-dam All Grace (Zabeel) foaled Bart’s ‘Horse from Heaven’ Saintly.
Casino Prince (Flying Spur) is the Hunter Valley’s value-plus sire for owner-breeders at a $5,500 (inc GST) service fee. For bookings or further information, please contact Adam White (0414 800 918) or Harry Roach (0401 970 006).
