TEN years after Regimental Gal won the Magic Millions, her More Than Ready son Regimental Pride may soon join her on the honour roll.
Trainer David Payne has drawn up plans for a tilt at the $2.5 million sprint in January after Regimental Pride’s win in the Childrens’ Hospital Handicap (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Payne’s chestnut was on the seven day back-up after beating a few home in the Listed Breeders’ Plate (1000m) at Randwick after trialling well in the lead-up to his debut.
It was a case of the ‘real’ Regimental Pride standing up to be counted this time.
“I thought he would win last week (in the Breeders’ Plate) but it was very disappointing,” Payne said.
“I think it was just stage fright which can happen with horses at their first start.
Regimental Pride is awfully well equipped to win the Magic Millions aside from his dam’s efforts in 2003.
His dam-sire, General Nediym, won the race in 1997 while More Than Ready has sired the winners of four Magic Millions 2YO races around Australia including Phelan Ready who went onto add the Golden Slipper.
