News

Twilight Royale ready for Scone

17th Apr 2014

Scone Advocate - Grahame Timbrell - Thursday, 17 April 2014

Twilight Royale, in line for one of the biggest pay days in Australian racing history at Scone next month, has come through her first lead up race perfectly according to her Warwick Farm based trainer Bjorn Baker.

The filly can win her connections almost $2.65 million in prize money and bonuses if she wins the $400,000 Inglis Three Year Old Guineas (1400m) at Scone’s stand alone metropolitan meeting on Saturday, May 17.

She finished 13th to Politeness in the Group Three PJ Bell (1200m) on a heavy track on the first day of The Championship at Royal Randwick last Saturday.

“She came through the run well,” Baker said.

“The track was very heavy and it took its toll on her but she pulled up well.

“The plan is to run her in the Hawkesbury Guineas and then it will be on to Scone however we do have one or two alternatives to fall back on if necessary.”

The Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m) will be run on Saturday, May 3.

Michael Rodd has taken over as the filly’s rider this preparation.

He was aboard last Saturday when she came from well back early, raced around the outside of the field to make up some ground to be beaten seven and a half lengths.

Rodd will be aboard at Hawkesbury and again at Scone.

Twlight Royale is the only horse eligible for the $2.4 million bonus on the Scone Guineas following her wins in the first two legs of the Inglis Triple Crown last season – the Inglis Nursery at Warwick Farm in December 2012 and the Group Two VRC Sires at Flemington in March last year.

After winning the Sires she was sent for a break then returned for two unplaced runs as an early three-year-old.

That was in the Group Two Silver Shadow at Warwick Farm last August and the Group Two Furious Stakes at Randwick last September.

Baker sent her for another lengthy break, carefully planning her lead up to Scone.

“I sent her up to Scone and she spent some time at Attunga Stud and some time with Rod Northam,” Baker said.

“Rod took her to the races several times so she will be very familiar with her surrounds when we take her up for the Guineas.”