ROYAL REQUEST HAS ALL THE RIGHT ANSWERS AS HE ROMPS TO A CLEARCUT VICTORY IN THE DARWIN CUP

By Graham Potter | Monday, August 7, 2017

Royal Request has romped to victory in the $200 000 Darwin Cup at the Fanny Bay racetrack.

Both trainer Neil Dyer and jockey Jarrod Todd remembered their fallen colleague Roger Booth, who passed away in sad circumstances just prior to the start of the Carnival, in their moment of victory, leading to an emotionally charged aftermath in which absolute joy and sadness momentarily sat side by side together.

For Dyer it was a third Darwin Cup success with the trainer having previously taken out the big one with Hawkes Bay who achieved back to back successes in 2011 and 2012, when ridden by Stephen Arnold on both occasions.

It was Todd's first victory in the race.

For his part, Royal Request was having his fourth attempt at Darwin Cup glory.

He has his first go at the Cup in 2014 when he finished unplaced. Then in 2015 he was back, going better but he still had to settle for second placing in that year before he returned again last year ... this time for a fourth placed finish.

So, even if nothing else, Royal Request's win in this year's edition of the Darwin Cup shows that perserverance can pay off ... even if you are set the task of carrying the top weight of 61.5kg (which included a 1.5kg penalty for Royal Request's win on July 29).

Royal Request made light of that burden, not only when changing gears and changing direction as he was urged to make up ground in the sweep to the turn, but also when asked to hunt down Saturday Sorcerer who had set sail for home in the straight and laid down the gauntlet to the opposition.

Ultimately the three length winning margin underlined just how well Royal Request had coped with all of the challenges presented to him.

The victory was as clearcut as it was sweet.

*Royal Request is a twelve-time winner (with eight minor placings) and he has amassed more than $500 000 in stake earnings. The Darwin Cup saw Royal Request complete a hat trick of wins coming in Darwin in the last twenty-three days.

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WINNER FEEDBACK:

TRAINER NEIL DYER:

“I thought he was the best horse in the race. I was a bit worried when he got the (weight) penalty. I thought 59kg was enough but, you know, he is big and strong.

“The unknowns with Michael Hickmont’s two runners also worried me but the horse lived up to what we thought he could do ... well, he’s been doing that for a long time hasn’t he ... and Jarrod (Todd) deserves a Darwin Cup.

“We had a rough old time here with Roger (Booth) this year and Jarrod and I are both thinking of him tonight.”

JOCKEY JARROD TODD:

“This is why we all come up here ... what we all strive for.

“You couldn’t fault this horse going into the race. You’d be lying if you said there was no pressure but I just love this horse.

"I came here in my first year and won the Derby on him. He is just an out and out dirt horse. He is the real deal.

“Thanks to Neil and to Roger ... thank you. Roger Booth was a great mate of mine. We had a big tragedy here and he was on my back for that one.*

“Neil was really good (before the race). He said I’m not telling you anything. You know the horse.

“I got back. I was tracking into it nice. At the 700m they bunched ... and the runs just kept popping up on the inside.

"I was three deep at the time so I went back in. I thought Neil s going to kill me but, with the weight and where the runs were coming, I just had to try and take short-cuts.

“Look, he was the best horse in the field but I thought if I could help him and save a bit of ground I would, but full credit goes to the horse. He is a champion this bloke.”

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*ROGER BOOTH, collapsed after riding a Neil Dyer trained horse in the second race in Darwin on July 1.

He passed away in hospital shortly afterwards following a suspected heart attack.

The sadness of this shocking, sudden loss was still raw on Darwin Cup day, not only for those who knew him well but also for the entire racing community ... hence the very emotional and respectful response in their moment of victory from the winning trainer and jockey.

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