Robert Price knows there will be no shortage of challengers in the opening Provincial Championships heat at Hawkesbury, but he remains hopeful Cuban Royale can book his spot in the decider at his first opportunity.
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Some of the leading contenders to take out the $500,000 final are set to target the first of five heats in the lucrative series.
Kim Waugh’s Spring Charlie – the $8 overall second favourite in TAB early markets – has been nominated, as has the Bernie Kelly trained Bobbing ($11).
Bobbing claimed the $150,000 Summer Provincial Series Final at Kembla Grange in December. Gwenda Markwell’s in-form three-year-old Angel Of Truth ($26) as well as fancied Kris Lees duo Road To Heaven ($26) and Juventus ($26) are also poised to descend on Hawkesbury.
It sets up a mouth-watering opener to the series.
Just three horses will be able to book their spot in the final on April 13 at Randwick, with the remaining runners forced to qualify through the four other heats.
“Everyone is looking for that second bite of the cherry if they miss out,” Price said.
“You are crazy not to go to another heat because the prizemoney is too good to ignore. We will persevere, that’s for sure.”
Cuban Royale is based with Robert’s son Luke at their Kembla Grange stable.
They’ve had the Provincial series in mind for the Casino Prince gelding after a strong last preparation which culminated in a fourth placing in the Summer Provincial Series Final.
“It was always the plan to come to this heat, but it looks to be competitive,” Price said.
“The change of dates left him one week short of where he might have been but he is an easy horse to get fit and he hasn’t missed any work.
“I reckon 1400m is his best. He has got a great cruising speed but can’t really quicken.
“His run in the Spring Provincial Series Final [in December] was super. He sat three and four deep the trip and just kept finding the line.
“He looked the winner there at one stage. That extra distance he covered found him out at the end of it.”
Josh Adams will pilot Cuban Royale on the weekend.
The jockey has a flawless record on the four-year-old with two wins from as many rides on the gelding.
“He has got an incredible record with the horse and the owners too,” Price said.
“He has an amazing strike rate with them. It’s handy having someone who knows the horse and he knows the track really well too. He learnt his trade around there.”
Gwenda Markwell’s Excelsior, Mick Tubman trained Bye See and Louise Dean’s Myprayer have also be nominated for the qualifier.
