Klawervlei Stud-based stallion Royal Mo has had just a handful of runners from his first crop. This first son of United States Champion Uncle Mo to stand at stud in South Africa is likely to enjoy his first winner on the eight-race card at Kenilworth on Wednesday 11 May.
Royal Mo raced just six times for two wins, two seconds and a third before suffering a career-ending injury just six days prior to his intended run in the 2017 Grade 1 Preakness Stakes, fracturing his off-fore sesamoid at Pimlico in mid-May of that year. He had previously won the Grade 3 Robert B Lewis Stakes and finished third in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby before tragedy struck.
His son, Justin Snaith-trained two-year-old Royal Aussie, who runs in Race 2 over 1200m, drifted in the betting when making his debut in late April but still turned in a performance of much promise, staying on to finish second over the course and distance under red-hot rider Richard Fourie. He was beaten just 1.25 lengths by the well-fancied winner who had the advantage of race experience under his belt.
That outing would have done the Royal Mo colt the world of good and, with natural improvement expected, Royal Aussie should get off the mark and open his sire’s account.
On a tricky card with few standout betting propositions, it will pay to follow Fourie’s mount in Race 7. He rides Parisienne Girl for Glen Kotzen, who has only had the filly since January after she was moved from Candice Bass-Robinson, and should make no mistake aboard the daughter of Jackson.
Fourie steered the progressive three-year-old filly to victory over 1400m on her stable debut after almost five months out and the pair followed that up with a fast-finishing third over that distance three weeks ago. On that occasion, Parisienne Girl ran on strongly from the rear of the field to be beaten just 2 lengths by re-opposing Treasure Hunt, who she meets on 2kg better terms.
That weight turnaround and the step up to 1600m will favour Kotzen’s charge and Fourie can be confidently backed to deliver the goods aboard Parisienne Girl and land himself a double at the meeting.
Elsewhere on the card, Sun Dazed could be worth an Eachway bet in Race 8 and Love Is A Rose should build on the promise of her debut third with another forward showing in Race 3.
Clive Robinson
