While most eight-year-olds are looking for the retirement paddock, Cuban Royale is preparing for a career-first at Randwick.
The veteran gelding is in line to make his black-type debut in the Listed Carrington Stakes (1400m), earning the stakes-race opportunity at what will be start number 60.
“There is hope for everyone,” co-trainer Luke Price joked.
The gelding has long been a slow maturer, taking nine starts to break his maiden and 36 starts to land his first city win.
Despite his vintage, he has been racing in the form of his life, stringing together successive Saturday metropolitan wins at Kembla Grange and Randwick before closing for fourth in a leader-dominated affair at Rosehill last start.
An outside draw in barrier nine is Price’s only concern and while he will study the speed map in detail before making a final decision on whether Cuban Royale takes his place on Saturday, he has no doubt the gelding will run boldly if he goes around.
“He is in career-best form, he is just drawn a bit sticky so we’re going to leave that decision until Saturday morning, whether we save him for another week,” Price said.
“But the horse is absolutely flying. His run at Rosehill was as good as the winner’s, his sectionals were super. It was just the way the race was run and with the barrier draw, he ended up in a tricky spot.
“But I’m really happy with the old boy. He is coming good with age.”
Price can’t pinpoint a reason for Cuban Royale’s belated form surge, other than his pedigree.
He is by Casino Prince, whose progeny tend to be hardy and take time to mature, and Price’s gelding fits that bill.
“He always comes up and he has raced with no luck in the past,” Price said.
“The Casino Prince’s, the breed come good as they get older.
“He has been well looked after and a great money-spinner for the owners, and I think there is a bit more to come yet.”