Knights Realm (NZ) (Castledale) missed out on a maiden stakes scalp by the barest of margins at Trentham on Saturday in the Listed Rangitikei Cup (1600m), which has only enhanced trainer Clinton Isdale’s thirst for success.
The five-year-old son of Castledale had been runner-up in five of his previous seven outings, and with just 53kg on his back, punters supported him in their droves, sending him out a short-priced $2.30 favourite.
He looked ominous throughout, sitting outside pacemaker Bradman (NZ) (Pins), but at the business end of the race, he was pipped at the post by a nose, with Francee (NZ) (Iffraaj) taking the victory in a close three-way finish.
While proud of his charge’s consistency and pleased with the way he has come through his weekend run, Isdale admitted he is getting tired of the taste of silver.
“He has come through the run really well, I am just a bit gutted that he has run second again,” the Cambridge trainer said.
“I had to look twice at the result, I thought he had got it on the line.”
After attaining black-type with his weekend result, Knights Realm is now on a path towards winter riches following a run closer to home later this month, with a small freshen-up planned in the interim.
“He will probably go to Te Rapa in two weeks for an open handicap, put the blinkers on him and drop back to 1400m,” Isdale said.
“He will go out for a two week freshen-up and then head to the Opunake Cup (Listed, 1400m), with the ultimate aim being the Winter Cup (Gr.3, 1600m).”
Meanwhile, Isdale will head to his local synthetic meeting on Wednesday where he has two guaranteed runners, with Novak (NZ) (El Roca) on the ballot for the Pride’s Ezifeed 2000.
Mahoe (NZ) (Alamosa) will be first-up in the Waipa Earthworks 1550 following a South Island summer campaign, while Mirabella (NZ) (Sweynesse) will be trying to replicate her winning feat from two starts back in the TAB 970.
“Mahoe has come back from the South Island. He is consistent and likes the poly,” Isdale said. “He has had two nice trials leading into it and he will be thereabouts knocking on the door.
“Mirabella loves the poly, she trialled up well on it the other week. She will be a nice chance.