Paul Males admits the decision to run Royal Charlotte in the Club Menangle NSW Trotters Oaks was a “throw at the stumps”.
But it proved to be a direct hit for the Bolinda-based trainer, who watched as the three-year-old produced a scintillating finishing burst to score victory in the Group 2 feature on Saturday night.
Driven by Zac Phillips, Royal Charlotte sat back in the field for most of the 2400m journey and then mowed down long-time leader and odds-on favourite Sleepee in the home straight to score an impressive win in the $40,000 event.
Picture: Zac Phillips steers Royal Charlotte to victory in the NSW Trotters Oaks for trainer Paul Males. Picture Ashlea Brennan Photography
Males, who trains with wife Kari, said the result was a big thrill and up there with the biggest of his long career.
“It’s probably one of the better (wins), I’d say. Years ago I had Walter and he won four and five-year-old championships and a couple of juvenile ones, so he was pretty good,” Males said.
Males said it wasn’t until the last 300m of Saturday night’s race that he felt his horse was destined for victory.
“The one that galloped at the top of the straight (Princess Kenny) swung out and nearly got her… and then the last 200m she really knuckled down and ran a track record for those fillies at that age group,” he said.
“She did a really good job. She’s a great trier and she’s getting a lot quicker as she is getting better gaited.”
The 49-year-old trainer said Royal Charlotte’s second career triumph was particularly special given the horse is owned by parents Yvonne and Peter.
“It’s the biggest race they’ve won and they’ve been at it a fair while,” Males said.
The plan is to run the daughter of Majestic Son in the Group 1 Victoria Trotters Oaks at Tabcorp Park Melton on June 1.
“She has been pretty competitive against the better ones. She hasn’t been far away, so we will have a go at that and see where we end up,” Males said.
“I think they have an Oaks trial race at Maryborough, so we will probably go around in that and then go to the Victoria Oaks.”
The reason Royal Charlotte was taken to Menangle on Saturday night was because stablemate Red Hot Tooth was racing in the La Coocaracha (Group 3). Unfortunately for team Males, the daughter of Yankee Paco broke after the start and finished a long last.
