Sport
5 June, 2024
'Cups King' Royes back to claim another trophy
Steven Royes has his sights set on an eighth Mount Isa Cup.
Ten years since he first tasted success in the Mount Isa Cup, Steven Royes is returning to add an eighth trophy to his cabinet.
The undisputed ‘Cups King’ of Mount Isa has won seven of the last nine feature events at Buchanan Park.
“I didn’t even have a runner last year,” said Royes, who has since moved from Mount Isa to Townsville.
The veteran trainer plans to bring three horses across to his old stomping ground.
“I’ve got two coming for the Cup – Dollson and Count Of Carford – while I’ll put Dusky Damsel in the Coppermarket,” Royes said.
“They should all go pretty well, I reckon.
“Dollson ran second to the best sprinter in North Queensland the other day.
“Chilli Jam (also trained by a former Mount Isan in Tony Comerford) has won five in a row and will probably win the feature sprints in Townsville.”
Royes has always boasted a good strike rate as a trainer.
He was known in Mount Isa for spending a little bit extra for the right horse and targeting the big races.
However, he now has a much bigger stable on the coast.
“I’ve got about 15 here now and it does keep you busy ... I do all of my own shoeing and the feeding and watering,” he said.
“Some of the other trainers out here have stable staff to do all of that.
“But when I was out in the Isa you had to be self-sufficient.”
Since making the move to the provincial circuit, Royes has also picked up a couple of new owners.
He’s got four horses for legendary grazier Clarrie Hermann, who owns sheep properties all around Winton, but perhaps the better known owner – at least in racing circles – is Tom Hedley.
The president of the Cairns Jockey Club is a prominent pub owner and developer in the Far North.
Hedley has dozens of horses, most of them with Tolga trainer Roy Chillemi and Cairns-based Stephen Massingham, but also spreads his team across smaller stables in North Queensland.
The leviathan owner’s bright orange silks were made famous by The Harrovian, who swept the Far North before going on to place in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000, as well as feature in the All Star Mile at Moonee Valley.
“We get along like a house on fire,” Royes said.
“Tom’s a big supporter of mine and he puts a lot of money into the racing industry in the north. When you have horses with him you’re under more pressure to win races but I must say that he’s very patient.”
While the Hedley silks won’t be seen at Buchanan Park this Saturday, Royes is hoping his iconic pink and purple hoops colours will be captured in one or both of the feature races.
“I’ve still got family in the North West and Mount Isa is a special place to me,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to getting back and catching up with a lot of old friends and family. If we get a winner it’ll be a bonus.”
