Sport
12 June, 2024
Dollson wins ding-dong battle to give trainer his eighth Isa Cup
Steven Royes and Terrence Hill were all smiles in the mounting yard.
The long trip from Townsville has paid off for Steven Royes after he landed his eighth Mount Isa Cup win on Saturday with Dollson.
And while he might not get to 12 like Bart Cummings did in the Melbourne Cup, Royes’ record is unlikely to be surpassed anytime soon.
To get his eighth win, he needed a tough horse and Dollson stood up when counted in the 1450m race.
The eight-year-old gelding sat on the pace, outside the leader Le Force, and had to find plenty in the home straight when the challenger arrived.
It was somewhat of an unusual race – winning jockey Terrence Hill put paid to Le Force around the 400m mark and put a gap on his rivals.
Then came the grey, Caffrey, owned by none other than Peter Moody, the man who prepared Black Caviar to 25 straight wins.
“I reckon that grey horse got a length in front of us and I thought we were gone,” Royes said.
“But once my horse saw him, he found something extra.
“Terry may have gone a bit too early on him.”
Dollson was certainly up for a challenge and kicked back in the closing stages to win a ding-dong battle at the post.
“I reckon he was getting further ahead once they hit the line ... he just wanted the competition.”
Caffrey opened as the favourite but drifted when the money came for the Billy Johnson-trained stablemate Stampede Warrior, who did very little when finishing fifth.
There was some money in the ring for Dollson, who officially started as a $5 elect.
For Hill, it was his second time riding a Mount Isa Cup winner.
The first time, he also combined with Royes back in 2017 on short-priced favourite Chestnut Road.
“It’s always nice to win a Cup, it doesn’t matter where it is,” said the local hoop, who only rides every second weekend due to his shift roster in the mines.
“(Dollson) went really well, I thought. He was clean out of the barriers and when I asked him to go he put a margin on them very fast ... then when the grey horse came he fought hard.”
For Royes, who now trains out of Townsville, the trip was a good chance to catch up with family and friends.
The trainer’s parents – Wicky and Theresa – still live in Mount Isa, while he has family scattered across the North West, including at Richmond.
Royes’ partner Caroline Stedman, who is listed as the owner of Dollson, was also with him.
“It’s always good to come back and I don’t mind the travel ... it’s not like the bad old days when you had a beaten up truck,” he said.
“I’ve got a four-horse float and you can sit on 100 on the highway without any issues at all.
“I’m surprised that more trainers don’t travel there horses to these non-TAB races.
“How often can you say you earned $14,000 in one day?”
