Racing: Royale Crystal records impressive Wingatui win

Royale Crystal broke through for a maiden win in style at Wingatui yesterday, suggesting he will make his mark over a middle distance.

Royale Crystal was having his first start beyond 1200m when he won by six and three-quarter lengths. He led over the last 500m of the 1400m.

Royale Crystal had been placed in his other four starts. A half-brother by Royal Academy to the 2007 Underwood Stakes winner, Rubiscent, Royale Crystal is raced by Barry Thomas, of Queenstown, and trained by Kevin and Pam Hughes at Riccarton.

The same connections have Crystal Duke, winner of the Winter Classic at the Grand National meeting. Crystal Duke was spelled after that win and he has been back in work a week.

Royale Crystal was a $65,000 purchase at the 2011 premier sale at Karaka.

Pamina, Lucille and and Delightful Belle were other 3yr-olds to win yesterday. Pamina is a stablemate of Royale Crystal. She has now won twice from six starts for Christchurch owners Roger and Emily Finlay.

Delightful Belle collected a $6000 TBS bonus for her Ashburton owner Brian Kirk. The daughter of Towkay and Goodwood was bred by Kirk.

Lucille, who overcame a slow start, is raced by breeders Ian Farrelly, of Te Awamutu, Bob Anderson, of Winton, Jim and Craig Hunter, of Dunedin and Denis Stumbles, of Ranfurly. Jim Hunter and Stumbles have won eight races with the trotter Here Comes Pat, an acceptor for the Banks Peninsula Cup on Sunday.

They are also in the ownership of Tappy Lee, who has won two races this year. Hunter and Stumbles have been racing horses for 21 years and Lucille was their first winner at Wingatui.

Lucille was ridden by Jay Misbah, who also won on Replace when signing off his NZ riding career before a return to Malaysia.

• KC Walters was stood down from riding after race two. He dislocated his right shoulder about 100m from the finish when riding Royal Hu with the whip. Royal Hu, who was in third place, could not be ridden out and finished sixth.

Walters was sent to hospital for observation.

• Bruce Smith, who trained his first winner at Washdyke on Monday, had another win yesterday when Bestia dead-heated with Saint Ryan.

Bestia was a $500 yearling purchase by Warren Hislop, of Amberley, who has a majority share of the 5yr-old mare leased to Tony and Paul Callipari, of Canberra. Smith and his partner, Angelique Hyde, lease an Amberley training and stud farm property from Hislop.