Regal Gala gets deserved Tatlow success

Ultra consistent juvenile trotter Regal Gala (Pastor Stephen) finally broke through for a classic success with a decisive all the way harness racing win in the Aldebaran Park Tatlow Stakes for two year olds at Melton on Saturday night.

Regal Gala’s key attribute is his impeccable manners and they were in evidence in the Tatlow when he quickly found the lead ahead of favourite Phoenix Rex. Despite surrendering the front to Majero Girl, driver James Herbertson whipped him to again take up the running and from then on he never seemed to be in trouble.

Herbertson was able to get away with painfully slow first two quarters of 34 and 32 seconds so it was obvious that it would be a sprint home. Phoenix Rex eased out to face the breeze with a lap left to travel with VicBred winner Kyvalley Dixon right behind him.

Herbertson gave Regal Gala more rein along the back straight and with final quarters of 29.5 and 27.7 seconds gave nothing else a chance and he defeated a very game Majero Girl and Insulator coming in third who never really looked like troubling the winner.

REGAL GALA 26 SEP REPLAY

Trained by Chris Angove for Michael Taylor Regal Gala has to be seriously considered if connections set him for the Group 1 Redwood Classic at Maryborough on 1 November.

Herbertson stated after the event

Well he’s just been honest as I said. They all get better as the year goes on. It’s just some get better than others and some plateau. But he’s just been very honest all the way through. And I broke his heart a bit in the final (last week’s VicBred Final). He had nothing left on the line. He ended up getting up enough on the line. So to come out tonight and we got a very good trip, but he’s able to rip a good quarter and hopefully give him some confidence and get his head back in the game.

We’re just going to give him every chance. That was the thing just give him no excuse to get beat. So we went slow, but the main thing I was really happy with him tonight and speaking down forward is he relaxed when he was by himself and when it was time to swell up and  get into his work, he did. So as a racehorse point of view tonight was really good.

For complete race results, click here.

by Tony Milanese for Harnesslink