Riches to Rags ready for big run

IF there was ever an unlucky loser, RICHES TO RAGS was a perfect fit in last month’s six-furlong Ronron Trophy, getting a king’s ransom of 6-1 at what was considered a trip too short for the late-kicking American filly.

Returning at nine furlongs and 25 yards in Sunday’s Royal Dad after suffering multiple interference in the stretch run of the Ronron, RICHES TO RAGS has no excuse with the entire circuit at her disposal and only five rivals to weave through.

Travelling effortlessly in sixth place along the rail while SHE’S A GOD GIFT dragged COMMANDER Z in stifling splits of 23.1 and 34.3, chased by the trio of BOLD MOVE, QUEEN OF SOUL and TEFLON DON, RICHES TO RAGS was actually on the brake entering the home turn with claiming rider Richard Henry searching for racing room.

Scraping paint into the lane, getting first run on stablemate IMPRESSIVE FORCE, RICHES TO RAGS was about to blow past the leaders when cut off by QUEEN OF SOUL a furlong and a half out. A second rail bid, approaching the furlong pole, was similarly checked by QUEEN OF SOUL, forcing Henry to gather RICHES TO RAGS and switch course to mid-track.

However, RICHES TO RAGS’ fellow American stablemate, IMPRESSIVE FORCE, a winner on debut with a late burst of speed at five furlongs straight three weeks earlier, had already gathered unstoppable momentum, which took him past COMMANDER Z and TEFLON DON before overhauling SHE’S A GOD GIFT.

RICHES TO RAGS closed to nail down third place, denied second by her antagonist, QUEEN OF SOUL, while even-money favourite IMPRESSIVE FORCE flew home by three and a half lengths with Raddesh Roman.

Franking the form of the Ronron, IMPRESSIVE FORCE returned a week later to chase home Jamaica Derby runner-up, RUN JULIE RUN at a mile, finishing four and a half lengths behind the brave filly’s solid 1:38.1.

IMPRESSIVE FORCE’s effort behind RUN JULIE RUN was a big marker performance, pointing to RICHES TO RAGS’ improvement since fitted with a visor by Philip Feanny. Exhibiting signs of being a sluggard in 12 starts, sporting a tongue tie and figure-eight, the visor transformed RICHES TO RAGS into a mean stalker, placing second at five furlongs straight after mowing down sprinters MOTIVATE ME BABY and COMMANDER Z at five and a half furlongs.

A hot pace is expected with TEFLON DON thrown into the event by Jason DaCosta, which could be bad news for American PRINCESS AMAHLE, who might try stealing the race from in front after impressing at exercise with a six-furlong gallop in 1:14.4.

Having recently changed stables, now taking orders from Robert Pearson, PRINCESS AMAHLE is sure to be on the lead, dragging ALLEGIANCE off his bridle. The pace should set-up perfectly for RICHES TO RAGS to collect a much lower ransom than her ill-fated Ronron outing.