Liam Birchley can’t work out why Rock Royalty is not much shorter in the market

LIAM Birchley insists Rock Royalty is going as good as this time last year as the luckless sprinter bids to win the Listed Ramornie Handicap (1200m) back-to-back at Grafton on Wednesday.

Rock Royalty is shooting for back-to-back Ramornie wins after winning the race last year. Pic: Jason O'Brien

LIAM Birchley insists Rock Royalty is going as good as this time last year as the luckless sprinter bids to win the Listed Ramornie Handicap (1200m) back-to-back at Grafton on Wednesday.

Rock Royalty opened as high as $51 for the Ramornie, much to the surprise of Brisbane trainer Birchley.

The seven-year-old was beaten six lengths behind Ramornie rival Into The Red in the Group 3 W.J. Healy Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm last start but was severely blocked for a run in the straight.

Birchley feels Rock Royalty might have even won the race with even luck and said he is well over the odds tomorrow.

“I thought he could have nearly won it as stupid as that sounds with the margin,” he said.
“That was (jockey) Jimmy Orman talking and he would have more of an idea than me.

“The way that track was playing to be stopped like that at that point, you can just forget it and momentum is everything.

“I really think he is going as good as this time last year. I haven’t gone through the race properly but I thought he would be (priced) somewhere in the low teens.”

Birchley also has Hardline ($21) engaged in the Ramornie this year as he bids to win the race for a third time after Sir Breakfast also saluted for the stable in 2003.

Birchley admits it’s an open race this year but feels both horses are capable of winning the $160,000 feature.

“I’m probably actually leaning to Rock Royalty a bit because he will be a bit handier and usually that’s an advantage there,” Birchley said.

“But Hardline had to get out and going at (the 600m mark last start) otherwise you were no chance and it just didn’t work out at all but I wasn’t disappointed with the run.”

Birchley will also saddle up first starter Winning Tango (Race 2), Two Shillings (Race 3) and Trainer’s Pocket (Race 8) at Grafton tomorrow.

He is not sure what to expect from stable acquisition Two Shillings but feels Winning Tango and Trainer’s Pocket can both go close.

“Trainer’s Pocket would be the most reliable (of my runners at Grafton) and she has drawn OK and she is in her right class,” he said.

“I wouldn’t think Winning Tango is a superstar or anything but he is capable of winning an average maiden.”