Ainsley Walters, Staff ReporterCHAMPION TRAINER Wayne DaCosta's ROYAL RUN yesterday laid down his strongest claim to this year's mantle as champion stayer when he thrashed Richard Azan's MENUDO by 4 3/4 lengths in the 1820-metre Migel B. Nunes Memorial feature race at Caymanas Park.
Sent off at even-money behind 4-5 favourite MENUDO, Winston Griffiths-ridden ROYAL RUN stalked third down the backstretch while his speedy stable companion, WITHALLMYHEART, kept MENUDO honest on the lead.
Shane Ellis sent MENUDO clear of WITHALLMYHEART at the half-mile marker but ROYAL RUN had already bubbled to the boil and immediately attacked the four-time Red Stripe Superstakes winner heading into the final turn.
Straightening outside MENUDO but glued to the big chestnut gelding trying to quicken off the home turn, Griffiths asked ROYAL RUN to kick and the four-year-old gelding easily disposed of the seven-year-old, winning in the quickest time posted at the distance since the new racing surface was laid.
ROYAL RUN, who also beat MENUDO a month ago in the Prime Minister's Stakes at 2000 metres but was disqualified for hindering three-year-old HERECOMESFUDGIE, sped home in 1:53.4, the quickest time on the circular nine since BRINGDIMONEYCOME's 1:54.2 on the surface laid down in February 1998.
DaCosta, who is aiming ROYAL RUN at November's Red Stripe Superstakes, one of the few big races to have eluded the champion trainer throughout the years, agreed the manner of his charge's victory was commanding but refused to write off MENUDO.
"It was a good performance but MENUDO has this knack of getting beat-up all season by the other horses then just pop and win the Superstakes," he said.
"ROYAL RUN is now a different horse though," he added. "MENUDO is seven and a good four-year-old like ROYAL RUN should have an equal chance against him."
It's Philip Feanny's A KING IS BORN, who DaCosta figures as ROYAL RUN's biggest threat.
"A KING IS BORN is a live threat," he said of the 2000 Guineas and Derby winner, who blazed a Stakes record 1:16.1 at 1300 metres on his Grade I debut last weekend.
"He has speed, stays and will have a postage stamp weight of 54 kilos. He's used to carrying 57," he pointed out.
The day's co-feature, the 1600-metre Seek Trophy race, was won by 2-1 second favourite VIGILANTE, under Clive Lynch, who also landed the third race aboard 2-5 favourite SHE'S A RANKING.
