Racing: Miles of smiles for horseman

Saturday was a triumph for unique horseman Peter McKenzie - and for his remarkable under-appreciated stallion His Royal Highness.

When Miles raced away with the $50,000 Amcor Kiwi Kiwifruit Cup at Rotorua, the 11-length winning margin was the first of two results that vindicated McKenzie's opinion of His Royal Highness.

Three hours later, McKenzie came so close to pulling off the major staying double on either side of the Tasman when another son of His Royal Highness, Empyreal, had the Tatts Cup at Eagle Farm won everywhere but the last 50m.

Despite leaving an Oaks winner and multiple group-one-winning horses such as Zvezda, His Royal Highness struggles to get traction in the breeding game.

That he is a quality sire comes as no surprise to McKenzie, or anyone who has followed his career.

"He's beautifully bred," says McKenzie.

"His dam, Gem In The Rough, had legendary speed when trained briefly in Australia and after being exported to the United States she became a very successful broodmare."

His Royal Highness leaves tough, genuine horses and a few of them display extraordinary talent on occasions, like Miles did on Saturday.

"That was so easy," said winning rider David Walsh.

"They didn't get near him at any stage."

McKenzie has had to be patient with Miles, who has taken his own time to mature mentally.

"I took him to Sydney last spring and he lost it mentally. He picked up a very bad viral infection and that was the end of him for the time being."

The patience has been rewarded and McKenzie can now look forward to Miles fulfilling the racetrack glory that bad luck denied his sire.

His Royal Highness looked freakish winning his first two races, but cracked a cannon bone during a Sydney campaign.

"He was galloping with Rough Habit and Veandercross over there and was more than holding his own."

After recovering from the leg fracture, His Royal Highness spread himself so badly when he slipped coming out of the barriers in the Stewards Handicap at Riccarton he nearly severed a tendon.

He was restricted to a box for nine months to develop sufficient scar tissue around the injury to allow him to put weight on the leg that would permit a stud career.

McKenzie has not settled on an exact Melbourne campaign for Miles, but his initial thoughts are for races such as the Geelong Cup and possibly Sandown Cup in November.

"He doesn't need wet ground, but he doesn't like it rock hard either.

"As he ages he will prefer better and better ground."

David Walsh agrees.

Empyreal looked certain to win the Tatts Cup from the 250m until 10 strides off the winning post when fellow New Zealander Ring Of Fire very gradually built up his momentum to thrust to the lead close to the finish.

It was a brave effort from Ring Of Fire and Empyreal showed he was tough and durable to back up after running in the 3200m Brisbane Cup.

McKenzie is keeping two of his eight rising 2-year-olds by His Royal Highness and selling the remaining half dozen in the South Island in August.

With Miles, Empyreal and Sculptor he has plenty to continue on with.

Sculptor showed his class with his fourth in the Queensland Derby, a race he probably should have won, then he backed up two days later and finished third in the Brisbane Cup. Without running in the Derby, he probably would have won the Cup.

Ring Of Fire and Empyreal will join a third New Zealander, Sphenophyta, in Saturday's Caloundra Cup, a race Empyreal won last year.

"Empyreal will be better this weekend, because the Caloundra course will be even heavier."

Ascot Isle got the victory she deserved in the $40,000 Tauranga Classic and trainer Karyn McQuade slept well on Saturday night.

Ascot Isle's leg problems had kept McQuade wondering all week if she would get the mare to Rotorua to pick up the win she should have had when the Rotorua Stakes was declared null and void six weeks ago.

Sable's classy win under 58.5kg at Rotorua promoted her trainers, Stephen Autridge and Graeme Rogerson, to a share of the Trainers' Premiership lead with Mark Walker.

Kiwifruit cup

* Miles' runaway victory left little doubt he is heading for a high ranking.

* Breeder, owner and trainer Peter McKenzie said he has had to be patient with Miles, who has been slow maturing mentally.

* McKenzie is keen to try a Melbourne spring campaign with the horse.