Racing: Trotter aspires to Jewels

Prime Power, above, and Royal Aspirations are both in line for a second Jewels success on Saturday. Photo / File

Erratic southerner will be hoping to repeat stunning Cambridge win of two years ago.

Royal Aspirations may be the trickiest riddle in trotting but one worth working out before the Jewels this Saturday.

The horse who set Jewels Day alight two years ago when he smashed the national 2-year-old trot mark has hit plenty of highs since and at his best would be the trotter to beat in 4-year-old Ruby this week.

But trying to work out when the best version of Royal Aspirations is going to turn up is like doing a Rubik's Cube with your eyes closed. In the rain.

When trotting free of tie-up problems and soreness he is a rare beast, able to hold record speeds for longer than most trotters we have seen in this part of the world.

Case in point: four starts ago he smashed the national 2600m record, beating trotter of the year Master Lavros and subsequent Anzac Cup winner Superbowlcheerleader fair and square.

The next week he had an easier run, trotted terribly and dropped out to finish last, 27 lengths from winner Master Lavros.

That is life for Royal Aspirations fans.

His main issue is his tying-up problems as well as muscle soreness, both of which seem to be better when he is fresh, as he is going into this Saturday.

But it is still hard to back a horse with confidence when his form is -1070.

"He actually went good last start even though it doesn't look like it," says driver Sam Smolenski.

"He missed away in the Rowe Cup but trotted good afterwards.

"So I think he will be right for this week. Sure, we have a wide draw but we are next to Prime Power and we will both go forward at the start, I am sure.

"I think that is the best way to drive him, just let him roll off the gate so that is what I am going to do."

Royal Aspirations is unbeaten in two starts at Cambridge and has the advantage of trainer Fred Fletcher being one on one with him in his build-up, usually working him twice a day.

"He will work him in the morning and then walk or jog him in the afternoon to keep him from tying up," said Smolenski, Fletcher's grandson.

"So I am sure fitness won't be an issue."

Royal Aspirations' form frustrations have seem him get out to $5 with TAB bookies, with Prime Power the favourite but again hard to declare with any confidence after three recent defeats.

His trainer Todd Mitchell is happier with Prime Power's blood reports after recent problems and makes no secret of what he plans to do come Saturday.

"He is more like his old self now and he is a speed horse who loves the mile so I will let him run," says Mitchell.

Adding to the form Bermuda Triangle that this race has become, both Paramount Queen and Sheemon were only average at best in their final public workouts on Saturday.

Both were outstanding at the Rowe Cup meeting, with Sheemon second in the Cup and had he drawn well he would be the favourite for Saturday's $100,000 race.

But off the second line what sort of trip he will get is now just another piece in perhaps the most puzzling race of Jewels Day.

Harness Jewels
What: 4-year-old Ruby trot.
How Much: $100,000.
Who: Royal Aspirations and Prime Power are past Jewels winners, Sheemon is a Rowe Cup
runner-up.
Betting: $3.20 Prime Power, $4.20 Sheemon, $5 Royal Aspirations, $7 Bonechip.