Shryn's time to shine

By Jordan Gerrans

The racing season of 2024-25 has delivered a few unexpected milestones in the career of Richmond conditioner Shryn Royes. 

The long-time bush trainer is about to post her best season yet with 28 winners to her name at a strike-rate of nearly 13%.

With the season soon coming to a close, she still has a little bit of time to push that tally past 30 before the 2025-26 season commences.

That number is likely to increase with the 54-year-old horsewoman heading to Townsville and Hughenden this Saturday with a few winning chances.

Her tally of winners this year eclipses her previously high mark of 27 winners in the 2022-23 term. 

While a career-best season of training winners was looming as the Royes stable had been building steadily over the last five years, the trainer did achieve a milestone that was somewhat surprising. 

Royes qualified Mr Metrics for the recent Battle of the Bush decider and with it came her first ever trip to Brisbane in her life. 

She hails from Julia Creek originally and races her team across the country circuit in the Sunshine State while occasionally heading to a provincial meeting.

That is what she will do on Saturday with a couple of smart chances at Cluden Park as the Townsville legs of the Northern Queensland Winter Racing Carnival looms.

“I have probably been buying better horses,” Royes said of her strong season in the training ranks. 

“I have a couple of good owners as well who have been family friends for many years.

“I am really happy with the results this season, it has been good. I just need to get more fast ones (laughs).”

Mr Metrics always travelled near the tail of the field in the BOTB decider before eventually finishing just under five lengths behind the winner. 

While the galloper did not figure in the finish, it was a monumental milestone in the training career and life of Royes to compete in town. 

Mr Metrics has been one of the several success stories for the Royes barn this campaign as the gelding has won three races and been placed on five occasions. 

Tequila Dancer and Exolent Choice have also been key contributors, both winning two races.

They get their chance to make that three for the term at Cluden Park on Saturday. 

The meeting is headlined by the feature Chairman’s Sprint, Ladies Bracelet, Winter Cup and Townsville Dollars for the three-year-olds. 

Tequila Dancer will carry the stable’s hopes in the Ladies Bracelet after drawing a wide alley. 

The five-year-old mare has won her last two in non-TAB company at Winton and Ingham. 

The daughter of Heroic Valour has only been in Royes’ care since November of last year and the trainer thinks she could have won more than her last two for her team. 

“She probably should have won at Home Hill as well earlier this preparation,” she said.

“She was caught on the fence and couldn’t get out.

“She was unlucky that day. She ran last but if you look at the replay, the horse had little chance. She probably should have won that day.”

Much of Royes’ fortunes have come with cheap purchases after gallopers have been moved on from other stables. 

Some of the great owners Royes mentions is the Crapp family who are based at Richmond. 

John, Daniel and Lynette Crapp race galloper Exolent Choice who has a Townsville and Mackay victory on his resume since transferring north from New South Wales. 

The Crapps have a handful of gallopers with the stable. 

They have been rewarded for the smart purchase of maidener Exolent Choice with the five-year-old gelding banking almost $25,000 in just three starts. 

The son of Exosphere lines up in the Benchmark 60 Handicap over 1000 metres on Saturday.

“He goes pretty good,” Royes said.

“I took him to Barcaldine the other day and in his race, they ran a faster time than in the open company.”

Stablemate Risky Investment also heads to Townsville on Saturday in the 0 – 55 Handicap over 1200 metres.

Royes has 20 in work at Richmond and is the younger sister of Townsville trainer Steven Royes. 

As well as Royes’ three Cluden runners on Saturday, she has further chances to boost her season total at Hughenden with a glut of runners. 

She has accepted with five horses across the program: Legal Challenge, Revved Up Ready, Marrew Fancy Nancy, Zouhope and Basque.