Royes to hit two country qualifying targets at Cloncurry

By Glenn Davis

Richmond trainer Shryn Royes is hoping to hit two targets when she makes the trip to Cloncurry on Friday for the Country Cups Challenge and Country Stampede qualifiers.

Royes will have her sights set on the lucrative feature events at Doomben on December 6 when she launches a three-pronged attack with Pervade, Revved Up Ready and Zouhope in the Country Cups Challenge qualifier over 1600 metres.

She is also hopeful Mr Metrics can book a trip to Brisbane for the Country Stampede Final on the same day.

“I’ve only been to Brisbane once with a horse and that was with Mr Metrics in the Battle Of The Bush Final,” Royes said.

“It was good experience and I had a lot of fun and would love to go back again.

“Unfortunately, we never had much luck in the Battle Of The Bush Final with Mr Metrics.”

Mr Metrics was a $3,500 buy online and has been a good money spinner for Royes, who has been training for around 25 years.

“I started off training in Mount Isa and then went to Townsville for a few years, but I wasn’t training the whole time,” she said.

“Mr Metrics has been a handful to train as he’s a big overgrown idiot, but he hasn’t missed many placings since we got him.”

Royes rates Pervade as the pick of her trio in the Country Cups Challenge qualifier.

Pervade beat one home in his stable debut for Royes when seventh to the John Manzelmann-trained Divine Okay at Twin Hills last month.

“If Pervade puts his best foot forward he can qualify for the Country Cups Challenge Final in this,” Royes said.

“He went out for a long break before I got him and he had his first run for me at Twin Hills when he got covered in dust.

“It’s a hard race but Zouhope is a great chance now that he's got a start.”

Zouhope also was taken to Twin Hills for his last run and finished a close fourth in a 1570 metre Benchmark race the same day.

“Zouhope hit the running rail at Twin Hills, but he still managed to run a good race,” Royes said.

Revved Up Ready also is rated a strong lightweight chance by Royes after winning two of his past three starts.

“He was caught up in a speed battle up front last time and if he can take a sit in this, he should be able to finish off strongly,” Royes said.