Regal Parade Victorious in Ayr Gold Cup
The Ayr Gold Cup Festival was held at the Ayr Racecourse from the 18th to the 20th of September 2008. The highlight of the festival was the running of the Ayr Gold Cup on Saturday, as it has a large purse and the race had a brilliant contender field lined up. The Ayr Gold Cup is raced over six furlongs and is one of the richest sprint events at present. The stage was set for a nail biting racing event and a jubilant victory for the trainer, jockey and owners of Regal Parade.
Trained by Dandy Nicholls, Regal Parade was ready to show his worth as he is used to racing over seven furlongs, which led to his advantage as the other brilliant competitors began to struggle. Nicholls had entered six of his horses into the thirteen horse field. If a horse is capable, it can race. It is the rule of his stable yard and the owners, for whom he trains, understand that. Regal Parade won for the Nicholls team, and to him it did not matter who won the race at Ayr Racecourse, he was just proud that it was one of his.
William Carson, grandson of Willie Carson, was recruited by one of the owners to ride Regal Parade in the Ayr Gold Cup. Adrian Nicholls, son of Dandy Nicholls, was piloting Tajneed. Tajneed and Confuchias were sent off as the race favorites but when Regal Parade found a gap, after being held up at the beginning of the race, his stamina gave him the extra boost he needed to cross the finish line just over two lengths before stable mate Tajneed followed him home in second. Confuchias finished in third position, with Knot In Wood in fourth. For retired jockey, Willie Carson, watching his grandson achieve greatness was like winning the handicap himself. An elated William Carson commented: “My grandfather never won the Ayr Gold Cup but he finished second once and he thought he had won! Everything went well in the race and Regal Parade did it really well.”And because of his magnificent performance, Regal Parade might be heading to Dubai in winter.
