Just one stakes-winner in Saturday's $160,000 Listed Drinkwise Carrington Stakes (1400m) at Randwick set the stage for the in-form Cuban Royale to open his stakes account at the ripe old age of eight.
Ridden by Brock Ryan for Robert and Luke Price, the son of Casino Prince overcame a muddling pace to come from last to defeat Vreneli (Wanjina) by a neck, with Titanium Power (So You Think) a long-neck back in third.
It was the third win in four starts since Cuban Royale returned from a spell. It advances his record to ten wins, five seconds, and eight thirds from 60 starts, with earnings of $680,225.
"Very proud of the horse. He has been in the stable since a yearling," Luke Price said.
"I remember when we bought him, he was my 5yo daughter's favourite horse, and he still is to this day. We love him at the stable.
"It was a ten out of ten ride. He couldn't go around them and win, bided his time and rode for luck.
"He has been very unlucky, and I've had full confidence in him. He can hold his own against Jamaea.
"He is a Casino Prince, and they get better and better with age."
Cuban Royale was a $34,000 purchase for Robert Price from the Riversdale Stud drat at the 2016 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Bred and part-owned by the Meadows family, he is the best of six winners from as many to race from the 6-time winner, Cuban Girl.
A daughter of the Spectrum stallion Hemingway (IRE), Cuban Girl placed in the Group II Adelaide Queen of the South Stakes, Listed Adelaide Birthday Cup and Listed Port Adelaide Cup.
Cuban Girl had a Magnus filly foal in September and was again covered by the Widden Stud stallion.
Cuban Royale is the 23rd stakes-winner for Vinery Stud’s evergreen Casino Prince, who covered his 15th book of mares in 2022.
