DIFFICULT To train, but talented Reigning King exploded leaving the furlong pole to take leave of non-winners of two company despite his restrictive training inadequacies in preparing for his races.

Sent off at odds of 3/1 and ridden by the champion claiming apprentice and leading rider, Christopher Mamdeen, in a Restricted Allowance IV for four-year-olds and up – non winners of three run over five furlongs round, the lame prone four-year-old son of Miracle Man – Quickster found his best strides in deep stretch, closing rapidly on the outside for a stirring neck-length victory at the line over a plucky 9/1 chance Miss In Kiss (Kiaman McGregor). Fly First Class (Anthony Thomas), at 5/2, was another short-head behind in third.

It was a victory that brought trainer Gary Griffiths much pleasure and satisfaction: “This win could be in large measure to Reigning King’s fitness over his rivals. This horse has a lot of problems and the space between the races, the six weeks and the five weeks spells, the horses are not fit enough. So, this horse came back within two-and-a-half weeks from his last race and that worked in his favour for this race. Race fitness was, therefore, what was used here to win. If he did not have the problems which prevents him from being properly prepared to run up to his natural ability, this horse would have been a much, much better competitor.”

Griffiths then explained how difficult it is to train Reigning King.

“Each time this horse is being prepared for a race the vet has to work on him. The problems he has mean he cannot even train on the track.

“The pool, a little walk, ride, and trot exercise represent the full measure of his preparation. Without these problems, this horse would have already been in Overnight Allowance,” Griffiths speculated.

The trainer then offered: “He ( Reigning King) is a good little horse and I will take my time with him and hopefully get him up to Overnight and see how it turns out for him as with his lameness, he is not expected to go further than there.”