Trainer Natalie McCall rises to occasion

Royal Occasion has produced a solid trial as he lines up to continue his good first-up record for a new stable at the Sunshine Coast.

He was formerly trained at Murwillumbah by Matt Dunn for prominent Queensland owner Jim Kennedy whose best horse was the 1978 Doomben 10,000 winner Blue’s Finito.

While Royal Occasion is no Blue’s Finito he has won six of his 25 starts and been placed a further five times.

After finishing unplaced at a Sunshine Coast metropolitan meeting in January, Royal Occasion was sold to Group One-winning Caloundra based trainer Natalie McCall.

He will have his first start for McCall in Saturday’s Pool Pro Com.Au Hcp (1000m).

McCall said she was happy with the way Royal Occasion was going since joining her stable.

“I bought him for myself and he looks to have more wins in him,” McCall said.

“This race looks nice for him to start racing for us with him down on 54.5kg.”

Royal Occasion trialled at the Sunshine Coast last month finishing third behind Tumbler who is on the comeback trail after a slight injury ruined her winter carnival.

“It was a nice trial to top him off for Saturday,” McCall said.

Tumbler, who has won six of her eight races,will be having her first start since finishing last in the Group Two Victory Stakes in April.

“She just didn’t handle the Eagle Farm track that day,” trainer Barry Lockwood said.