Woodbine: Court of the Realm starts fresh in Connaught Cup

Court of the Realm began his 2011 campaign with a bang but was a disappointment in the closing stages.

On Sunday, trainer Peter Berringer is hoping that Court of the Realm can reprise that early-season form when he makes his seasonal bow in the Grade 2, $150,000 Connaught Cup over seven furlongs of turf.

“He’s training good,” said Berringer. “I went easy with him early. We wanted to make sure he was okay. This is the goal, and he’s made it here.”

Court of the Realm won under allowance terms over seven furlongs of Polytrack in his seasonal bow here last May 22 and then made his mark in the big leagues with a game score in the Grade 2 King Edward over one mile of turf.

But little went right through the balance of his five-start campaign as Court of the Realm finished sixth in the Seagram at 1 1/16 miles, last of 12 in the Play the King over seven furlongs of turf, and ninth when returning from a 2 1/2-month layoff for the 1 1/16-mile Autumn.

“He hurt his ribs when he was bumped in the Play the King,” said Berringer, who had Court of the Farm on his nearby Rockwood Farm for the winter. “He trained okay but when he ran, and extended himself, he couldn’t breathe very good. Now he’s himself, happy again.”

Court of the Realm had raced with Lasix for the only time in his career in the Play the King, but did not use the medication for the Autumn.

“Lasix was never a factor,” said Berringer, noting that Court of the Realm had suffered no adverse affects from the use of the medication.

Emile Ramsammy, who had ridden Court of the Realm four times in 2010 and regained the mount for the Autumn, will be back in the irons on Sunday.

“Emile breezed him for the first time this year last Sunday, and was very happy with him,” said Berringer, who had watched Court of the Realm work six furlongs in 1:13. “He galloped out really strong. My concern is that he’s tight enough. He’s got to give his all in his first start of the year.”