Royal Ship heads Monday’s Hollywood Gold Cup
At 0h02, on May 30, 2021 • By SANTA ANITA
Formerly a turf specialist, Richard Mandella’s Royal Ship appears ready for his close-up on dirt, as he heads Monday’s Grade I, $300,000 Hollywood Gold Cup. Originally run and won in 1938 by Seabiscuit at Hollywood Park, Monday’s renewal has attracted a field of seven 3-year-olds and up at a mile and one quarter and will mark the 83rd renewal of one of North America’s most prestigious races for handicap division horses.
Prominent among those who will try to deny Royal Ship is the John Shirreffs-trained Express Train, who returns to Santa Anita following a third place finish in the Grade II Oaklawn Handicap and the Michael McCarthy-trained Rushie, who was beaten a nose in the ungraded Oaklawn Mile on April 10.
Owned by Fox Hill Farms, Inc. and Siena Farm, LLC, Royal Ship is 12-6-1-2 and will be ridden by Mike Smith for the sixth consecutive time.
