Life has turned full circle for Royal Mile
Life has turned full circle for former South Australian galloper Royal Mile who is being prepared for a spring campaign by David Brideoake and Matt Jenkins and Matt Jenkins.
Royal Mile was bred by Brideoake and is the second foal of the unraced mare Street Blaze and was sold to his former trainer Lee Creek for $26,000 at the 2019 Adelaide Yearling Sale.
Brideoake retained the mare’s first foal Blazing Rebel, by Rebel Raider, along with Dunalley (Dandino) and End Journey (Good Journey).
There is also an un-named two-year-old by Good Journey in the Brideoake and Jenkins stable.
“I bred him, and now he’s come back home,” Brideoake said of Royal Mile.
With Creek retiring earlier this year, Brideoake said Royal Mile, who was a Group 3 winner in Adelaide, had returned to his care at Mornington.
After a spell, Royal Mile is building-up to a racing return and had a trial at Pakenham last week.
“He’s a very nice horse and hasn’t put a foot wrong,” Brideoake said.
“Last week he had a trial and hopefully he might be back racing before the July.
“I think he’ll measure up in Melbourne. We’ll just work around the edges and see where it all takes us.”
Royal Mile’s older half-brother is set to run in the Evergreen Turf Handicap (2100m) at Sandown on Wednesday looking to give the ‘family’ a second win within a week after Dunalley scored at Sale last Thursday.
Blazing Rebel scored twice at Cranbourne before finishing a close second at Mornington on May 31.
“He makes his own luck,” Brideoake said.
“He’s a nice chance in what is probably a harder race than last time, but he’s done nothing wrong, the trip will suit him, the ground will suit him.”
Brideoake and Jenkins are also taking Miss Verbier to Sandown to contest the ive > Handicap (1300m) in which she will be ridden by Blake Shinn.
Miss Verbier has been in good form since returning to racing this campaign scoring at Kyneton and Cranbourne before running second at Mornington on June 12.
“I think the track will suit her although we haven’t got a good draw, but we’ve got a good in-form jockey on board,” Brideoake said.
More Racing News
War Machine to target the 2026 Australia Stakes
Top-class sprinter War Machine will resume in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Pakenham on Friday night as connections eye a strong autumn campaign. The race, traditionally held at Moonee Valley, has been moved due to redevelopment works and shapes as an ideal launchpad for the Lindsay Park galloper. War Machine...
2026 Golden Slipper Stakes favourite Incognito nearing return to the races
The absence of Incognito from the Magic Millions 2YO Classic did little to dent his standing in Golden Slipper markets, with the colt edging closer to a raceday return. Michael Freedman elected to sidestep the Gold Coast feature with the $1 million purchase, instead opting for a controlled trial as the...
Antino to target 2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in the Autumn
A strong trial session at Deagon on Tuesday will be highlighted by the return of Antino as Tony Gollan begins plotting another autumn campaign for the talented gelding. Antino has not raced since his disappointing effort in the Group 1 Cox Plate, where he finished last after failing to fire on...
Torque To Be Sure breaks maiden in 2026 Magic Millions Guineas, survives protest
Torque To Be Sure finally lived up to his promise with a breakthrough victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 3yo Guineas, though his success came with a nervous wait in the stewards’ room. The Matthew Dunn-trained gelding drifted under pressure in the closing stages, bumping race favourite Ninja as the...
Mile no issue for Merrigold in 2026 Vobis Gold Distaff
Trainer John Sadler admitted a touch of stubbornness delayed Merrigold’s step up to 1600 metres, but the mare made him look wise with a dominant Flemington victory. The five-year-old was having her first start beyond 1400 metres and handled the rise in distance with ease when taking out the Vobis Gold...
Big Sky surges into 2026 Blue Diamond Stakes calculations
Big Sky’s dominant debut at Flemington has propelled him straight into calculations for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), giving Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr the top two runners in early betting. The Bivouac colt overcame a wide draw in the TAB We’re On (1000m), travelling strongly under Jordan...
Unit Five powers home in the 2026 Magic Millions Classic
Unit Five announced himself as a rising star with a powerful victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic, overcoming far more seasoned rivals despite limited race experience. The Ciaron Maher-trained colt, ridden confidently by Thomas Stockdale, held off Tornado Valley by a length, with By Choice finishing just behind...
Golden Slipper Stakes 2026 plans for Godolphin’s Outspan
The Godolphin-trained Outspan has thrust himself into Golden Slipper calculations after a commanding win at Rosehill on Saturday. After settling just behind the speed in the 1100m contest, the Michael Freedman-trained colt finished strongly to defeat Long Throw ($15) by 1-1/2 lengths, with Miss Chanel ($4.60) another half-length back. The performance marked...
Future History too strong in the 2026 January Cup
Future History showed his class and toughness when landing the $200,000 Listed January Cup at Rosehill, giving Ciaron Maher another feature race success. The eight-year-old almost didn’t take his place in the race after heavy rain downgraded the track, but connections elected to press on despite concerns about the conditions. Ridden positively...
Mile test for Harry’s Yacht in 2026 Vobis Gold Reef
Will Larkin is confident the timing is right to test Harry’s Yacht over the mile when the gelding contests Saturday’s Vobis Gold Reef at Flemington. The four-year-old has enjoyed a strong preparation to date, registering two wins at benchmark level and adding two placings in Vobis races over 1200 metres. Training in...