Royal Patronage ripe for the Hill Stakes
Gai Waterhouse is excited about testing Royal Patronage out to 1900 metres in this Saturday’s Hill Stakes at Rosehill.
The import will back up in the $2 million Group 2 after finishing third in last weekend’s Group 1 Epsom Handicap.
That 1600m event was the third run of Royal Patronage’s debut Australian campaign, and second in a row at 1600m, and was the type of performance that excited Waterhouse for the campaign ahead.
“If they can run well in an Epsom, they can run 2000 metres with their eyes shut,” Waterhouse said.
“The Epsom’s a very testing mile, you’re running in the top class and you’re running at top speed.”
Royal Patronage, who made a winning Australian debut in the Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) in September, won up to 1710m in the United States and has placed out to the 2063m of the Group 2 Dante Stakes at York.
The longest race he has contested is the Epsom Derby (2414m), in which he finished second last, beaten almost 40 lengths.
Waterhouse was proud of the six-year-old’s effort to finish third, beaten less than two lengths by Ceolwulf, in the Epsom Handicap.
“He was caught wide then he probably got a bit closer than we probably wanted him too early, but what do you do?” she said.
“You either stay six wide or you go forward and get a position behind the leader.
“I thought it was a terrific run.”
Royal Patronage will be one of two Hill Stakes runners for Waterhouse and her co-trainer Adrian Bott, who also have New Endeavour engaged.
Joining Royal Patronage and New Endeavour at Rosehill will be Anode, who is favourite for the $500,000 Listed Tapp-Craig (1400m).
The son of I Am Invincible disappointed when a 7-1/4-length eighth in the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) at his most recent start but pushed The Everest fancy Traffic Warden in the Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m) the start prior in a performance Waterhouse is hopeful he can reproduce.
“If you go back to his first-up run, it was outstanding, and I think he surprised everyone with how terribly competitive he was at top level,” Waterhouse said.
Tim Clark has been engaged to partner both Anode and Royal Patronage.
More Racing News
Thrilling Scone Cup success for in-form Hellsing
Trained by Annabel and Rob Archibald, Hellsing has entered excellent shape and notched his finest victory yet in the Listed $200,000 Arrowfield Scone Cup (1600m) held at Scone on Friday.On his 10th run in a preparation exceeding six months, Hellsing is thriving more than ever, building on a Royal Randwick...
Trainer Moloney sees ongoing enhancement in Hearcomesthestar
Improvement has marked every preparation, and John Moloney, the trainer, expects additional development from Hearcomesthestar in her upcoming appearance at Flemington.From 28 races, Hearcomesthestar has notched six wins and eight places, but Stakes grade has proven challenging for her.The approaching six-year-old earned a Listed placing at Geelong earlier this year,...
Searle family from SA chasing Melbourne Cup dream with Sir Kingsford
Gary and Nichole Searle, together with their daughter Brianna Callanan, form a South Australian training outfit with ambitions for Sir Kingsford in the Melbourne Cup.A victory in Saturday's Listed Andrew Ramsden (3200m) at Flemington earns the winner a Melbourne Cup ballot exemption ahead of the big November event.Nichole Searle sampled...
Scone's Luskin Star Stakes sees Estadio Mestalla with tough weight
Trainer Joe Pride questions the two-kilo advantage given to a Group 1 winner over Estadio Mestalla in the Luskin Star Stakes, but trusts the steady gelding to deliver full commitment.At seven years old, he notched his top triumph in the prior year's Listed Winter Stakes (1100m) and must shoulder 61kg...
Barrier 18 no hindrance to Sequista's Scone return
Trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou believe filly Sequista has the class for black-type success despite her tendency to undermine herself.Having notched stakes placings in the 2024 Inglis Nursery (1000m) and run near the placings in Tempted's Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m), the three-year-old targets another milestone in Saturday's Listed Denise's...
Flemington awaits Concord Connie's next bold move
Trainer Charlotte Littlefield hopes her talented filly Concord Connie can replicate her recent feat before entertaining grander aspirations.In her third race appearance at Flemington on Anzac Day, Concord Connie notched a breathtaking win by six lengths in sharp time.This Saturday, the filly heads back to Flemington to compete against the...
Dark Jewel Classic in sights for Harlem Queen
While Harlem Queen didn't sustain her early promise from age three, trainer Nathan Doyle feels confident after her trouble-free lead-up that she might restore reliable results.She returns Saturday in the Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) held at Scone, where despite preferring stamina tests ahead, barrier five positions her well for Doyle's...
Flemington run to decide Different Gravy's Queensland Derby chances
At Flemington, Different Gravy will put his Queensland Derby dreams to the test in upcoming action.Following a Listed triumph over 1800m at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day last year, trainer Henry Dwyer fixed his focus on the northern Derby.The Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm scheduled for May...
Abounding's scratch lets Napoleonic into Doomben 10,000 lineup
Confirmation has arrived that Napoleonic will join the Doomben 10,000 field, following Abounding's removal which opened the door for the colt in the elite Group 1 dash.Team members experienced a stressful seven days after the three-year-old earned second emergency status for the $1.5 million event, as reserve Beadman claimed a...
Snowden's stable loaded with top sprinters for feature clashes
Boasting a stable full of high-caliber sprinters primed for black-type action, trainer Peter Snowden enjoys the luxury of picking and choosing among several prestigious races.Just a couple of weeks earlier, Zealously claimed victory in the Hawkesbury Gold Rush (1100m), followed by King Of Roseau and Beadman grabbing interstate stakes wins...