Bott looking on Brightside ahead of Royal Patronage’s return in the 7 Stakes
Adrian Bott is banking on Royal Patronage to follow the lead of Mr Brightside, who has bounced back strongly this spring after an underwhelming Hong Kong campaign.
The pair clashed in April’s Champions Mile (1600m), where both struggled. Since then, Mr Brightside has returned in terrific form, finishing runner-up in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) before storming home to claim the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m).
Bott is hopeful Royal Patronage can make a similar statement first-up at Randwick this weekend.
“Things didn’t work out for him in Hong Kong but he’s had a good break off the back of that,” Bott said.
“He is first-up here and Mr Brightside has shown you can bounce back off those international preps.
“He seems in good shape and he is coming up well.”
Royal Patronage is nominated for both the 7 Stakes (1600m) and Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m), but Bott said the gelding will head to the 7 Stakes given his wide draw and heavy impost in the shorter event.
Bott acknowledged it will be a new challenge to kick off over a mile, but the gelding has already proven himself effective at 1600 metres, including his second in the Doncaster Mile (1600m).
“The mile first-up is new territory for him,” Bott said.
“He’s a horse that performs really well first-up and does well fresh but that’s been over 1400 and 1300.
“The mile seems to be his ideal distance though, so I think he can be effective in that regard and he’s had a good grounding to get here.”
The 7 Stakes has drawn a field of 11 including Fangirl, Ceolwulf, and Ciaron Maher’s Light Infantry Man and Gringotts.
Royal Patronage’s ultimate target is the King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Everest day.
Punters keen on Royal Patronage in the 7 Stakes can find odds and offers through Australia’s leading betting sites.
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...