A Hong Kong raid could be in the works for globetrotting miler Royal Patronage if he can parlay his first-up Canterbury Stakes win into more Sydney autumn carnival success.
The well-travelled entire, who raced in England and America before arriving in Australia last year, will line up in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday as a stepping stone to next month’s Doncaster Mile (1600m).
His results in both races will go a long way to determining what he does next, with an overseas trip and a start in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) seven days after the Doncaster both on the table.
“We threw in a nomination for Hong Kong so his next two performances will dictate whether he is up to heading over there, or if that fits in well with the program,” co-trainer Adrian Bott said.
“Nothing has been decided past the Doncaster. Whether he has gone ahead enough to step up to a Queen Elizabeth, all those options are open to him.”
Winning the Tramway Stakes at his Australian debut in September, Royal Patronage was competitive against the likes Ceolwulf and Fangirl in the spring.
Both will be among his rivals at Rosehill and Bott is adamant his charge has made the necessary improvement from last campaign to give them some serious competition.
“He had to go to a new level on his first-up performance this time in from what we saw last preparation, so I think that’s a pretty good indication of how well he has come back and the level of improvement he has made,” Bott said
“That wasn’t any fluke. He is a genuine weight-for-age performer and he’s ready to back that up again Saturday.”
Royal Patronage has been entered for the Champions Mile (1600m) and QEII Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin on April 27 with the former the preference.
Bott and training partner Gai Waterhouse are also keen to see Sydney Cup aspirant Alalcance back up her gallant first-up win when she contests the N E Manion Cup (2400m).
The former Irish mare is yet to finish outside the top two in four Australian starts, making a successful transition to black-type company last time out in the Randwick City Stakes (2000m).
“She is a genuine staying type and she is on a Sydney Cup path,” Bott said.
“She has done well since that run and I expect her to run nicely again.”
