Royal Patronage has shown he will be a force to be reckoned with during the autumn following a tenacious first-up win in the Group One Canterbury Stakes at Randwick.
In his second campaign with Tulloch Lodge, the well-travelled entire camped at the flanks of leader Here To Shock ($8.50) and as the pair surged clear to fight the race out, Royal Patronage ($20) was able to wear down his rival and score by a neck.
Magic Time ($4.40 fav) was the unlucky runner of the race, held up at the top of the straight and forced to change course before hitting the line strongly for third another three-quarters of a length away.
Despite Royal Patronage winning at his Australian debut over 1400m in the spring, Adrian Bott admitted he thought the 1300m of the Canterbury Stakes might be too short and the fact the six-year-old managed to score regardless augured well for his campaign.
“He’s an incredible horse. To do what he did first start in Australia and first preparation, I thought he was one of the most forward Europeans we’ve had over,” Bott said.
“We always had a big circle around the Doncaster for him. We felt kicking off here and through the George Ryder (Stakes) would be a nice style of preparation.
“We were open minded how far to stretch him last time in but I feel the mile is his real sweet spot.”
Royal Patronage placed in a trio of top-class races in the spring before finishing down the track in the Cox Plate (2040m) when Bott felt he had reached the end of his campaign.
Jockey Tim Clark said the horse found a beautiful rhythm in the run on Saturday and he knew he’d dig deep at the finish.
“He was comfortable the whole way,” Clark said.
“He did fill me with confidence throughout the race and I knew when I got into a dogfight late he was going to be there for me.”
Adam Hyeronimus was rapt with the effort of Ceolwulf, who dropped back in distance after missing a scheduled start in the Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) last week due to a minor leg abrasion.
He finished fifth, 2-1/2 lengths from the winner and was strong late.
“For him to come back in distance and run as well as he has, on a leader-dominated track with that track drying, sharp splits and closing off as well as he did, he is ready to rock and roll back to the appropriate distances,” Hyeronimus said.
