Progressive So You Think gelding Gentleman Roy will be headed for Group I goals during the autumn and a possible tilt at the All Star Mile after returning from a spell to win the Listed MRC John Dillon Stakes (1400m) at Sandown on Australia Day.
Trained at Lindsay Park by Ben and JD Hayes and ridden by Mark Zahra, Gentleman Roy showed his class when forging clear to win by three-quarters of a length.
J D Hayes indicated the stable held Gentleman Roy in similar regard to last year’s Group I ATC Doncaster Handicap winner Mr Brightside, who also contested the All Star Mile.
"We have mapped out a similar program to Mr Brightside into The Doncaster," Hayes said.
"We think he's a similar quality horse and definitely has an engine underneath there.
"There's also the All-Star Mile and I'd like to get people voting for him as well as Mr Brightside, it would be nice to have two in the race.
"He profiles like Mr Brightside and has a similar rating at the same stage."
Gentleman Roy advances his record to eight wins and four placings from 16 starts with earnings in excess of $646,000.
Retained to race by his breeder Peter Woods, Gentleman Roy is a half-brother to stakes-winner and $1.2million earner Jacquinot Bay and is the best of six winners from winning Last Tycoon (IRE) mare La La Land, a half-sister to stakes-winner Wake Me Not.
La La Land has a yearling colt by Pride of Dubai and was covered by Sandbar last year.
