The $750,000 Group I ATC Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick on Saturday attracted a crackerjack field of serious G1 talent and when they got to the winning post it was one of only two runners in the race that was not a G1 winner that got the prize and it was the glorious Wootton Basset import Royal Patronage (Fr).
A gorgeous looking stallion that won the Group II Newmarket Royal Lodge Stakes at two, Royal Patronage was transferred to North America after his three year-old season and spent 2023 campaigning there before returning to the UK to be offered at the 2023 Tattersalls Horse in Training Sale in October where he was bought by McKeever Bloodstock / Waterhouse / Bott for 300,000 guineas.
Given a good spell after he arrived here, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Royal Patronage won at the first time of asking in Australia last year taking out the Group II ATC Tramway Stakes (1400m) before racing consistently through the spring in elite company and was first up again on Saturday.
He was given a positive ride by Tim Clark and was able to overpower last start Group I winner Here to Shock to win by half a length with dual G1 winning mare Magic Time in third place.
"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," said Adrian Bott.
"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."
Tim Clark was thrilled to get the victory.
"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."
Royal Patronage now has the overall record of six wins and five placings from 21 starts and is the 14th G1 winner for Wootton Bassett (GB), who nearly had a stakes double at Randwick with his classy two year-old colt Wodeton a game second in the Group II ATC Todman Stakes.
Purchased originally for 62,000 guineas from the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale by Jake and John Warren for Highclere Racing, Royal Patronage is the best of two winners for Shaloushka, a winning three-quarter-sister by Dalakhani to Irish Derby place-getter Shalapour from the family of champion 3YO Shahrastani.
