Second to eventual G1 winner Panova during the Spring, the Phillip Stokes trained Regal Award has form around some handy performers, and now the 3yo son of Ole Kirk has secured his place in the $3m G1 BRC Stradbroke Handicap field with victory in Saturday’s $300,000 G3 BRC Fred Best Classic (1400m).
With Brave Monarch jumping away the favourite and aiming to record his third consecutive black type victory, it was the $3m Sunlight 3YO Plate Winner Grafterburners that went forward to lead with the well-fancied Skyhook sitting on his outside in second.
Going three wide into third, jockey Lachlan Neindorf had a good hold of Regal Award who was pulling himself towards the lead.
With 300m to run, Regal Award took over from Skyhook, and while Brave Monarch darted towards the inside of the leading pair to make his run, he was simply no match as Neindorf went for home.
Regal Award pulled clear to win by just over a length from Skyhook, with Bjorn Baker’s G1 performed filly Within The Law showing a return to form as she charged into third, regulating the favourite into fourth.
The victory of the 3yo saw him shorten significantly in betting for the $3m G1 BRC Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) on June 13 where he will carry just 49.5kgs.
"This is very rewarding because we have always known this horse has had a lot of ability, but he has been very frustrating and hard to train," Stokes said.
"He has done well since he has been here in Queensland and it looks like we have got to keep him here for another two weeks for the Stradbroke now.
"It was great the horse found his A-game today.
"I am wrapped for (jockey) Lachie Neindorf because he has done a lot of work with this horse."
Bred by G & C Pastoral Co and co-raced with partners after being withdrawn from the Vinery Stud draft at the 2024 Inglis Easter yearling sale, Regal Award is the first to race, first winner and now first stakes winner out of the three-time G3-winning Shamus Award mare Sovereign Award, herself a full-sister to the dual Listed winner Noname Lane, a winner of the 2022 Balaklava Cup.
One of seven stakes winners for Written Tycoon’s multiple G1 winner Ole Kirk headed by G1 Thousand Guineas winner Ole Dancer, last season's Champion First Season Sire of the 2024/25 season will stand the upcoming season at a fee of $110,000 (inc. GST) at Vinery Stud.
The race prior to Regal Award’s victory saw stablemate Athanatos record his second black type victory as the 4yo son of I Am Immortal packed too much punch for Chris Waller’s multiple G1 winner Militarize (NZ) to win the G3 Lord Mayor’s Cup (1800m).
A winner of the $500,000 The Coast 3&4YO Quality (1600m) at Gosford last time out, the victory by the Neindorf ridden gelding took his overall record to five wins and 14 placed efforts from 25 starts with earnings just shy of $1m.
Bred by Esker Lodge and Partners, Athanatos is the best of three winners from four to the races out of the O'Reilly mare Mumbeilly.
Mumbeilly was retired from stud duties in 20024 with her final foal being the current unraced two-year-old filly by Newgate Farm’s Tiger Of Malay named Kejayaan.
One of six stakes performers for I Am Invincible’s Listed Blue Diamond Preview (C&G) and G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) winner, the Swettenham Stud based I Am Immortal will stand the upcoming season at a fee of $8,800 (inc. GST).
