Having been put away after a debut second back in February, the Ben, Will and JD Hayes trained Palace Pier (GB) filly Regal Ambition resumed on Wednesday at Sandown with a handy victory that could see the 3yo head towards the $1.5m G1 MRC Thousand Guinas (1600m) on October 17.
While there was plenty of talk about Tony and Calvin McEvoy’s I Am Invincible filly Full Confidence, with race experience on her side Regal Ambition jumped away the race favourite in the small seven horse field.
Second last away from the gates after beginning slightly awkwardly, jockey Michael Dee never panicked, allowing the filly to settle where she was comfortable as Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr’s Ace Strike (NZ) went forward to lead with the Ciaron Maher’s Frankel filly Stipulation content to sit on the leader’s outside in second.
As the temp started to pick up a little into the home turn, Regal Ambition came to the outside where she quickened up noticeably to chase the leaders.
With Stipulation taking over from Ace Strike with 300m to run, Dee continued to ride out Regal Ambition hands and heels as she passed Maher’s filly before pulling away for a promising three-quarter length victory.
Third placed Full Confidence was a further two and a half lengths back with the fourth placed Dispatches another two and a half lengths away.
With stakes races in her future, co-trainer Ben Hayes was pleased to see the filly break her maiden.
“Good to get a good winner for the Hustlers and I thought she did a good job today because out the gates it looked like she got a big bump," enhtused Hayes. "I thought it was a great ride by Michael to get her off the rail and get her down the middle of the track and present so well."
“We were just a little worried today because we've never seen her on a soft track, but to see her hit the line so strong and exciting times ahead, so the whole team is thrilled.
“We've always liked her. She's just taken a lot of time. She really grew, and she's just taken a while to fill out into that big body of hers, so plenty more improvement to come.
“She wasn't screwed down today, so she probably deserves a good opportunity, a nice stakes race now."
As for where she will head, the Hayes camp has some future black type races on the cards.
“I'm hoping she's a good miler. She's nominated in the Thousand Guineas, so we'll probably head towards a race like the Jim Maloney. And if she runs well there, that's the race we'll be heading to.”
Jockey Michael Dee was suitably impressed with the winning performance of the filly.
“She's never the fastest in her stride, but I'm not sure what happened there at the start. None of us actually heard a call or anything. I don't think anyone was really ready.
“We were slightly slow way, but then we got a big squeeze as well. But sort of that helped us anyway.
“She's probably naturally a get back sort of horse and one that shows a turn of foot so it was good that we were in a small field and we were able to get away from the fence I feel probably the outside of the track is the best place to be and especially with a bit of a headwind in the straight
“She started to draw away late, so there's plenty of upside. She's got a bright future and plenty more to come.
“She's got scope to get out over further.”
Purchased for $230,000 from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the Magic Millions yearling sale by The Racing League and Lindsay Park Racing, Regal Ambition is the fourth winner from five to the races Snitzel mare Dame Pattie, herself a daughter of Champion 3YO Filly and multiple G1-winning Encosta de Lago filly Alinghi.
From the family of last season’s G1 Stradbroke Handicap winner Spicy Martini, Regal Ambition will be out to become the next elite level winner in the family with connections keen to target the G1 Thousand Guineas if she shows she is good enough.
Becoming the third winner from the lone southern hemisphere crop of Darley’s Kingman stallion Palace Pier, Regal Ambition joins the G3 winner Southend and the winning, G2 Todman Stakes placed Wolf Gap.
