Arrowfield graduates were in hot form on Saturday with Group wins for Skyhook and Lazzura at Rosehill with the winning run continuing at Caulfield on Sunday where lightly raced Palace Pier (GB) filly Regal Ambition captured the Listed MVRC Jim Moloney Stakes (1440m).
Trained by the Lindsay Park team and ridden by Mick Dee, Regal Ambition was having just her third race start and was second up from a spell after winning at Sandown earlier this month.
Slow to begin, she settled back in the field and was strong all the way to the line beating race favourite Pretty Baby by a length.
Purchased for $230,000 from the Arrowfield draft at Magic Millions by The Racing League and Lindsay Park Racing, Regal Ambition is the fourth winner from five to the races Snitzel mare Dame Pattie, a daughter of Champion 3YO Filly and multiple G1-winning Encosta de Lago filly Alinghi.
Alinghi won the Group I MRC Thousand Guineas back in 2004 and Regal Ambition will be given the opportunity follow in her footsteps.
"It was a very impressive win. When she bungled the start, I was sitting with my brothers and we kind of said 'oh well, hopefully she hits the line nice and strong'. With the rail out 13 metres, she couldn't have been more impressive,” said Ben Hayes.
"Great ride by Michael, he didn't panic and got her rolling into it at the right time. For her to do that second-up is a huge effort.
"Exciting times and full steam ahead to the Thousand Guineas (1600m G1 on October 17). I think the way she finished off was the most exciting part of her run.
"She is a horse we've had a lot of time for and she just took a while to develop. Now, she's coming into her own and she looks like she's going to be a lot of fun for The Racing League."
Bred by Arrowfield in partnership, Regal Ambition also comes from the same family as last season’s G1 Stradbroke Handicap winner Spicy Martini and has the overall record of two wins and a second from three starts with prizemoney topping $140,000.
Dame Pattie produced a filly by Dundeel last year and was covered by him again last spring.
She is the seventh stakes-winner worldwide for Kingman stallion Palace Pier, who shuttled for just one season to Darley Australia.
