Options Open For Royal Descent This Saturday

Trainer Chris Waller has kept his options open with Royal Descent, nominating the classy mare for both the Group 2 Warwick Stakes (1400m) and Group 3 Toy Show Quality (1300m) at Warwick Farm on Saturday.

Royal Descent

Royal Descent is likely to resume in the Toy Show Quality at Warwick Farm on Saturday. Photo by: Steve Hart

Royal Descent was one of ten Group 1 winners and nine stablemates included in the nominations for the Warwick Stakes but was the clear standout of the six horses nominated for the Toy Show Quality.

Racing New South Wales have extended nominations for the Toy Show Quality to 11am tomorrow but the presence of the Group 1 Australian Oaks winner is likely to keep the race from getting anywhere near the eighteen fillies and mares that it needs for a capacity field.

Royal Descent has not been seen at the races since her dominant ten lengths victory over Group 1 winners Dear Demi and Gondokoro in the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick in April, where she launched herself as a potential 2013 Spring Racing Carnival star.

The spring target for the daughter of Redoute’s Choice has not been decided and she has been included in the nominations for both the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m).

The Caulfield Cup was expected to be the race most suited to Royal Descent after her dominant staying performance in the autumn but Racing Manager for owner Gerry Harvey, Claire Bird told Racing Victoria last month that the Cox Plate was definite option if the four-year-old is competitive at weight-for-age level in the lead-up to the race.

The lack of depth in the nominations for the Toy Show Quality means that Royal Descent is likely to start the race as a short-priced favourite.

Crafty Irna is the only other Group winner in the field, winning the Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) (a race won by Royal Descent earlier this year) in 2011, while Gai Waterhouse-trained No Looking Back won the Listed Carrington Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill earlier this year.

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.