Royal Descent overdue for win in Warwick Stakes

Consistent mare Royal Descent is well overdue for a win when she lines up in the Group 2 $250,000 Pro-Ride Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Royal Descent is well over due for a win when she lines up in the Warwick Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.

Royal Descent is well over due for a win when she lines up in the Warwick Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.

The Chris Waller trained Royal Descent hasn’t visited the winner’s circle since scoring a record breaking ten lengths win in the 2013 Group 1 $550,000 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick.

But her form since has been first class, racing at the highest level and during last year’s Spring Carnival strung together four seconds on the trot at Randwick starting with the Warwick Stakes when beaten one and a quarter lengths by Tiger Tees.

At her next start she was pipped on the post by stablemate Hawkspur in the Group 2 $175,000 Tattersalls Club Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) and then found Sacred Falls, also from the Waller stable, too strong in the Group 1 $350,000 George Main Stakes (1600m).

Royal Descent was then denied another win when the Waller trained He’s Your Man got the judge’s decision by the shortest possible margin in the Group 1 $500,000 The Star Epsom (1600m).

The Redoute’s Choice mare has also got two Doncaster Mile placings to her name, a second to Sacred Falls in 2014 and a third to Waller’s latest stable star Kermadec in the this year’s Group 1 $3m The Star 150th Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on April 6.

“She may not have won a race but she’s gone as close as you can and she’s had to carry weight against the opposite sex in those races,” Waller’s Racing Manager Liam Prior told Racenet.

“I think she’s shown over the last two seasons that she matches it with the boys at the top level.

“She’s also had terrible luck – in the last two Doncasters she’s sat three and four wide and not been beaten far.

“She’s a very good horse, not many Oaks winners come back and do what she’s done so I think she deserves to stay in these types of races and Saturday is a nice starting point for her.”

Royal Descent will be having her first run since finishing third to Criterion in the Group 1 $4m Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on April 11 and is one of six Waller runners resuming in the Warwick Stakes  for their Spring Carnival campaigns.

Doncaster Mile winner Kermadec heads the rest of Waller’s team of Beaten Up, Moriarty, Hawkspur and Foreteller.

“Of our six runners Royal Descent and Kermadec are the two most capable of sprinting well fresh,” Prior said.

Royal Descent has shown in the past that she can race well fresh with her first up second in the Warwick Stakes last year and she looked good in winning a recent Rosehill barrier trial over 1030m on August 4.

Last season’s premiership winning jockey Hugh Bowman gets the ride and is certain to give Royal Descent every chance from barrier three in the fourteen horse field.

Warwick Stakes market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.90 First Seal, $6.50 Kermadec, $7 Royal Descent, $7.50 It’s Somewhat, $8.50 Burbero, $9 Pornichet, $12 Messene, $41 Beaten Up, Gust Of Wind, $51 Complacent, Zaratone, $67 Hawkspur, Foreteller, $101 Moriarty.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.