Royal Descent ready to break drought in Chelmsford Stakes

2013 Australian Oaks winner Royal Descent is long overdue for a win and is primed to break her winning drought in the Group 2 $175,000 Tattersalls Club Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick today.

Royal Descent hasn't won since taking out the 2013 Australian Oaks, above.

Royal Descent hasn't won since taking out the 2013 Australian Oaks, above. Photo by Steve Hart.

Royal Descent hasn’t visited the winner’s stall since trouncing the other fillies on a bog track in last year’s Group 1 $550,000 Patinack Farm Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick.

But her form hasn’t been too far off the mark with several placings including a second to Streama in the 2013 Group 1 $350,000 George Main Stakes (1600m) at Randwick in the Spring and then a second to stablemate Sacred Falls in the Group 1 $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick during this year’s Sydney Autumn Carnival.

“Royal Descent has not won for a while but last season she ran second in the George Main Stakes and Doncaster Mile, and also finished fifth in the Caulfield Cup,’’ premeirship trained Chris Waller told The Daily Telegraph.

“She ran another good second in the Warwick Stakes first-up so she continues to race in very good form.’’

Royal Descent has had one run back from a spell and pleased Waller with a second to Tiger Tees on a heavy track in the Group 2 $175,000 Pro-Ride Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on August 23.

Royal Descent is back on a heavy track again and is one of six Waller trained horses lining up in the eight horse weight for age field.

The Team Hawkes trained Entirely Platinum is the $4 favourite for the Chelmsford Stakes with Ladbrokes.com.au, slightly ahead of Royal Descent at $4.20.

Sacred Falls and Australian Derby winner Criterion from the David Payne stable shares the next line of betting at $4.80 ahead of Hawkspur at $6 with the rest of Waller’s team at long odds, Bagman at $26, Moriarty at $31 and Junoob at $41.

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.