Royal Descent was narrowly denied a second Group 1 victory in the Doncaster Mile last weekend, but trainer Chris Waller is confident that the talented mare has an excellent chance to record her first race win in over a year in the 2014 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Royal Descent is chasing her first race win since she romped home in the 2013 Australian Oaks. Photo by: Steve Hart
Royal Descent looked the winner when she flew down the outside in the Doncaster Mile but was overtaken in the shadows of the post by stablemate Sacred Falls, who received a dream run up the inside.
Waller was thrilled with the performance of Royal Descent in the Doncaster Mile and told TVN that the daughter of Redoute’s Choice will be tough to beat when she steps up to 2000 metres on Saturday, despite the fact that she did not fare well in the 2014 Queen Elizabeth Stakes barrier draw.
“I think that most Doncaster’s she probably wins, but to get nailed in the last 50 metres by a horse like Sacred Falls made it difficult,” Waller.
“She had to do a lot of work, she was out wide all the way and she was exposed early through nobody’s fault it was just the run that she got.
“She has come through it very well and I am looking forward to Saturday with her.
“These two runs have been what she has been set for, so the first one went well and it is probably disappointing she didn’t win for her sake because it would have been a good achievement bringing her back just to target her at a Doncaster Mile after being an Oaks winner last prep.
“She will get her chance on Saturday and go for a spell and I think that she will come back as an even better horse in the spring.”
Royal Descent has not recorded a race win since she took out the 2013 Australian Oaks (2400m) in dominant fashion, but was competitive at weight-for-age level during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival and has had little luck in her three race starts this preparation.
The four-year-old worked home strongly late to finish fourth in the Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 1 and produced an excellent performance against the pattern of the day when she made up ground from the tail of the field to finish fifth in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 22.
Royal Descent is currently available at Queen Elizabeth Stakes odds of $8.50 with Ladbrokes Australia; with Carlton House ($3.50) still a narrow favourite from the in-form Silent Achiever ($4.60) and the well-backed It’s A Dundeel ($5).
