King's Troop was a $200,000 Magic Millions purchase for Ryan from the
Arrowfield draft and runs for Arrowfield and Alan Jones' Belford Productions.It's not hard to see why Ryan was keen to train the colt from metro winning Royal Academy (USA) mare Royal Snippets as he is a three-quarter brother-in-blood to Ryan's former stable star and now leading sire Snitzel.
Small in stature, as was Snitzel, King's Troop has plenty of the family ability and had little trouble dispatching his rivals in this 1100 metre maiden.
He travelled strongly in front for Brenton Avdulla and sprinted quickly at the finish to win by more than nearly four lengths with Inglis Easter sale-topper Lighthouse Keeper ($1.6 million Fastnet Rock x Perfect Persuasion) grinding home for fourth.
"His last 100 metres was most impressive," said Avdulla.
"He accelerated well and was getting away from them."
Gerald Ryan was non-committal about what the future might hold for King's Troop indicating the colt may have a short break or possibly one more run, with the Group III ATC San Domenico Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday week a likely option.
"I think he needs the time to grow," Ryan said.
"You'll see a really nice horse in six months time."
King's Troop is the first winner for Royal Snippets, a sibling to Group I winner Snitzel and Group III winners Viennese and Hinchinbrook, the Champion Australian First Season Sire of 2014/2015.
Royal Snippets is due to foal to Redoute's Choice again this spring.
