Improving off a last start fifth behind Space Rider over 1200m at Moonee Valley, the Phillip Stokes trained Regal Award didn’t disappoint as the race favourite in Sportsbet BlackBook Plate (1300m) on the Sandown Hillside course on Wednesday, scoring with ease.
With Blake Shinn in the saddle for the first time, the gelded son of Ole Kirk jumped from barrier 8 in the 12-horse field.
Although urged along to head towards the lead, jockey Ben Melham held the rail position aboard Wetumpka (Alabama Express), and while Shinn was forced to travel slightly wide, he never panicked at all as Regal Award clearly had more to offer.
Taking the lead with 350m to run, Shinn extended away from Wetumpka with ease and once the line was reached Regal Award held a two and a quarter length winning margin from Chris Waller's Crusader Voyage who worked home strongly.
By Camelot out of Fastnet Rock's multiple Group 1 winner Sea Siren, making him a half to the multiple Group 1 winner Warm Heart (Galileo), it's of no doubt we'll hear more about Crusader Voyage in the future.
The Kia Ora Stud raced, well-bred I Am Invincible filly Irreverent improved from her last start sixth to take third, just ahead of Wetumpka in fourth.
Bred by G & C Pastoral Co and co-raced with partners after being withdrawn from the Vinery Stud draft at the 2024 Inglis Easter yearling sale, Regal Award is the first to race, and first winner out of the three-time Group 3-winning Shamus Award mare Sovereign Award, herself a full-sister to the dual Listed winner Noname Lane, a winner of the 2022 Balaklava Cup which will interestingly be runner later today.
One of six winners so far this season for Ole Kirk, crowned Champion First Season Sire of the 2024/25 season, the multiple Group 1-winning son of Written Tycoon is standing for a fee of $99,000 (inc. GST) at Vinery Stud.
Ole Kirk will be represented this coming Saturday at Flemington by the unbeaten Legacy Bound in the Listed Poseidon Stakes (100m) while Prestige Ole lines up in the Listed Exford Plate (1400m).
