Second in the Italian Derby at three, progressive stayer Royal Supremacy (IRE) had racked up multiple Group placings in Europe before his sale to Australian Bloodstock and broke through for his first ever stakes win when taking out the $750,000 Group I ATC The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Trained by Ciaron Maher and ridden by last year’s Melbourne cup winning jockey Robbie Dolan, Royal Supremacy won the Wyond Cup Prelude and then was second in the Group III Newcastle Gold Cup behind the Chris Waller trained import Soul of Spain (IRE).
The five year-old son of Dubawi line sire Make Believe was able to turn the tables on Soul of Spain forging clear to win by three-quarters of a length.
"Great steer by Robbie, and I can't thank our team enough, Australian Bloodstock, all the other owners, it’s fantastic,” said Ciaron Maher.
"He just gets better with each run, he used to be a little bit aggressive in his races, but with each race, he's starting to relax a little bit better. And that's what I said to Robbie; it's just about getting the first half right, and hopefully the second half will take care of itself. I'm just thrilled.”
Royal Supremacy holds an entry for the Melbourne Cup and that is now right on the radar.
"He'll probably go towards the Melbourne Cup, I'd imagine, he did a mile and a half quite well, so we'll see if he can do two,” Maher said.
Robbie Dolan won last year’s Melbourne Cup on Knight’s Choice, who will not contest this year’s Cup due to illness.
"Racing's a funny game isn't it, yeah it's a real shame about Knight's Choice, you know that little horse changed all our lives forever, but his welfare is number one and I do believe things happen for a reason,” Dolan said.
"He (Royal Supremacy) is probably the strongest horse I've ever ridden, my god I was bolting at one stage, I'd say he's a pretty talented horse because he over-raced pretty much most of the race and ran away from them.
"If he learns to relax, he'd be a serious weight-for-age horse."
Royal Supremacy started life in Ireland and was a 65,000 guinea purchase from the Ballylinch Stud draft at Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 2 by JS Bloodstock / Andrew Balding.
He has the overall record of five wins and five placings from 13 starts and is a half-brother to stakes-winner Adelaise being the best of four winners from four foals to race from Adelasia, a winning half-sister by Iffraaj to Group winners Fight Club and Flambo.
Royal Supremacy is the third Group I winner for Make Believe, who stands at Ballylinch Stud at a fee of 8,000 euros.
