Mark Johnston | Horse Racing Free Tips

Wootton Bassett’s Royal Patronage Swoops In Royal Lodge Thriller

Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's 62,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 graduate Royal Patronage (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) shed maiden status in style when routing his rivals by five lengths and more in a July 29 Epsom novices' event and the Mark Johnston trainee defied odds of 25-1 when value for his 2 1/4-length score in York's Aug. 18 G3 Acomb S. when last seen. The April-foaled bay had previously encountered Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) when second to that subsequent G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. hero in a June 11 Sandown maiden. Digging deep in Saturday's G2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge S. at Newmarket, he made every yard count in his first try at the one-mile distance and swooped late to deny the hitherto undefeated Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the dying strides for a career high and punch his ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar in November in this “Win and You're In” qualifier. The 7-2 third choice was swiftly into stride and held sway at a steady tempo through the initial fractions. Unflustered at first when headed by Coroebus past halfway, he came under pressure approaching the quarter-mile marker as that rival surged clear soon after and stayed on relentlessly for continued rousting up the hill to wear down that floundering 85-40 joint-favourite by a neck nearing the line. Fellow joint-favourite Masekela (Ire) (El Kabeir) was unable to land a telling blow and finished 5 1/4 lengths off the winner in fourth, 2 1/2 lengths behind Atlantic Thoroughbreds' 33-1 outsider Unconquerable (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) in third.

“The Godolphin team were standing beside me watching the race and, with a furlong to go, they thought they'd won and I thought they'd won,” revealed Mark Johnston. “I was actually very happy with the run at that point as I could see he was starting to stay on away from the pack. I was thinking to next year and thinking 'this will be one for the Derby trials early' on. Jason [Hart] said he was a bit free early on, but as soon as he hit the rising ground he just found another gear. We had some doubts about stepping up to the mile early on as he has a lot of speed and we almost supplemented him for the [seven-furlong G2] Champagne S. at Doncaster. It literally went to the wire, deciding whether to supplement or not. We decided against it in the end, which we regretted after it broke up so much, but we were reasonably convinced that going further was going to be better. He certainly proved that today.”

Looking ahead, the trainer added, “I don't know if he will run in the [G1] Vertem Futurity Trophy [at Doncaster], but I'll speak to [Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's] Harry [Herbert] and see what he has to say. He looks like a Derby horse and it's great when you've got a horse who you're thinking might stay a mile-and-a-half. He is showing so much speed early on as well and that's ideal.”

Runner-up Coroebus looked to have gone beyond recall when displaying impressive acceleration on the front end inside the final quarter mile, but a lack of experience told on the climb to the line as Royal Patronage zeroed in on the perfect target. “It's always hard when you pass them all and then get passed again,” said trainer Charlie Appleby. “We've been pleased with him at home, he's a beautiful-looking horse and he'll have learned plenty today. I think he's just got a bit lonely out in front there in the end. He only had one run under his belt and got picked up by a horse who has had plenty of racing now. Take nothing away from the winner, he'd won an Acomb and he's obviously a good horse.”

Royal Patronage, half to a weanling colt by Magna Grecia (Ire), is one of 14 group-race winners by his sire and the first of two foals out of a multiple-winning sibling of G1 Irish Derby third Shalapour (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}) and the dam of the dual stakes-winning Palm Springs {Ind}) (Placerville). Royal Patronage's third dam Shademah (Ire) (Thatch), herself kin to elite-level winners Shakapour (Ire) (Kalamoun {GB}) and Sharannpour (Ire) (Busted {GB}), produced G1 Epsom Derby and G1 Irish Derby-winning sire Shahrastani (Nijinsky II) and the excellent producer Sharata (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}). The latter is responsible for five stakes scorers including MGSW GII Garden City Breeders' Cup H. victrix Pharatta (Ire) (Fairy King), herself the second dam of G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp and G1 Prix d'Ispahan hero Recoletos (Fr) (Whipper).

Saturday, Newmarket, Britain
JUDDMONTE ROYAL LODGE S.-G2, £100,000, Newmarket, 9-25, 2yo, c/g, 8fT, 1:38.06, g/f.
1–ROYAL PATRONAGE (FR), 126, c, 2, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
1st Dam: Shaloushka (Ire), by Dalakhani (Ire)
2nd Dam: Shalama (Ire), by Kahyasi (Ire)
3rd Dam: Shademah (Ire), by Thatch
(62,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Highclere Thoroughbred Racing (Woodland Walk); B-Emma Capon Bloodstock (FR); T-Mark Johnston; J-Jason Hart. £56,710. Lifetime Record: 5-3-1-0, $165,815. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Coroebus (Ire), 126, c, 2, Dubawi (Ire)–First Victory (Ire), by Teofilo (Ire). O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. £21,500.
3–Unconquerable (Ire), 126, c, 2, Churchill (Ire)–Rien Ne Vas Plus (Ire), by Oasis Dream (GB). (210,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Atlantic Thoroughbreds; B-Rien Ne Vas Plus Syndicate (IRE); T-Donnacha O'Brien. £10,760.
Margins: NK, 2HF, 2HF. Odds: 3.50, 2.13, 33.00.
Also Ran: Masekela (Ire), Howth (Ire), Oneforthegutter (GB), Seattle King (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Frankel Colt Sets Tattersalls August Record

During a session which saw just 10 horses through the ring fail to change hands, the Ralph Beckett-trained and Juddmonte Farms-owned Fabilis (GB) (Frankel {GB}) fetched 350,000gns to establish a new record at the Tattersalls August Sale in Newmarket. The transaction easily eclipsed the previous top price of 220,000gns from last year's inaugural event.

An own brother to G3 Darley Club S. hero Monarchs Glen (GB) and produced by a half-sister to G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner Nebraska Tornado (Storm Cat), Fabilis, cataloged as lot 380, was a maiden winner at second asking at Chepstow last September and added a Nottingham handicap in his next appearance. He most recently took his Timeform rating to 104 with a 1 3/4-length victory going 12 furlongs at Newmarket Aug. 27.

Peter and Ross Doyle Bloodstock signed the winning ticket and indicated that the 3-year-old colt is off to the Middle East to continue his career.

“He is for Prince Faisal bin Khalid's Najd Stud, a very long established client,” said Doyle. “I bought for his family many years ago. He is a lovely horse, I didn't think he'd make that much, but lots of people liked him. He comes from a very good operation, it is always nice to buy a horse from Juddmonte. The horse passed all the vets very well. The immediate plan will be to go and race in Saudi Arabia and aim for the Crown Prince Cup. We have had some success in the race before.”

Underbidders included would-be suitors from Australia and others from the Gulf region.

Mark Johnston trainee Zabeel Champion (GB) (Poet's Voice {GB}), lot 411, achieved the session's second-highest price when Mags O'Toole, bidding on behalf of National Hunt bloodstock agent Tom Malone, paid 185,000gns for the 4-year-old colt. Previously campaigned by Jaber Abdullah, the bay hit a rich vein of form this spring, winning consecutive events at Ripon before adding a vaulable Newmaket handicap May 2. Also third in the Duke of Edinburgh S. (handicap) at the Royal Meeting June 18, Zabeel Champion was offered with a TF rating of 112.

“A real champion. He is a big scopey horse, just our type of horse a chaser in the making,” Malone messaged Tattersalls after landing in Germany. “He came highly recommended and the owners weren't going to release him too lightly. He ticks a lot of boxes, he showed a lovely pace over 1m2f to win at Ripon, stayed 1m4f on heavy ground at Royal Ascot. A beautiful pedigree, so fingers crossed he goes on and does our job as a novice over jumps. He goes to Ditcheat.”

While strict comparisons to last year's horses-of-racing-age sales are difficult, given the circumstances under which the 2020 renewal was held, the combined turnover of 18 million guineas for this year was well above last year's turnover of 14,371,000gns.

“Last year's inaugural Tattersalls August Sale, which was born out of COVID-related disruption to the racing calendar, was a huge success and the second renewal has returned figures which suggest that the fixture very much has a long-term future,” said Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony. “With the recent July Sale returning to its customary numbers, the August catalogue was significantly smaller than last year, but the vibrance and extraordinary level of international participation which are the hallmarks of sales of this nature at Tattersalls have been in evidence from start to finish. Buyers from throughout Europe, the Gulf region, Australia and the USA have added to the strong domestic participation and we have yet again hosted a sale which has achieved a clearance rate in excess of 90% and generated sustained demand in all sectors of the market.”

He added, “Equally pleasing has been the fact that the August Sale has seen a return almost to normality after more than a year of staging sales which have been hampered by COVID-related protocols. It has been a real pleasure to have welcomed so many people back to Park Paddocks as we turn our attention to the Tattersalls yearling sales season starting with the Somerville Yearling Sale next week.”

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Wootton Bassett’s Royal Patronage Makes All in the Acomb

Trading as the largely unconsidered 25-1 outsider-of-five for Wednesday's G3 Tattersalls Acomb S. at York, Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's Royal Patronage (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) turned that logic on its head with a command performance from the front. Coming off an impressive five-length success over this seven-furlong trip in an Epsom novice July 29, the bay was on his mettle at the break and a sharp getaway yielded immediate control. Unflustered on the lead down the centre of the track in the straight, he bore all the hallmarks of a typical Mark Johnston galloper to record an ultimately comfortable 2 1/4-length success from Imperial Fighter (Ire) (The Gurkha {Ire}), with TDN Rising Star and 7-4 favourite Dubawi Legend (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) two lengths further adrift in third with no excuses. “I was very confident of this lad, he gave me a nice feel at Epsom and the way he was travelling down the straight I thought it would take a good one to pass me,” winning jockey Jason Hart said. “For a two-year-old, he's a sort of push-button type of ride. He's all there. I think he's fine at seven for the time being, but I don't see any reason why he wouldn't get a mile.”

Royal Patronage, who was fifth on his debut over six furlongs here May 22 before finishing four-lengths second to the subsequent G2 Superlative S. winner Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in a Sandown maiden upped to this distance June 11, had looked a colt of above-average ability in a decent contest at Epsom last time. His starting price here may have had more to do with the reputations of the unexposed TDN Rising Stars Dubawi Legend and Ehraz (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), but there is no doubt that it was inflated given the nature of his display on the famed Downs. “We thought he deserved to be here, in hindsight it's easy to say 'it was no surprise',” Johnston said. “Anything that wins the Acomb is a potential Guineas horse. We had him over six furlongs the first time and that was probably a bit of a liberty, as he'll stay further in time.”

Royal Patronage is the first foal out of the Aga Khan cast-off Shaloushka (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}), who was bought by Blandford Bloodstock for €100,000 at the 2008 Arqana December Sale. She is a half-sister to the G1 Irish Derby third Shalapour (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}) and to the dam of the group 3-placed duo Shikarpour (Ire) (Dr Fong) and Shebella (Ire) (Dubai Destination) from the family of Shahrastani. Her 2021 colt is by Magna Grecia (Ire).

Wednesday, York, Britain
TATTERSALLS ACOMB S.-G3, £100,000, York, 8-18, 2yo, 7fT, 1:23.56, gd.
1–ROYAL PATRONAGE (FR), 127, c, 2, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
1st Dam: Shaloushka (Ire), by Dalakhani (Ire)
2nd Dam: Shalama (Ire), by Kahyasi (Ire)
3rd Dam: Shademah (Ire), by Thatch
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (62,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Highclere Thoroughbred Racing (Woodland Walk); B-Emma Capon Bloodstock (FR); T-Mark Johnston; J-Jason Hart. £56,710. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-0, $88,272. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Imperial Fighter (Ire), 127, c, 2, The Gurkha (Ire)–Endure (Ire), by Green Desert. (£30,000 Ylg '20 GOFOR). O-Michael Blencowe; B-Lynn Lodge Stud (IRE); T-Andrew Balding. £21,500.
3–Dubawi Legend (Ire), 127, c, 2, Dubawi (Ire)–Lovely Pass (Ire), by Raven's Pass. O-Dr Ali Ridha; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Hugo Palmer. £10,760.
Margins: 2 1/4, 2, 1. Odds: 25.00, 5.50, 1.75.
Also Ran: Noble Truth (Fr), Ehraz (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Sir Ron Priestley Re-Aggravates Old Injury

Sir Ron Priestley (GB) (Australia {GB}) could be facing retirement from racing after re-aggravating the suspensory injury that forced him to the sidelines for the entirety of his 4-year-old campaign last year, trainer Mark Johnston told Racing Post. Paul Dean's 5-year-old entire finished third in Tuesday's G1 Goodwood Cup, but was promptly pulled up by Franny Norton 300 yards after the finish line and brought back in the horse ambulance for assessment.

“He has re-injured the old suspensory injury that kept him out during 2020,” Johnston told Racing Post. “It could well be worse than it was last time. It's not good news but it's not life threatening.

“He walked on the box, he was standing out here for a while after they bandaged him. He's not fine, it's a serious injury. These things are serious but it's not life threatening in any way.”

Sir Ron Priestley, a 70,000gns yearling purchase by Johnston and a half-brother to the yard's G1 Gold Cup winner Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}), won the G3 March S. at three and was second in the G1 St Leger. He returned from a 19-month layoff to win a listed race at Nottingham in April and the G2 Jockey Club S. three weeks later, and added the G2 Princess of Wales's S. on July 8. after a third in the G2 Yorkshire Cup and seventh in the G2 Hardwicke S.

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