The Ciaron Maher-trained Royal Supremacy emulated the tactics of Pride Of Jenni by leading all the way to claim victory in The Q22 at Eagle Farm.
With Pride Of Jenni a notable absentee on race morning due to the Heavy 9 track conditions, Royal Supremacy seized the initiative in the Group 2 2200m weight-for-age event staged on Saturday.
Guided by jockey Mark Zahra, the $14 chance Royal Supremacy maintained a solid advantage, crossing the line by 1-½ lengths from the fast-finishing Pounding ($61), with Militarize ($5) securing third place a length further back.
Zahra expertly allowed Royal Supremacy to establish its rhythm at the front before encouraging the horse forward approaching the home turn.
Maher indicated that Royal Supremacy had been based with Tony Gollan and had flourished during its Queensland campaign.
“He’s thrived up here again,” Maher confirmed. “He’s been at Tony Gollan’s place and he’s improved each start.
“There was no speed on paper when Pride Of Jenni came out and he can be a bit of a terror to ride, so after a little bit of deliberation before the race, we thought it would be better to work with him rather than fighting him for 2000 metres.
“We thought he would drag himself through it (the ground) because he can get on the bit.
“It is tough to make ground today so we thought with no speed, they probably wouldn’t worry about him too much and that is how it worked out.
“He got into a nice rhythm and we’re both (Maher and Zahra) heading off to England tonight, so it’ll be a good trip over there.”
Zahra commented that Royal Supremacy never fully relaxed during the 2200m journey, but he was confident they would be the ones to beat as they rounded the home turn.
“He never completely drops the bit,” Zahra stated. “He was good enough out front but from the 700 or 600 (metres), I thought there was no way anything can beat me the way he quickens.
“It was a very good win, and he could have gone another lap, too.”
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