WEDNESDAY; January 15, 2025: HONG Kong is calling!
The dust had barely settled on Hawkesbury three-year-old Royal Commodore’s breakthrough victory on the Kensington track today when trainer Terry Croft’s phone started ringing.
“It doesn’t take them long,” Croft said in reference to talent scouts keen to buy the gelding to do his future racing in Hong Kong.
“They were on the phone 20 minutes after he won.
“If the price is right, you couldn’t blame the owners if they sold him.”
Having only his second start, Royal Commodore ($9.50) overcame a wide run up on the speed, toughing it out strongly down the running to overhaul Blanc De Noir ($3.30) in the 3YO Maiden Plate (1000m).
Croft had no qualms taking the Sooboog three-year-old to town for a midweek assignment, pointing out his debut second at Port Macquarie on December 29 was good.
“He was a bit unlucky that day,” he said.
“Royal Commodore was bumped soon after the start by the winner Turf Fever, who had good trial form going into the race.
“It took him a while to get going, and was collared only in the last few strides.
“I told apprentice Braith Nock to be positive on him today.”
Nock did that from Royal Commodore’s outside barrier in the field of seven, but could not cross the runner-up and favorite Bold Bidder ($1.95), which weakened to finish fourth, then kept coming in the straight to leave his rivals with no excuses.
Royal Commodore’s victory was Croft’s fifth of the season, and his maiden success on the Kensington track after five minor placings.
It was also his first city winner since Just A Brother (who subsequently won both the Forbes and Parkes Cups) scored on a heavy track at Canterbury on January 6, 2023.
There is a real Hawkesbury connection to Royal Commodore.
His dam Royal Hootenanny was transferred from Queensland to former Hawkesbury trainer Garry White, who won three of the mare’s first four starts, including the Hurricane Handicap (900m) at the 2018 Newcastle spring carnival, after joining his stable.
Royal Commodore is Royal Hootennany’s second foal, and Croft also has both the three-year-old’s relations.
The year older Royal Bombadier, who won a Newcastle Maiden last year and has been placed on six occasions, was unplaced later on the Kensington track, whilst two-year-old Royal Corporal (by Graff) is yet to race and currently going through the educational process.
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