The amazing Adelaide Carnival continued for co-trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace today when rising star Royal Merchant scored a brilliant win in the Group One TAB Goodwood Handicap (1200m) at Morphettville.
Forced to cover extra ground from a wide barrier, the in form filly upstaged her older rivals for an impressive long neck win.
The win in her first Group One start followed on from her strong last start win in the Group Two Tobin Bronze Stakes a fortnight ago.
Facing the starter for just the 12th time, Royal Merchant became just the third three-year-old filly to win South Australia’s premier sprint contest in its 138th running.
“I was under a bit of pressure today,” a beaming David Eustace said. “The boss had been delivering the goods.”
“I can’t honestly say we came here thinking we’d win. We were hopeful of getting some more black type and maybe a placing.”
“Credit to her, she’s incredibly tough. I was saying to the boss beforehand that his first Group One winner was Tears I Cry and he had a similar campaign to this filly.”
“She’s had to dance every dance. We served it up to her and she’s delivered and full credit to Micky Dee as well – he’s riding terrifically well and he kept it nice and smooth.”
“I wouldn’t say it was a comfortable watch, but I was confident at the top of the straight she was going to have a right crack!”
Ciaron Maher went to $160,000 to secure Royal Merchant from the Edinburgh Park draft at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. What a masterstroke it’s turned out to be!
Today’s big win also continued an amazing run of success at the elite level for jockey Michael Dee.
“I’ve been lucky enough to stick with her,” Dee said. “With the light weight today she gave me a far better feel than she did last start.”
“Credit to Ciaron and Dave and their team. It’s just amazing to get from early in the prep – just trying to get a black type (win) – she got that last start and here we are today.”
“I got a bit nervous (late). She had to do it the hard way from a wide barrier. She jumped away okay but we didn’t have any cover there. I just tried to nurse her around the corner and I actually pressed the button too soon.”
“As soon as I did (press the button) she really took off. She was holding pretty strong on the line,” Dee added. “It was an amazing effort by her.”
For the second straight start the bonny local mare Another Award turned in a massive run to finish second at Group One level.
The Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas trained daughter of Shamus Award was gallant under Jason Holder, pushing the winner all the way to the line.
She was a $150,000 Adelaide Yearling Sale buy for the stable from the draft of the Satchell family’s Willow Grove Stud in 2020.
Royal Merchant, a daughter of globetrotting Group One sprinter Merchant Navy, is the first runner to date for her dam, the Sydney winner Seventhchic.
A daughter of Sadlers Wells’ son Seventhreason (ex Sunday Joy), Seventhchic was a Sydney winner at two who trained on to win in town again and win over $112,000 in prizemoney before being retired to stud.
Seventhchic, who won at 1200 and 1400 metres, is a half sister to the stakes performed and $571,000 earning Alburq – a last start metropolitan winner on the Sunshine Coast.
In winning today’s Morphettville feature, Royal Merchant became the first Group One winner for Merchant Navy. His other star performer to date is the crack juvenile Steel City. Interestingly both are Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchases trained by Maher and Eustace.
Royal Merchant is another star graduate to emerge from Edinburgh Park. Breeders will get the opportunity to invest in a race filly or mare at the Edinburgh Park Unreserved Dispersal Sale late on Tuesday at the National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast.
Winner: Royal Merchant
Breeding: Merchant Navy-Seventhchic (Seventh Reason)
Breeder: Mr IK Smith
Race: SAJC Goodwood Handicap G1 (1200m)
Sold for: $160,000
Sale: 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Edinburgh Park
Buyer: Ciaron Maher Bloodstock
Earnings: $582,470
Owners: MP Keegan, Mrs H Keegan, Brut Force Racing M. M., Dr TF Birch, DE Bykersma, Mrs SJ Jackson, MJ Jackson, Bay Region Racing, NJ Gordon & Sewgoolam Racing Connection
Trainer(s): Ciaron Maher & David Eustace (Ballarat)
