The Ciaron Maher-trained Royal Supremacy adopted front-running tactics to claim victory in The Q22 at Eagle Farm.
With Pride Of Jenni a non-runner on race morning due to the Heavy 9 track, Royal Supremacy took charge of the Group 2 2200m weight-for-age contest on Saturday.
Ridden by Mark Zahra, Royal Supremacy ($14) held on for a 1-½ length win from Pounding ($61), with Militarize ($5) finishing a length further back in third.
Zahra allowed Royal Supremacy to gradually find the front before letting the horse stride out approaching the home turn.
Maher mentioned the horse’s positive experience in Queensland.
“He’s thrived up here again,” Maher stated. “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 settled during the 2200m race, but he felt confident they were the ones to beat from the home turn onwards.
“He never completely drops the bit,” Zahra shared. “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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