Charlie Johnston: Royal Patronage could well become a Derby horse

Charlie Johnston is hopeful Royal Patronage can dine at the top table in 2022 with a tilt at the Cazoo Derby in June under consideration.

Johnston shares the training of the son of Wootton Bassett with his father Mark and was understudy when he won three times as a juvenile, most memorably in the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes.

After making the running in the early stages at Newmarket in September, Royal Patronage looked to have a hopeless task when Coroebus swept past him approaching the Bushes, only to get a second wind and outstay the eventual winner on the straight.

Owned by Highclere, Royal Patronage disappointed in the Vertem Trophy at Doncaster but was found to have struck into himself.

Johnston said: "We haven’t done a lot with the three-year-olds but Royal Patronage could be our flagbearer this year and it could well be he becomes a Derby horse. The Highclere members have already been up to see him and he’s doing everything right at the moment."

Charlie Johnston: joint-trainer of Royal PatronageCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

On targets, he added: "Dad says the best trial for Epsom is the 2,000 Guineas and it could be we go straight there but if we feel he’s better suited by a mile and a quarter we could go for the Dante at York."

Royal Patronage showed he was at home on the Knavesmire when winning the Group 3 Acomb Stakes last August and the same owner-trainer combination won the Dante with Thunderous in 2020.

If he is to be aimed at the Classics, it could be a big opportunity for rider Jason Hart who has partnered the colt on his last four outings.

Johnston added: "Looking at how he has developed physically over the winter he looks more like a mile-and-a-quarter-plus horse than a miler but we’ll get a better handle on him in the coming weeks."

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