Coroebus defeat costs 1.01 backers after late drama in Royal Lodge

There was a scarcely believable conclusion to Saturday's Royal Lodge Stakes, with Godolphin maiden winner Coroebus breaking away from the field only to be run down and headed on the line by the Highclere-owned Royal Patronage.

William Buick sent Coroebus into a decisive lead entering the final two furlongs but he began to tire on the climb to the line and Acomb winner Royal Patronage got up in the nick of time to win at 7-2 under Jason Hart.

A whopping £32,892 was matched on Coroebus at 1.01 on Betfair, while £6 was matched on the winner at 900.

Harry Herbert, representing owners Highclere, said: "It was a complete shambles. Initially I was saying we need to probably kick on a bit here, and then he seemed to cleverly let the Godolphin horse kick on and I thought, 'Oh no, we're going to disappear into the pack.'

"It was one of those very rare races where you get that extraordinary elation, and all the share owners, it's the biggest thrill in the world to be here in the unsaddling enclosure having won a Group 2, the Royal Lodge, a very prestigious race."

Herbert said the team would take "a very close look" at the Vertem Futurity at Doncaster on October 23, adding Royal Patronage would be better suited to the Derby as opposed to the Guineas back on the Rowley Mile in April.

While the last Royal Lodge winner to go on to succeed in the Derby was Benny The Dip in 1996, the race has more recently produced superstars like Frankel (2010) and Roaring Lion (2017).

Mark Johnston, trainer of Royal Patronage, said: "I had put my binoculars down at one point when the other horse was clear but when he hit the rising ground he found another gear.

"We almost supplemented him for the Champagne Stakes and were kicking ourselves afterwards as the race cut up a bit. He could run again this year but I'll have to speak to Harry Herbert first."

Charlie Appleby, trainer of Coroebus, said: "It's a bit tough to take but fair play to the winner, who won the Acomb Stakes in good style previously. He was in front long enough for a horse who had only had one run and we could look at the Vertem Futurity after that."

The day got even better for Highclere as the owners recorded a quickfire double when Nugget clung on to win the Betway Handicap at Haydock.

Herbert added: "This is crazy. I'll probably get a roasting because he's [Nugget] going to get a penalty for the Balmoral! It's a wonderful race to win and now we go to Ascot [on Qipco British Champions Day]."

Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes: full result and race replay

Miss is a hit

Both divisions of the 7f maiden fillies' stakes for juveniles were sponsored by Blandford Bloodstock, which was very timely as it purchased Perfect Power, winner of the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes on the card, at the Goffs UK Breeze-Up earlier in the year.

The first division was won by Miss Carol Anne on her debut. The daughter of Kingman was giving US owner-breeder Bill Cragher a winner at the first attempt with trainer Roger Varian and also extended jockey Andrea Atzeni's recent good run.

Varian said: "That's a great start for our new owner and she finished off her race well. We could come back here for the Group 3 Oh So Sharp Stakes but it's a bit tight timewise as it's only a fortnight away."

The second division was won in arguably more impressive fashion by the Richard Hannon-trained Siamsa, who put two previous outings on the all-weather to good use to master favourite Thanks Monica.

Perfect day

The Perfect Power silks were carried to further success by Perfect News, who enjoyed a step up in trip in the 7f fillies' nursery.

The daughter of Frankel was stepping up in trip but down in class having tackled a Group 3 at Salisbury over six furlongs last time for William Haggas.

Winning jockey Tom Marquand said of the 6-1 chance: "Perfect News learned quite a lot from Salisbury, where she was drawn out on the wing. She's a nice filly who has plenty of scope for next year."

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