Wootton Bassett Colt Wins G2 Royal Lodge

Progressive two year-old colt Royal Patronage (2c Wootton Bassett x Shaloushka, by Dalakhani) won the Group II Royal Lodge Stakes (1m) at Newmarket on Saturday.

Trained by Mark Johnston, the son of Wootton Bassett won the Group II Acomb Stakes at York at his previous outing over seven furlongs and relished the additional furlong to score a determined neck win for Jason Hart.

“Jason (Hart) said Royal Patronage was a bit free early on and he was trying to settle him and no sooner was he getting him under control than the race was on again. He said when he hit the rising ground he found another gear,” said Mark Johnston.

“He has got a lot of speed. We almost supplemented him for the Champagne Stakes. He is out of a Dalakhani mare so there is lots of stamina on the dam's side. It is great that you have a horse you think will stay a mile and a half that has so much speed early on.”

Royal Patronage has now won three of five starts and holds an entry for the Group I Vertem Futurity Trophy (1m) at Doncaster next month.

Purchased for 62,000 guineas from the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale by Jake and John Warren for Highclere Racing, Royal Patronage is the first winner for Shaloushka, a winning three-quarter-sister by Dalakhani to Irish Derby place-getter Shalapour from the family of champion 3YO Shahrastani.

Royal Patronage is one of five stakes-winners among 16 two year-old winners this year for Wootton Bassett, who stands this spring at a fee of $71,500.