Rosebud Reward for Royal Discretion

4th August 2007

A clever ride by Blake Shinn led to a surprise win for Royal Academy gelding Royal Discretion (3g Royal Academy - Discretion, by Canny Lad) in the STC Rosebud Quality at Rosehill on Saturday, an open event for three year-olds over 1200 metres.

Resuming from a spell of 15 weeks, the Gai Waterhouse trained Royal Discretion was rated perfectly in front and after sauntering along in the middle stages had too a strong a kick at the finish.

He held off a late challenge from the favourite El Cambio to win by a short neck, taking his record to two wins and a placing from six starts with prizemoney of $91,000.

“We got to the front pretty cheaply and I gave him an easy time for the first half of the race,” said winning rider Black Shinn.

“I put the foot on the accelerator at the 600m because I knew he was a fit horse and he ran out the trip very well. Gelding him has really switched him on and he should go right on with it now.”

Raced by the Bott family’s E Thoroughbred and partners, Royal Discretion was purchased by Tony Bott for $180,000 at the 2006 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale from the draft of Attunga Stud.

A half-brother to Group Three placed mare Tactfully, Royal Discretion is the third foal of stakes-placed Canny Lad mare Discretion, a half-sister to South African stakes-winner Sunrise Silence.

Royal Discretion is likely to head towards the $1million Group Two STC Golden Rose at Rosehill on September 1.