Gia Waterhouse and Adrain Bott added to their Magic Millions Raceday arsenal when Royal Tribute won Thursday’s Gosford Guineas.
The Snitzel colt all but booked his spot in the $3 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas with a fighting win in the 1200-metre Listed event.
Adam Hyeronimus endorsed Royal Tribute’s chances as a prospect in the 1400-metre event on January 13, with Thursday’s win his first start since a fourth placing behind King’s Gambit in the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes on October 7.
“That’ll just knock the wind out of his sails a little bit, which will help him relax even more, which is very important heading to the Gold Coast on a very hot day,” Hyeronimus said.
Waterhouse and Bott have the two betting app favourites for the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic, Storm Boy and Straight Charge, the latter of whom was ridden to victory by Hyeronimus at Randwick last Saturday.
Royal Tribute, who became Waterhouse’s first Gosford Guineas winner since star middle-distance weight-for-age performer Desert War, displayed impressive fighting qualities to win the Gosford Guineas.
As is custom with Waterhouse/Bott runners, the $2.50 favourite raced in a forward position but looked under pressure early in the straight and was headed by $3.80 second favourite Infatuation before rallying to score in a photo finish.
Flying Trapeze, a $16 chance with betting sites, was just over a length away in third position.
“It probably wasn’t until the other horse got the wood on us and put the sword to us and was challenging us that he picked up and fought hard and found the line like we know he can,” Hyeronimus said.
Later, Joe Pride-trained Reliable Man mare Lekvarte score a valuable win in Thursday’s other Black Type race at Gosford, the $300,000 Group 3 Belle Of The Turf (1600m).
The five-year-old, who started $2.90 favourite, was confident ridden by Tommy Berry and unleashed a powerful finished to score by 1-1/2 lengths from Zoe’s Promise ($3.50), who lasted to hold second from Pioneer Lass ($51).
It was the first Group placing for Lekvarte, who finished sixth in last year’s Belle Of The Turf and has now won seven of her 25 starts.