With wins in the Group 1 SAJC Goodwood Handicap and Group II SAJC Tobin Bronze Stakes, Royal Merchant was the class act in Wednesday’s Magic Millions Wyong 3yo & 4yo Stakes (1200m), but she was put to a stern test from stablemate Semana.
With Jason Collett in the saddle for Ciaron Maher and David Eustice, Royal Merchant was never in any real danger as Sesama closed to within a neck on the line. The 4-year-old Merchant Navy defeated the Winning Rupert mare with two and a half lengths back to the Russian Revolution gelding Silentsar in third.
The win advances Royal Merchant’s record to five wins, three seconds, and a third from 17 starts with earnings of $725,970.
“The blinker’s helped; she was sharp,” Collett said.
“She went off too fast over the 1400m (in the GII Hot Danish Stakes).
“She was we-suited at the set weights. You do not want to rev her up to early. It was just a matter of working her way across. She did it easy enough to get outside the leader.”
Bred and sold by Edinburgh Park, Royal Merchant was bought by Ciaron Maher for $160,000 at Magic Millions.
She is the lone runner to date for the handy mare Seventhchic, a metro-winning half-sister to stakes-placed Alburq.
One of just 18 foals left in five seasons by the royally bred Seventh Reason (Sadler’s Wells x Sunday Joy by Sunday Silence), Seventhchic traces to blue hen Eau D’Etoile, the dam of Group I winners Bint Marscay, Filante and Kenny’s Best Pal.
Seventhchic has a 2yo colt by The Autumn Sun named Royal Victory in training with Phillip Stokes.
Amarina Farm offers a half-sister to Royal Merchant from the first crop of Graff at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. (lot 168)
Seventhchic foaled a colt by Palace Pier (GB) on November 4.
Royal Merchant’s dual Group 1 winning sire Merchant Navy stands at Kooringal Stud for $13,200. The son of Fastnet Rock fell just short of an interstate double when the 4yo gelding Diana's Affair, a half-brother to Wyong Magic Millions 2yo Classic winner Highness, was second over 1850m at Eagle Farm.
