In a campaign that began with winning a midweek maiden at Canterbury in November, three-year-old filly Royal Merchant has run at least once in each month since, and has crowned the preparation by winning the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville.
The victory also capped a successful Adelaide carnival for co-trainers Ciaron Maher and Dave Eustace having won the South Australian Oaks (2000m), South Australia’s other sprint feature – the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) – and now The Goodwood for the first time.
A second placing in the South Australian Derby (2500m) the only event denying the powerhouse team a clean sweep over the last four weeks.
Royal Merchant ($18) scored by less than half-a-length margin over Another Award ($6) with Zapateo ($3.50 favourite) less than a length way in third.
“I can’t honestly say that we came here thinking we were going to win,” Dave Eustace said.
“Credit to her. She’s incredibly tough.”
Eustace drew parallels of the filly by Merchant Navy’s campaign with Maher’s first Group 1 winner Tears I Cry in 2007.
“I was saying to the boss (Maher) that her campaign has been similar,” he added.
“She’s had to dance every dance and we’ve served it up to her.
“She’s delivered and full credit to Michaell Dee. He’s riding incredibly well and kept it nice and smooth.
“I wouldn’t say it was a confident watch but we were confident at the top of the straight that she’d have a right crack.”
For jockey Michael Dee, his outstanding season has continued in notching his 11th career win at the highest level before heading to Hong Kong to ride on a short-term licence.
“I’ve been lucky enough to stick with her,” Dee said.
“She gave me a far better feel than she did last start so a credit to the team and it is just amazing to get her from early in the prep trying to get black type, and she got that last time ,and here we are today.
“We had to do it the hard way from a wide barrier (14) but we never had any cover. I actually pressed the button too soon because when I did she really took off.”
With the filly relishing her racing, Eustace has not ruled out extending the streak to Queensland with the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) to be run at Eagle Farm on June 3.
