Royal Patronage has announced himself as a contender for the autumn, claiming a gritty first-up victory in the Group One Canterbury Stakes at Randwick.

In his second campaign with Tulloch Lodge, the six-year-old entire tracked the leader Here To Shock ($8.50) before pulling away in the final stages to win by a neck at odds of $20. Magic Time ($4.40 fav) finished third, narrowly missing out after being held up at the top of the straight.

Trainer Adrian Bott was impressed, admitting he thought the 1300m might be too short for the horse. “To do what he did first start in Australia… we’ve always had a big circle around the Doncaster for him,” Bott said.

Jockey Tim Clark praised the horse’s rhythm throughout the race, saying, “He did fill me with confidence throughout the race and I knew when I got into a dogfight late he was going to be there for me.”

Ceolwulf, running shorter distances after missing the Verry Elleegant Stakes, finished a strong fifth.