Medicean gelding grabs first Group 1 in Herbie Dyke Stakes
Royal Performer (8 g ex Quadri by Polish Precedent) came in between Melody Belle (Commands) and history, as he raced away with Saturday’s Herbie Dyke Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) at Te Rapa and in the process handed the late Cheveley Park-based sire Medicean (Machiavellian) with his 49th stakes winner and ninth Group 1 winner.
A large on-course crowd was on hand to witness Melody Belle attempt to break the record of thirteen career Group 1 wins that she currently holds with Sunline (Desert Sun), but they will have to wait for another day as a torrid run in the home straight put paid to her winning chances.
Royal Performer dug deep to hold a two and a quarter length margin from The Chosen One (Savabeel) at the winning post with the 2019 winner of the race, On The Rocks (Alamosa) another three-quarters of a length away in third.
Trained and owned by Bob Vance and his wife Jenny, the eight-year-old gelding has fashioned a useful record since he made his way to New Zealand after winning three times in Europe and twice more in Hong Kong.
Royal Performer kicked off his New Zealand career in October 2020 and has now won four times from just seven starts.
“What can I say, I just can’t believe it,” Vance said.
“I knew he was a good horse, but he got the perfect run.
“He was only gelded sixteen months ago and when he came back from Hong Kong, we were very lucky to get to work with him.
“He’s had a lot of chiropractic work and Jenny does all the intricate details, as I just ride him.
“Every time he has won lately, I’ve told Jonathan that he has a real turn of foot.
“He is such a lovely horse to work with and you’d love to have more like him.
“It’s my first Group 1 as a trainer.
“Although Jenny has trained a couple, I never won this race as a jockey either, so I’m delighted to get this result.”
Royal Performer has now taken his career record to nine wins and six placings from just 29 starts and has earned just over $945,000 in prize-money.
The gelding is out of unraced Polish Precedent (Danzig) mare Quadri, making him a half-brother to Listed-placed Eva Kant.
Further back he hails from the same family as Listed scorer Fashionable (Nashwan) - the dam of Group 3 winner Jack Naylor (Champs Elysees).
Medicean died in 2018, having been retired from stud duties in 2017.
