The big change
The move this year of the Royal Sovereign
Stakes from February to be part of The
Championships in April has changed the
historical complexities surrounding the feature
sprint for three-year-olds.
Not only has the race moved into a different
time slot, but it is now open for horses of
both sexes after being restricted to colts and
geldings since it was held for the third time in
1981.
Interestingly, the first time the Royal Sovereign
was run in 1979, it was won by a filly, Acamar,
who was a daughter of Royal Sovereign, the
former top colt after the race was eventually
named after—it was called the Sovereign
Stakes when Acamar won.
The switch to an open race and the move to be
part of The Championships has given the Royal
Sovereign an increased significance as the race
for our best young sprinters at the prime time of
the season.
The Royal Sovereign has always been a race
for the stars. Champions such as Lonhro
(2002), Dance Hero (2005), Assertive Lad
(2001), Best Western (1982), Exceed And Excel
(2004) and Danewin (1995) have won it.
The Slipper connection
Two Golden Slipper winners—Dance Hero and
Guineas
(1998)—trained on to win the Royal
Sovereign Stakes.
Last year’s Golden Slipper was won by the filly
Overreach, who beat the
Peter Snowden
-trained
Sidestep
. Snowden has targeted the Royal
Sovereign with Sidestep, who hasn’t raced since
winning the Listed Darby Munro Stakes, also over
the 1200 metres at Randwick, on March 29, and
will also have
Safeguard
running.
Snowden won the Royal Sovereign with El
Cambio in 2008.
Hawkes to the top
John Hawkes
has trained three Royal
Sovereign winners—Lonhro (2002), Hire (2000)
and Guineas (1998)—which places him equal
top with
Gai Waterhouse
and
Bart Cummings
.
Hawkes, who now trains in partnership with his
sons
Wayne
and
Michael
, will saddle up the
promising
Chautauqua
in the Royal Sovereign.
Chautauqua came with a powerful finish to
beat all but In Cahoots in the Listed Gosford
Guineas (1200m) on April 6.
Cummings, now training in partnership with
his grandson
James Cummings
, will run the
filly
Shamalia
.
Cassidy’s race
Jim Cassidy
— five wins—leads the winning
jockeys list for the Royal Sovereign Stakes by
one from Hugh Bowman. However, Cassidy
hasn’t won it since Rouslan in 1994.
Cassidy has the mount on promising filly
Thump
.
The battler’s hope
Phil Atkins
is a self-confessed battler from
Maitland. The trainer was shaking after
recording his biggest win when
In Cahoots
($26) won the Listed Gosford Guineas (1200m)
on April 6, but the gelding is on his way to town
for the Royal Sovereign.
Atkins, who trains only six horses and rides his
own work—“I do everything”—paid $10,000 for
In Cahoots at the 2012 Inglis Scone Yearling
Sale.
In Focus
Arrowfield Royal
Sovereign Stakes
Notable winners
Shoot Out
2010
Dance Hero
2005
Exceed And Excel
2004
Lonhro
2002
Assertive Lad
2001
Guineas
1998
Catalan Opening
1996
Danewin
1995
Coronation Day
1993
Shaftesbury Avenue 1990
Hula Chief
1986
Best Western
1982
15
