9 Wins in 48 Hrs - A Royal Debut

Cementing the ninth win in just on 48 hours for Te Akau Racing, Royal Rendezvous (3 g Royal Meeting – Alana’s Party, by Exceed and Excel) staged a terrific performance on debut in the A$42,500 Tobin Brothers Maiden 3YO 1000 metres at Werribee (Victoria). 

The win followed three wins for trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson on Friday at Riccarton, two on Saturday at Pukekohe, and three on Sunday at Te Aroha. 

The wins were highlighted with impressive performances by Sibling Rivalry (Satono Aladdin), Lara Antipova (Russian Revolution), Stella Ma Bella (Contributer), and Drops Of God (Hello Youmzain), while beautifully bred Altari (Savabeel) resumed in good fashion to win, as well. 

Having lifted after travelling wide to win a jump out on 17 November at Cranbourne, Royal Rendezvous shaped to race well first-up, but had to overcome a tricky (9).

Ridden by dual Group One winning jockey Lachlan Neindorf (23), Royal Rendezvous overcame the draw to receive cover three-wide in midfield, travelled strongly into contention rounding the turn, and powered home to reel in pacemaker Set Me Loose (Hanseactic).

Such was his momentum over the last 200m, Royal Rendezvous coasted home to score by three-quarters of a length and continued on solidly through the line. 

On Soft5 footing, Royal Rendezvous ran 1000 metres in 56.9, just a hair outside the track record (56.8), and paid $15.20 & $3.40 on the NZ TAB tote. 

Purchased by David Ellis CNZM for A$280,000 at the 2024 Inglis Melbourne Yearling Sale, from the draft of Newhaven Park, Royal Rendezvous is owned by Te Akau Royal Revels (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Seymour Bloodstock, P.W. Lord, Equine Ventures Ltd, and M Pilkington. 

Royal Rendezvous is from the second crop of European Group One winning two-year-old Royal Meeting (Invincible Spirit), and thus is a half-brother to four-time stakes' winning stable-mate Bellatrix Star (Star Witness), whom Ellis also purchased as a yearling, at Karaka. 

“Bellatrix Star has been a very horse for the stable, and it’s great to see Royal Rendezvous win in the manner that he did,” said trainer Mark Walker.

“He’s got a bit to live up to, being a half-brother, but he’s made a great start. He settled well in midfield from an awkward draw, travelled into the race as though he could be in the finish and let down really well in the straight.

“All the team in the Cranbourne stables is working really hard to achieve good results with the horses we’ve got. We’ve got a lot of nice young horses, not a lot that are racing at the moment, but we’re building for the future and Royal Rendezvous is one that certainly looks promising.”

Like Bellatrix Star, Royal Rendezvous carries a bloodline cross to Danzig, on the sire-lines of both Royal Meeting and Alana’s Party. 

With his oldest progeny now two-year-olds, Royal Meeting (Invincible Spirit), a Group One winning two-year-old in France and by the sire of reigning Champion Sire I Am Invincible, made an exciting start to his stallion career through the deeds of Hayasugi, who capped Group Two & Three wins with a huge finish to win the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.

His dam Alana’s Party is by Australian Champion Sire and leading broodmare sire Exceed and Excel (Danehill), who made a name for himself over two decades of world racing and breeding – just an extraordinary sire whose winners numbered over 1800 and 215 stakes' winners.  

Royal Rendezvous' grand-dam The Party Stand, by Group 1 Stradbroke winner Thorn Park (Spinning World), was an impressive winner from 1200m – 2000m, at her best around middle distances and included victory in the Group 1 N.Z. Stakes over 2000m in her record book.

At the time of purchase, Ellis said: “Like Bellatrix Star, he is a very strong and athletic young horse and we’re excited being able to buy him. 

“We’ve been so impressed by Bellatrix Star, given her professionalism right from the outset, winning the first two-year-old race of the season, and coming back off a freshen-up to win the Group 2 Eclipse Stakes and race so determinedly and well against the best two-year-olds.

“He’s a really natural and muscular two-year-old type of colt, by a farm that does a fantastic job preparing young horses, and is very nicely put together.”

Royal Rendezvous was strapped Adrian Hug. 

Photo credit - Royal Rendezvous as a yearling