Matamata Double - Royalty Reigns

Back in class, Born To Be Royal (3 f King’s Legacy – Fatal Rendezvous, by All American) won the $25,000 Maiden 2000 metres on 23 January at Matamata. 

Placed in five of her seven starts, including the Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m), won by stable-mate and Champion Two-Year-Old La Dorada (Super Seth), Born To Be Royal had run on strongly for third in the Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m) on 1 January at Ellerslie, and warranted favouritism back in Maiden grade.

Although Heavy8 footing was not conducive to her best, Born To Be Royal was able to take closer order from back in the field at the 600m, ranged to lead on straightening for the run home, and kept on producing to win. 

It was also a good performance by second placed stable-mate Summer In London (Savabeel), a promising staying filly that appreciated stepping up in distance at just her second start. 

In the race sponsored by Colin West Panelbeaters, Born To Be Royal ran 2000 metres on Heavy8 footing in 2:07.1, last 600m in 37.2 (approx.), and paid $1.60 to win on the NZ TAB tote. 

“She’s been building into that for awhile and it was great to get a win on the board for her owners,” said Mark Walker, training partner with Sam Bergerson.

“She would have preferred a better track, but managed to get away with it today, and she’s a filly that still has further improvement to come. 

“She has the makings of a nice filly for the Oaks and 2400 metres should hold no concerns.”

Walker said that Born To Be Royal would contest the $275,000 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (Gr. 2, 2000m) on Saturday 7 February at Te Rapa, and “should be peaking” for the $1m Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) on Saturday 21 February at Ellerslie. 

Owned by the Te Akau Moments Stolen Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Born To Be Royal was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $200,000 at the 2024 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Riversley Park. 

Born To Be Royal is from the first crop by Coolmore stallion King’s Legacy, by breed shaper Redoute’s Choice (Danehill). King’s Legacy was a very good dual Group One winning two-year-colt, scoring in the Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m) and Champagne Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m). 

At the time of purchase, Ellis said: “She is a very strong type of filly and by a first season sire whose progeny have really impressed us. 

“It’s also very exciting to buy a filly that is a direct descendant from the family of stallion Not A Single Doubt.

“The third dam, Singles Bar, is the dam of Not A Single Doubt, who is such a high-quality sire in Australia, and certainly adds to the residual value of a filly like this.”

A half-sister to dual 1600-metre winner Okami Star (Justify), Born To Be Royal carries a bloodline cross of breed shaping sire Danehill (Danzig), as the grand-sire of King’s Legacy and on the dam line of Fatal Rendezvous. 

Born To Be Royal was strapped by Megan Ross. 

Photo credit - Kenton Wright - www.raceimages.co.nz