Ciaron Maher import Royal Supremacy shows spring carnival credentials with breakthrough Aussie win at Randwick

A commanding win by Ciaron Maher-trained Royal Supremacy at Randwick has set the stage for a promising spring campaign for the imported gelding.

Braith Nock guides Royal Supremacy to his first Australian win at Randwick. Getty Images

Royal Supremacy declared his spring carnival hand after producing his best performance on Australian soil to salute at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

The Ciaron Maher-trained import showed a glimpse of his undoubted talent to score a breakthrough victory in the Eremein Benchmark 88 Handicap (1800m).

Royal Supremacy was purchased by Melbourne Cup winning syndicators Australian Bloodstock last year with multiple stakes placings to his name in Europe, including a placing in the Group 3 King Edward VII Stakes (2414m) at Royal Ascot.

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Australian Bloodstock had intentions to aim the son of Make Believe at the Caulfield Cup.

The Irish-bred galloper never made it to the races during the last spring carnival but now looks ready to make a dash for higher honours next season.

“He is very talented,” Maher’s assistant trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord said.

“He was well bought by Australian Bloodstock but like a lot of Europeans, they can have their little quirks.

“You just need to work them out.

“First-up he was very good and unlucky but looked like there was a lot there and last start, he was just laying in a bit and did a few things wrong.

“We changed a few things and the way we trained him, sending him to the beach up at Bob’s Farm for something different and it obviously did the trick.”

Royal Supremacy was caught in traffic first-up in the Listed Scone Cup and didn’t beat a runner home before failing to fire last start over the Randwick mile.

He looked a different horse third-up from a spell after enjoying an energy conserving run on the fence.

Apprentice Braith Nock took the right runs when they opened from the top of the straight as Royal Supremacy ($19) outlasted Chris Waller’s Canberra Legend ($15) by a half-length.

The Kris Lees-trained Zaphod ($3.60 favourite) was four lengths away in third.

Today's the day for Royal Supremacy! 🔥@NockBraith provides a quality ride to get the @cmaherracing trained gelding first over the line! 👌 pic.twitter.com/oJj3Pdpq7r

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 12, 2025

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“When the horse went around and put a bit of speed into it, it was really good. He’s put his best foot forward today,” Nock said.

Johann-Dubord paid Nock the ultimate compliment following the win.

“I think the ride today was just perfection,” he said.

“We were here to build a bit of confidence for the horse and from the gate, he ended up in a good spot and did no work.

“He just came between them and building slowly, it gave him that confidence and he went on with it.

“He will keep improving and should stay a lot further than that.”

Bookies reacted by shortening Royal Supremacy from $26 into $15 for the Group 1 The Metropolitan while he remains $26 for the Caulfield Cup.

What path Maher’s team take through the spring remains to be scene by the stable are adamant he can be a carnival contender.

“He is a spring horse,” Gerard-Dubord said.

“Now he is up and going we will space his runs because he is obviously good fresh.

“There are some nice options in four or five weeks like the Premier’s Cup Prelude and Wyong Cup, and if you keep spacing them you get into the spring.

“You get up his rating and a bit of confidence and there are races like The Metropolitan if he’s not up to better.”

Originally published as Ciaron Maher import Royal Supremacy shows spring carnival credentials with breakthrough Aussie win at Randwick