Royal Patronage to join Mr Brightside in targeting 2025 Champions Mile in Hong Kong

Trainer Adrian Bott is set to have his first international runner with Royal Patronage being aimed at the $5 million Champions Mile in Hong Kong later this month.

Royal Patronage, pictured winning the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes at Randwick last month, is being set for a Hong Kong mission. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images

Trainer Adrian Bott is set to have his first international runner with Royal Patronage being aimed at the $5 million Champions Mile in Hong Kong later this month.

Royal Patronage made a compelling case to be given his chance in Hong Kong after enduring a wide run before finishing the closest of seconds to Stefi Magnetica in the Doncaster Mile at Randwick last Saturday.

Bott, who has trained in partnership with Hall of Famer Gai Waterhouse since 2016, said Royal Patronage was likely to go straight to the Champions Mile at Sha Tin on April 27.

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“We could, potentially, look at the All Aged Stakes next week but it is most likely he will go to the Mile race in Hong Kong,’’ Bott said.

“All going well, he will be my first international runner. He was very brave in the Doncaster Mile and I think he looks well placed in the Hong Kong race. It will be interesting to see how the field takes shape.’’

Royal Patronage WINS the G1 Canterbury Stakes in a really tough win! 🏆@GaiWaterhouse1pic.twitter.com/Dsi07LyLOH

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 8, 2025

• Hong Kong mission: Mr Brightside almost ready for takeoff

Royal Patronage will be joined by Team Hayes’ ever-reliable Mr Brightside as Australia’s representatives in the Hong Kong Mile.

Bott said outstanding mare Alalcance had come through her runaway Chairman’s Quality win in good shape and would take her place in the field for the Group 1 $2 million Sydney Cup (3200m) on Saturday.

Alalcance has won the Randwick City Stakes-Manion Cup-Chairman’s Quality treble this autumn and is the $2.50 favourite for the Sydney Cup.

💥 A demolition job by Alalcance, who takes the G2 Chairman's with absolute ease, making it three from three this prep, and an early Randwick double to the @GaiWaterhouse1 - @clarkyhk combination!@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/MG83HcMF26

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 5, 2025

• Queen Elizabeth Stakes win would put Via Sistina ‘in the Hall Of Fame conversation’

Bott revealed classy imported stayer Vauban, the topweight with 58kg for the Sydney Cup, would not run in the 3200m staying test but would instead line up in the Group 1 $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).

“We will run Vauban in the Queen Elizabeth so it will be interesting to see what they do with the weights for the Sydney Cup now,’’ Bott said.

“Alalcance has 52kg at the moment and Tim Clark will ride her at that weight. She has pulled up great after Saturday, she was brilliant to watch in the Chairman’s.

“I wouldn’t have thought 3200m is any issue but then again going to two miles is a different ball game although she gives every indication she will stay the trip.’’

With Vauban out of the Sydney Cup, Arapaho is the new topweight with 56kg.

Originally published as Royal Patronage to join Mr Brightside in targeting 2025 Champions Mile in Hong Kong