BetUK Winter Derby |
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| Group 3, Southwell 15:15 £100,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 1m 3f, Class 1  |
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1 Royal Champion 6/4J
2
Military Academy 6/4J
3
Persica 17/2
7 ran Distances: 1¾l, 4l, 2l
Time: 2m 23.14s (slow by 4.24s)
Royal Champion lands the Winter Derby!⭐️
— Sky Sports Racing (@SkySportsRacing) February 22, 2025
Another quality performance for @karl_burke and @CliffordleexLee to land the feature at @Southwell_Races!pic.twitter.com/SgenphkxkR
Royal Champion continued his renaissance under Karl Burke with a dominant displal, stamping his class on the Group Three contest to set up a potential tilt at international riches.
Previously with Roger Varian and later sent to Australia to race under Anthony and Sam Freedman, the seven-year-old has thrived since joining Burke’s Middleham operation, following up his Listed Quebec Stakes success at Lingfield with another polished performance.
Sent off the 6-4 joint-favourite, Clifford Lee kept things uncomplicated, positioning Royal Champion in a prominentearly berth as Military Academy attempted to dictate. But as the race developed, it was clear who held the upper hand, with Burke’s charge lengthening smoothly inside the final furlong to score by a commanding length and three-quarters.
Stepping up to a mile and three furlongs for the first time, Royal Champion answered any stamina questions with authority, leaving his trainer pondering big-money assignments abroad.
“I’ll have to speak to Sheikh Mohammed Obaid, but there are some valuable races in Hong Kong in late April, including one over a mile and a quarter that would be ideal for him,” said Burke.
“It’s worth about £2 million, so it’s a serious consideration.”
The tactical pace of the race perhaps exaggerated Royal Champion’s early keenness, but Burke was encouraged by how he ran through the line.
“They didn’t go a great gallop, so I did have a slight concern about him stretching out over this trip. But once he got into a nice rhythm, I thought he’d be fine.
“William Buick (fourth on Champagne Prince) steadied things up down the back, and I told Cliff beforehand to be careful not to get too far back in case it turned tactical.”
Despite his Southern Hemisphere detour, Burke is delighted to have the son of Shamardal back in Europe and believes he is up to Group One company.
“I’m not sure exactly what happened in Australia, but I’m thrilled to have him. He was second in the Woodbine International for Roger a couple of years ago, so he’s clearly just as good on turf.
“We’ll have to see what Sheikh Obaid wants to do, but races like that are very much within his reach, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he’s competing at the top level in Europe this season.”
Wherever he goes next, Royal Champion has confirmed himself as a serious operator once again – and a name to watch on the global stage.
BetUK Winter Derby
£100,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 1m 2f, Class 1
7 ran
Going: Standard
POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (7) Royal Champion 7 9-3 K R Burke Clifford Lee 6/4J
2 (5) 1¾ Military Academy 4 9-2 John & Thady Gosden Robert Havlin 6/4J
3 (2) 4 Persica 4 9-2 Richard Hannon Sean Levey 17/2
4 (1) 2 Champagne Prince 4 9-2 Jane Chapple-Hyam William Buick 9/2
5 (3) 2¾ Pleasant Man 7 9-3 Martin Dunne Hollie Doyle 150/1
6 (4) 2 Claymore 6 9-3 Jane Chapple-Hyam Jonny Peate 150/1
7 (6) 6½ Alanya 134 6 9-0 1 Miss Natalia Lupini David Egan 80/1
