The Group 1 upsets on Saturday continued in the Canterbury Stakes 2025 results at Royal Randwick with Royal Patronage from the Waterhouse / Bott yard too good when outstaying his better fancied rivals in the 1300m clash.

Following on from Linebacker beating home the odds-on fancy Broadsiding in the Randwick Guineas, this year’s Group 1 $750,000 Canterbury Stakes results also saw a juicy result for those that found the value in the French bred six-year-old Royal Patronage ($20).

Given a perfectly timed first-up ride by Tim Clark, the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott trained import enjoyed his maiden Group 1 success beating home last start elite level Kiwi winner Here To Shock ($8.50) with the luckless favourite Magic Time ($4.40F) third in the Canterbury Stakes trifecta.

The Ben, Will & JD Hayes trained Here To Shock, back in Australia after a Group 1 BCD Group Sprint win in New Zealand last time out, set the pace with Royal Patronage hot on his heels throughout.

Here To Shock swung in front before Royal Patronage loomed on his outside inside the final furlong with those two slogging it out in a brilliant stride-for-stride battle to the line.

Royal Patronage was strong in his first run back since a seventh to Via Sistina in last October’s Ladbrokes Cox Plate at The Valley with enough in the tank to pull clear and win by 0.37 lengths right on the line.

“We went to the races first up in the spring extremely confident and he was showing all the same signs coming into this prep, but obviously he just had to elevate to a new level today, as it was obviously a very strong race,” winning hoop Clark said.

“Once he got into his spot, the speed was lovely, he was comfortable the whole way, he did fill me with confidence throughout the race and I knew when I got into a dogfight late, he was going to be there for me.”

Magic Time meanwhile lost few admirers when unable to get a clear run until late before finishing off well only a length off them.

It was another big run at Randwick for the Canterbury Stakes champ who ran back-to-back thirds at the course over the mile in the spring behind Fangirl in the 7 Stakes and Ceolwulf in the Epsom.

“He’s an incredible horse, you know, to do what he did in his first start in Australia and first preparation, I thought was, you know, one of the most forward Europeans that we’ve had over.”

“I always felt there would be some improvement to an extent, this preparation from him, and we’ve seen that today,” co-trainer Bott told Sky Thoroughbred Central after the win.

“He’s come and won an important weight-for-age Group 1 race for him and being an entire that’s going to help his value going forward, but I still feel there’s a bit more to come from him.”

“So, I felt he was a bit unlucky at various stages throughout the preparation. He ran some big races, ran at the top level against some quality horses, and as I said, all in his first preparation in Australia.

“So, he’s shown that nice improvement this time around, and I think he can go right on with it.”

Next-up options for Royal Patronage over the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival include the Group 1 $1 million George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on March 22 followed by an April 5 return to Randwick for the Group 1 $4 million Doncaster Mile (1600m).

“Look, we’re always had a big circle around the Doncaster, felt kicking off here and through the George Ryder would be a nice style of preparation,” Bott confirmed.

 “We’re open-minded how far to stretch him last time in but feel that mile’s probably his real sweet spot.

“He’s proven today he can sprint well fresh, which he did last preparation, so I thought he’d run a big race today, but in fairness, I thought he might have been better suited once we do get him deeper into his preparation.”

Forbidden Love (2022) was the last runner to complete the Canterbury Stakes / George Ryder Stakes double, and the latest all-in 2025 George Ryder odds at Ladbrokes.com.au have Royal Patronage at $8 to be the next.

2025 Canterbury Stakes Results

CHANCES ARE YOU’RE ABOUT TO LOSE.

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.