The outstanding Adelaide Autumn Racing Carnival for the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace training partnership continued at Morphettville on Saturday with their very tough filly Royal Merchant leading an all-female trifecta in the 2023 The Goodwood results.

2023 The Goodwood winner Royal Merchant (pictured winning the Tobin Bronze) was too good for her older rivals in the Group 1 at Morphettville. Photo: Jenny Barnes.

The Maher/Eustace stable took out the Australasian Oaks with Affaire A Suivre, the Robert Sangster with Ruthless Dame and came so close in last weekend’s SA Derby with Promises Kept running second.

They atoned and secured their third Group 1 of the carnival in a thrilling Group 1 $500,000 The Goodwood (1200m) thanks to another brave effort by their tenacious Merchant Navy filly Royal Merchant.

Last start winner over the boys in the Group 2 Tobin Bronze Stakes (1200m) the classy chestnut was sensational again this time taking on the older horses in The Goodwood with the in-form Michael Dee aboard.

She went to another level after her lead-up victory and, despite not having had the best run throughout when forced to cover a bit of ground, she was rock solid late when challenged by the more seasoned local mare Another Award.

“Unbelievable,” co-trainer David Eustace told Racing.com after the win.

“I can’t honestly say we came here today thinking we’d win.

“Credit to her, she’s incredibly tough.

“She’s had to dance every dance, and we’ve served it up to her and she’s delivered.”

Dee had Royal Merchant travelling just off the pace throughout as Free Of Debut led them around in the time-honoured sprint.

The filly unleashed on the straight and raced up to strike the front with a furlong to go.

At the 100m the Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas-trained Shamus Award five-year-old Another Award, runner-up in the Group 1 Robert Sangster last start, burst through late to challenge.

Royal Merchant fought back however and just got up on the outside to snare the Group 1 trophy.

Godolphin’s in-form Braze Beau mare Zapateo rounded out The Goodwood trifecta further franking the Robert Sangster form after her lead-up third in another super run just ahead of Lofty Strike who completed the first four.

Eustace said while it had been a long campaign for Royal Merchant so far, the team were yet to rule out a potential trip to Brisbane for the winter.

“She’s been in work a long time and she’s very, very tough,” he said.

“Strong 12 (hundred metres) is clearly right up her street.

“For a three-year-old filly to do that…if you look back at her campaign it’s been pretty arduous.

“She seems to thrive on racing…I don’t’ think we can say no just yet.”

2023 The Goodwood Results & Finishing Order

Table Credit: Racing Australia.