Epsom Derby News: Royal Patronage a regal chance for 2022 says Johnston
Mark Johnston race horse trainer (Middleham) during day two of the Dubai Future Champions Festival at Newmarket Racecourse.
Mark and Charlie Johnston could have an Epsom Derby contender on their hands in the form of Royal Patronage. The Royal Lodge Stakes winner looks a natural middle distance performer.
The Royal Lodge Stakes winning Royal Patronage could be a Cazoo Derby contender, according to joint-trainer Charlie Johnston.
The three-year-old colt can be backed at odds of 33-1 for both the Epsom Classic and the 2000 Guineas.
However, he is looking like a middle distance runner rather than the shorter mile of the Guineas.
Royal Patronage produced a thrilling showing when rallying to regain the lead from Coroebus in the Group Two Royal Lodge Stakes over the Rowley Mile at Newmarket in September.
His final run of the season, when last of eight to Luxembourg in the Vertem Futurity Trophy at Doncaster, can be ignored as he was clipped by another horse, halting his run.
"We've had lots of excited Highclere owners coming here at regular intervals to see Royal Patronage, who seems to have wintered very well, but it is still very much the early days of his preparation for the season ahead," said Johnston, who jointly holds the licence with his father, Mark.
"We won't see him before the Guineas at the absolute earliest and I think we're starting now to lean towards the route of starting in the Dante with a Derby run in mind. He's certainly the flagbearer (for the yard) in the three-year-old division.
"It always sticks in my head that dad has always said the best trial for the Derby is the Guineas and I think, probably going into the winter, we thought we had that as the favourite place for him to start this year.
"But looking at how he's developed from two to three, he certainly physically looks more like a mile-and-a-quarter-plus horse than a miler now.
"Only when we start to do some faster work with him in March will we get a better handle on what distance is going to be optimum for him this season but looking at him, the physical shape and size of the horse now, he's starting to scream a mile-and-a-quarter-plus."
