The Ciaron Maher-trained Royal Supremacy successfully led throughout to secure victory in The Q22 at Eagle Farm, mirroring the tactics of Pride Of Jenni.

Following Pride Of Jenni’s withdrawal on race morning due to the Heavy 9 track conditions, Royal Supremacy took up the pacemaker role in the Group 2 2200m weight-for-age event on Saturday.

Ridden by Mark Zahra, the $14 chance Royal Supremacy held its advantage to win by 1-½ lengths from Pounding ($61), with Militarize ($5) finishing a length further back in third.

Zahra allowed Royal Supremacy to gradually find the front before urging the horse to lengthen approaching the home turn.

Maher noted that Royal Supremacy had been stabled with Tony Gollan and had performed well in the Queensland environment.

“He’s thrived up here again,” Maher said. “He’s been at Tony Gollan’s place and he’s improved each start.

“There was no speed on paper when Pride Of Jenni came out and he can be a bit of a terror to ride, so after a little bit of deliberation before the race, we thought it would be better to work with him rather than fighting him for 2000 metres.

“We thought he would drag himself through it (the ground) because he can get on the bit.

“It is tough to make ground today so we thought with no speed, they probably wouldn’t worry about him too much and that is how it worked out.

“He got into a nice rhythm and we’re both (Maher and Zahra) heading off to England tonight, so it’ll be a good trip over there.”

Zahra stated that Royal Supremacy never fully settled throughout the 2200m distance, but he was confident they were the ones to beat from the home turn.

“He never completely drops the bit,” Zahra commented. “He was good enough out front but from the 700 or 600 (metres), I thought there was no way anything can beat me the way he quickens.

“It was a very good win, and he could have gone another lap, too.”

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