Royal Champion may be G3 BetUK Winter Derby bound after making a sparkling all-weather debut in the 10-furlong Listed BetUK Quebec Stakes at Lingfield Park.
Having his first appearance for Karl Burke following a short stint in Australia, the 113-rated six-year-old cruised into the lead on the home turn and found generously to see off last year’s winner Tyrrhenian Sea by almost two lengths.
Royal Champion has now scored three times at Listed level, including the 2023 Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot, and was runner-up to Nations Pride in last year’s G1 Canadian International.
Winning jockey Clifford Lee said: “Royal Champion has been running in some decent races abroad and, when he drops down into Listed class, he looks a good horse.
“I have not ridden him at home, but Karl was delighted with his work and the way he travelled over from Australia. He looked very promising coming into this race.
“He did it very well. At the three-furlong pole, he was taking me along and, once I went for him at the two, I felt nothing was going to get me.
“He stayed the trip very well and could definitely go further for something like the Winter Derby. He can be quite keen, but we went a nice even gallop today and he settled well. He looks a lovely prospect going forward.”
Earlier on the card, Listed winner Kylian continued his resurgent form with a game victory in the Extra Winnings With BetUK Acca Club Handicap over five furlongs.
Lining up on the back of a success at Newcastle and a runner-up finish at Southwell, Archie Watson’s sprinter denied fellow 3/1JF Existent by half a length. The winner could now head for the Listed Hever Sprint at Southwell in February.
Winning rider Luke Morris said: “It has taken Kylian a while to settle in at Archie’s but, in his last couple of runs with blinkers on, he has really found his niche.
“There was a lot of speed in the race today, so I wanted to get out smartly to get the spot I wanted. I felt coming towards the line, he had been there [in front] long enough.
“He seems to be thriving at the moment and, I think as the year goes on, he will be just as effective on the turf. He is hopefully an exciting sprinter for 2025.
“I think five furlongs is his trip. He has loads of speed and I feel that is where he will be at his best.”
Elsewhere over the festive period, the Alan King-trained Paradias was an impressive winner on Boxing Day as he took the feature 12-furlong handicap by four lengths. Successful at Glorious Goodwood during the summer, the five-year-old has been raised 4lb to 99.
The same Wolverhampton fixture saw a couple of other notable performances, with King’s Code recording back-to-back victories in an extended nine-furlong handicap. David Evans’ four-year-old finished seventh in last season’s Mile Final.
Layla Liz could be a contender in the Three-Year-Old category after she made it two wins from three starts for Archie Watson in a five-furlong novice. The Inns Of Court filly has received an improved rating of 88.
Angel Of Antrim is the most significant handicap mover of the week, with Jack Morland’s gelding going up 11lb to 70 for winning a seven-furlong handicap at Newcastle by four and three-quarter lengths.
