Royal Patronage comes back on Coroebus to win the Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket

Royal Patronage caught a seemingly clear Coroebus in the final strides to produce a surprise result in Saturday’s Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes for 2-year-old colts and geldings at Newmarket Racecourse in England.

The win gave Royal Patronage a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 5, although it was not immediately clear whether he will run in that race.

Royal Patronage set the early pace in the $137,400 Royal Lodge, run at a mile on a straight course. With a quarter-mile remaining, Royal Patronage was passed by Coroebus, who appeared on his way to a comfortable win. Royal Patronage rallied in the final sixteenth to prevail by a neck.

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Royal Patronage, ridden by Jason Hart for trainer Mark Johnston, paid $8.40 in American pools.

Coroebus, sent off at 2-1, finished 2 1/2 lengths clear of 16-1 Unconquerable, who ran third in a field of seven. Masekela, the 8-5 favorite, failed to mount a serious challenge and finished fourth.

Royal Patronage, by Wootton Bassett, has won 3 of 5 starts, all for the Highclere Thoroughbred partnership, including the Group 3 Acomb Stakes at seven furlongs at York on Aug. 18.

Later on the Newmarket program, the Kentucky-bred filly Tenebrism and Irish-bred colt Perfect Power won Group 1 stakes at six furlongs for 2-year-olds.

Tenebrism ($22) overcame a slow start to rally from last in the $343,500 Cheveley Park Stakes for fillies. Ridden by Ryan Moore for trainer Aidan O’Brien, Tenebrism raced on the rail in the final quarter-mile and caught pacesetter Flotus (8-1) in time to win by a length.

Sandrine (3-1) finished third, beaten three lengths, while 6-5 favorite Sacred Bridge finished a quiet eighth in a field of 12.

O’Brien suggested to the British press after the race that Tenebrism could start in the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 5.

Owned by Georg von Opel, the Coolmore syndicate and Merribelle Stables, Tenebrism is a Caravaggio filly unbeaten in two starts. Tenebrism won a maiden race at Naas Racecourse in Ireland on March 28.

Perfect Power won his second consecutive Group 1 race in the $343,500 Middle Park Stakes for colts.

Ridden by Christophe Soumillon of France for trainer Richard Fahey, Perfect Power ($6) closed from the back of a field of 10 to win by a half-length over 9-1 Castle Star, who also rallied from off the pace. Armor, a 9-1 chance who raced in traffic in the final quarter-mile, finished third, beaten three-quarters of a length.

Perfect Power, by the Kodiac stallion Ardad, won the Group 1 Prix Morny at six furlongs at Deauville, France, on Aug. 22 and has won 4 of 6 starts, all for Sheikh Rashid Dalmook al-Maktoum.

Armor will be considered for the BC Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 5, trainer Richard Hannon told the British press.