“Horse of a Lifetime” Royal Fixation Confirms Class in Group 1
Royal Fixation capped off a truly unforgettable year for Opulence Thoroughbreds, running a huge race to finish third in the Group 1 Tattersalls Sceptre Sessions Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket, confirming her class at the top level of British Racing. The race was won by Ballydoyle’s True Love, who surged clear to score by three-quarters of a length from Havana Anna, with Royal Fixation another length behind in third. Despite travelling strongly through the early part of the race, she could not quite sustain her momentum in the closing stages. Trainer Ed Walker was full of praise afterwards, saying: “It was massive. I’m really proud of her … my expectations going into a Group One are never high, but my expectations went rapidly up between the four and the three pole. I thought she was absolutely tanking, but she just fell down the hill. Then she hit the rising ground and ran on again.”
Royal Fixation had gone into the Cheveley Park as the favourite, following her impressive victory in the Lowther Stakes at York. Connections had been brimming with hope beforehand, with racing manager Ed Brown describing her as “the horse of a lifetime … the ultimate professional at home, does everything right, and her preparation couldn’t have gone any better.” He also hinted the race would likely be her last of the year, noting: “With a horse like this you might dream of the Breeders’ Cup, but this has always been the aim … this would cap off a fantastic year for us.”
Walker too had been confident before the race, commenting on her well-being: “She’s going to need to step up again, but she’s really well and it’s very exciting. The ground has been kind … she wouldn’t want it too soft, I wouldn’t have thought.” In the aftermath, he reflected that the unique undulations of Newmarket may have been a factor, explaining: “The only thing in my opinion that added to [the slip in momentum] was coming into the dip.”
A third place finish in a strong Group 1 field only enhances Royal Fixation’s reputation. She once again confirmed her superiority over rivals like America Queen, though she had to settle for minor honours this time. While her team had originally indicated the Breeders’ Cup was not part of the plan, Walker admitted that such options could now be considered after this run. Whatever the next step, Royal Fixation has proven herself one of the season’s standout juveniles and will head into her three-year-old campaign with an ever-growing reputation.