Second Place, First Class: Royal Fixation’s Next Chapter

Newmarket’s July Course witnessed a thrilling renewal of the Group 2 Duchess of Cambridge Stakes, and although our Palace Pier filly ROYAL FIXATION just missed out on victory, she produced a performance brimming with promise and substance.

Trained by Ed Walker and ridden to near-perfection by William Buick, Royal Fixation broke smartly before settling mid-division. Positioned near the far side rail, she improved powerfully approaching the final furlong, launching a bold challenge. Narrowly beaten by a neck by the unbeaten Venetian Sun, trained by Karl Burke and ridden by Clifford Lee, Royal Fixation cemented her status as truly Group-class material. She earned the £21,500 runner-up prize, leaving owners excited for what lies ahead.

Cementing the promise she had shown from her emphatic success at Thirsk, she looked the ultimate professional stepped up into deep and competitive company, and off the back of her second place, we feel the Group 2 Sky Bet Lowther Stakes looks the perfect next step to progress her career.

Trainer Ed Walker spoke with ITV post race and had the following to say:

"I’m very proud of her. When you come in here off the back of winning a Thirsk maiden you don’t really know how good you are, but she’s very good… To run that filly [Venetian Sun] as close as we did is pretty exciting… There’s lots more to come, I’d say… The Lowther has got to be a potential target.”

We couldn't be more thrilled with her current progress, and cannot wait to see where she will take us this year! Congratulations to all connections once again. 

Timeform Review:

Time: 2m 25.20s

Royal Fixation, up in grade, was much improved from debut, ridden much more patiently than she had been then; broke well, soon steadied, effort under 2f out, headway final 1f, took second last half furlong and kept on well; she's a sprinter on looks and so far on performance, likely to progress further, with the Lowther perhaps an option for her next start.