Gerry Harvey is still getting over his mare Royal Descent getting beaten in last week’s Doncaster and he isn’t counting on the news being any better in Saturday’s $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick.
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He still believes the Redoute’s Choice four-year-old is the best horse he has had in his vast dealings in bloodstock, but his confidence is shaken.
“I still think she is my More Joyous, but she doesn’t have her record - yet,” Harvey said.
“But then again, I thought she had won last week.”
Royal Descent hasn’t won since taking the Australian Oaks this time last year, when she gave her fellow fillies 10-length hiding. That raised Harvey’s expectations.
Since then she has had eight runs and has twice been runner-up in group 1 Randwick miles, the George Main Stakes in the spring and the jewel in the crown, the Doncaster Mile, when Sacred Falls drove through on the inside to beat her.
“Another stride she beats Streama in the spring and then last week – I went the early crow,” Harvey said. “I thought I had done it finally. Nash Rawiller thought she had done it and when she came back I was in shock.
“Nash said he had never been that 'confident topping the rise at Randwick’ and I was with him.
“I was just about to let out a ‘you bloody beauty’, actually I think I did or I got to ‘you bloody beaut’ then I saw that other horse [Sacred Falls].
“Then I said ‘f***, f***, f***.’
“There isn’t a lot you can do.
“I watched the race with Singo [John Singleton] and turned to him and all he could say was ‘I ran last’ [with Dear Demi].”
Harvey's pride was hurt most by the defeat.
“I went home and the kids asked what I would have got if she won, and I looked and it’s $1.2 million,” Harvey said. “But to win a Doncaster that would be something you never forget.
“Maybe we can get it back in this race on Saturday.
“I think she will be better at 2000m but it isn’t an easy race. It’s A Dundeel, Silent Achiever, Carlton House and that horse from last week. We will need a bit of luck.
“She hasn't really had that since the Oaks.”
Harvey can look back on the narrow group 1 defeats but also a Caulfield Cup where Royal Descent was fifth beaten less than two lengths.
“She felt the track that day and never really let go,” Harvey said. “She is a real stayer and handles soft ground, and that’s why she is a chance in the Queen Elizabeth.”
Damien Oliver takes over on Royal Descent from Nash Rawiller, who sticks with Ranvet Stakes and BMW winner Silent Achiever.
“Nash is getting off a very good horse to get on a very good horse and I can’t blame him for that,” Harvey said.
“That other mare [Silent Achiever] is flying but I think Royal Descent is going good as well.”
It might be the swansong for a couple of the Queen Elizabeth runners on Saturday but Havery plans to campaign Royal Descent for another couple of years.
“It won’t be her last start because I want to give her the chance to get those group 1s.
“I want to have a crack at the Caulfield and Melbourne cups again this year.
“She is going to be around for a few more years and I hope she can win her share of feature races."
