Palace Pier’s Australian filly lands Stakes success

Palace Pier secured his seventh global Stakes winner and his second in Australia with the hard-fought victory of his daughter Regal Ambition in the Listed Jim Moloney Stakes at Caulfield (1,440m) on Sunday.

Trained by Ben, Will and JD Hayes, Regal Ambition was having just her third start after breaking her maiden over 1,200 metres at her most recent start at Sandown.

She handled the step up to stakes class with aplomb, despite missing the start, making her run from the rear of the field at the top of the straight, with jockey Michael Dee bringing her to the outside of the short-priced favourite Pretty Baby.

While conceding race experience to her rival, Regal Ambition proved much the stronger, winning by a length from Pretty Baby, with another one and half lengths back to Platinum Pearl in third.

Group One goals now await the Palace Pier filly, with co-trainer Ben Hayes saying after the race that Regal Ambition will now head directly to the Thousand Guineas (1,600m) on October 17 at Caulfield.

That would see her seek to emulate her maternal grandam Alinghi, who was a Thousand Guineas winner in 2004.   

Bred by an Arrowfield syndicate, Regal Ambition is out of the Snitzel mare Dame Pattie and was a $230,000 purchase for her trainers and microsyndication company, The Racing League, at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Palace Pier, the Champion son of Kingman, now has two Australian Stakes winners from 14 runners thanks to Regal Ambition and G3 Baillieu Stakes (1,400m) winner Southend, while globally he now has seven Stakes winners, highlighted by G2 Lowther Stakes winner Royal Fixation.