A SEASON RECORD WHICH CAN’T BE BEATEN

IRRESPECTIVE of how many winners Terry Croft trains this season, he will hold a record which can’t be matched.

The long-standing Hawkesbury trainer’s first-up victory with Royal Corporal at Canterbury yesterday meant that he has trained both the provincial track’s first winner of the season and first of the new calendar year.

Croft had scored with Zoutastic at the Forbes Cup meeting on August 3.

He clinched his fourth success of the season in winning with Royal Corporal yesterday, and wasn’t far off posting a city double.

After $9 chance Royal Corporal (Alysha Collett) took the Maiden Plate (1200m) for colts, geldings and entires, Croft’s debutante Royal Silver ($20) was a strong-finishing second in the Maiden Plate (1200m) for three-year-old fillies.

Royal Corporal is a lightly-raced three-year-old son of former Queensland mare Royal Hootennany, with whom former Hawkesbury trainer Garry White won three races, including the 2018 Hurricane Handicap (900m) at the Newcastle Cup carnival.

“Royal Corporal was bred by Queenslander Dave Chisholm, who has a business with his son in Dubai,” Croft said this morning.

“He is coming back home shortly, but would definitely have watched the race yesterday.

“Royal Corporal had two trials leading into his resumption, and I expected him to run well.

“He is a progressive type with a lot of upside, and will take good improvement from yesterday’s race.

“That was only his fourth start, and first since August.”

Croft also likes D’Argento three-year-old Royal Silver, who caught the eye with her strong finish to be beaten less than a length by Raskol ($6.50).

“Royal Silver definitely has a lot of improvement to come,” he said.

“She will appreciate getting to 1400m and 1600m.”

Croft, who prepared the Hawkesbury training base’s 81^st winner of the season, also said Zoutastic had pulled up well after contesting the Malcolm Cusick Class 4 Handicap (1200m) at last Sunday’s Group 3 Belle of the Turf Stakes meeting at Gosford.

Zoutastic ($4.60) made the running before finishing fourth to Iron Man ($8), following an impressive first-up victory at her home track on December 7.

“She will race again at Rosehill Gardens in a couple of weeks,” Croft said.

HOOFNOTE: Royal Corporal (by Graff) is the third foal of Royal Hootenanny, whose next foal – a full brother to yesterday’s winner – died after birth.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, DECEMBER 2, 2026 - BRADLEY PHOTOS