Royal Heroine Stakes (Grade 3)- $200.000 Purse
SA- For Fillies and Mares Four Years Old and Upward
One Mile on the Turf
April 27, 2024

Techfluence High has had a successful career, but after her last three races, it was hard to get excited about her. The bettors had more faith in her than I did, making her the second choice, and they would prove to be correct as the filly broke out of her cold spell and returned to the winner’s circle. She is trained by The Sidley Stud, and it’s the first win in the Royal Heroine Stakes for him as well as for jockey Mario Gutierrez. Congratulations to them! The time of the win was 1:32.97, the second quickest in the history of the race but the fastest of the races held at SA. Let’s take a look at it now!

(1/4 Mile- :23.38)- With no one looking particularly ambitious to push out to the race lead, we get a group of them running in closing proximity down the frontstretch the first time. It will be Not A Big Deal, from Mb Stables, being credited with the early advantage, narrowly over Omnibus, from High Voltage. Running evenly with one another, and half a length off the lead are last year’s Royal Heroine winner, the Maletto- trained Always Condottieri and Maxmillion Farm’s Red Flags. Hollywood Panther is right there with them for Night Rider Stables while running five wide. Behind them, about a length and a half back are Terra Con, from Alydar Stables, and the eventual winner of the race, The Sidley Stud’s Techfluence High. Right behind them are the trailers, Tapit Dancer (Maxmillion Farm) and Foehammer (Avenue Z).

(½ Mile- :46.67)- Around the turn and into the backstretch, it is now Omnibus with the lead but she has Always Condottieri right alongside her to her outside in second. Not A Big Deal is now third, but still within a half length of the top two, as is fourth place Red Flags. Hollywood Panther would settle in behind this group instead of running five wide. Techfluence High has moved into sixth and is inching closer to Hollywood Panther. Terra Con has been caught by Tapit Dancer, while Foehammer is by herself now at the back.

(Top of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- Omnibus handles the turn very well, and pulls away from those that had been running with her. Always Condottieri is still second, but now a length behind. Red Flags is third while running on the rail while Techfluence High moves into fourth. That one was in the lane right behind Omnibus, which has been helping her move through traffic and then to ultimately make her move on the leader. Not A Big Deal, the early leader, was struggling now but still fifth. Tapit Dancer was looking to make an outside run work, but a tough assignment ahead of her. Terra Con had not made a move, Hollywood Panther was dropping out, and Foehammer was still at the rear of the field.

(Finish- 1:32.97)- As Omnibus does her best to try and hang on, Techfluence High was looking stronger and stronger, and with about a furlong to go, she was able to position herself to go by Omnibus to her outside. While it may have looked like Omnibus would have enough to hang on, Techfluence High stayed with it and picked up the victory! Omnibus settles for second with the steady run of Red Flags getting her third place in a photo over Always Condottieri. Tapit Dancer’s wide trip didn’t do more for her than get her fifth, finishing ahead of Terra Con, Not A Big Deal, Foehammer, and Hollywood Panther.

About The Winner- Techfluence High, trained by The Sidley Stud and ridden to victory by Mario Gutierrez, is a four year old filly by Techfluence and is out of High On Haggis. She was bred as a yearling in California by Winning Link Stables, and was acquired by The Sidley Stud for $35.000 in a November 2021 private sale while she was still unraced. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her sixth in 20 starts, her fifth stake win and fourth graded win. Her career earnings are now $1,184.000.

Track: Firm
Time: :23¹  :46³  1:09⁴  1:32⁴

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 2 – 3 Paid 37.20
$1 Trifecta: 2 – 3 – 1 Paid 1,433.10

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES