Winner of his first two starts at Ascot as a 2yo, Palace Intruder went winless in five starts before scoring a shock win under Tommy Berry in Saturday’s Listed Aquanita Stakes at Ascot.
The 3yo gelding kept up a relentless gallop to hold off Say Geronimo (Mastercraftsman) with the filly Keysbrook (So Secret) a fast finishing third. (photo Perth Racing)
Trained by Trevor Andrews, Palace Intruder was coming off a lacklustre ninth in the Listed Placid Ark Stakes two weeks ago.
But Berry said the son of Oratorio only needed to find his best form to be competitive.
“He’s always shown, in his earlier form, that he is quite a smart horse,” Berry told Perth Racing.
“He went amiss this campaign so far, but Trevor has seen an upside with him which is getting him over a trip.
“I was a bit critical of that before the race, obviously not knowing the horse, but it shows you what a great trainer he is.”
A $120,000 purchase by his trainer from the Mungrup Stud draft at the 2013 Magic Millions Perth Yearling sale, Palace Intruder is a half-brother to Group II Perth Cup winner Lords Ransom (Jeune) out of the stakes-placed Palace Music mare Place Alice a 10-time winner.
Palace Alice has 2yo filly by Danehill Express, a yearling filly by Oratorio and a colt foal by Dick Turpin (IRE).
Palce Intruder becomes the 10th stakes-winner for Mungrup Stud’s Oratorio (Stravinsky) who covers at a fee of $16,500.