Rank outsider Royal Attire broke a 16-month drought for popular Warrnambool trainer John Brooks when he won a $32,000 maiden highweight over 1600 metres at Hamilton last Sunday.
Royal Attire hung on under Nathan Newton to defeat War No More by three-quarters of a length in gruelling conditions on a heavy 10 track.
The lightly raced three-year-old was a $51 chance with the bookies and paid $67.60 on the local TAB after inglorious runs at Ballarat, Hamilton and Casterton to begin his career.
Brooks, who’d led in his last winner at Colac in March 2025, admitted he’d had a wager on Royal Attire.
“I wasn’t really surprised,” he said. “I suppose a lot of punters, especially quaddie punters, would be asking how did the horse win on the back of his first three starts. 
“But he got out to a more suitable distance on Sunday. The 1600 metres was better for him. 
“I’ve always thought his best distances would be 1600m to 2400m. 
“The other big plus for him was the track. He’s shown a liking for heavy tracks in his work. He’s a real mudlark. 
“I thought it was a great ride by Nathan,” he added. “He just allowed him to bowl along and the horse was really suited.”
Brooks purchased Royal Attire from renowned Wangaratta breaker Adrian Corboy.
“Adrian gave me a call one day and said he had an ideal horse for me,” he said. 
“He came to me in great shape. I’ve just tried to give him a bit of time to mature. He’s a big, bold type of horse. 
“The long-term goal is a jumping career.”
Royal Attire picked up $17,600 in prizemoney for Sunday’s win.
Don’t dump Dashing
Warrnambool trainer Aaron Purcell expects his handy galloper Dashing to improve after three unplaced runs to begin his campaign.
Dashing, a $201 chance with the bookies, ran last of 11 runners in a $150,000 benchmark 1000 at Caulfield last Saturday. 
But Purcell says the six-year-old has needed time to get back to his best after a tendon injury to his near foreleg.
“I’m happy with how he’s progressing,” he said. “He finished just over six lengths behind Coeur Volante on Saturday. I think he might need one or two more runs before he’s back to his best. 
“He’s just taken a bit of time to get right after the tendon injury. He’s showing no signs of issues with the tendon now.”
Among Dashing’s eight wins from 41 starts are the 2025 Wangoom Handicap at Warrnambool and the 2025 Swan Hill Cup.
In other stable news, Purcell was duue to head to Darwin this week to watch his lightly raced stayer Aggressive run in the $150,000 Derby at Darwin on Saturday.
Aggressive is still raced by Purcell and partners but the three-year-old is now trained by Kerry Petrick in Darwin.
Aggressive ran fourth over 1600 metres last Saturday week at his first run on Fannie Bay’s oil-based surface.
“He went through it all right,” Purcell said. “He’s going to be better going into the Derby over the 2050 metres.”
Smalls rally to Cyril
Thoughts are with the Small family at a tough time. 
Cyril Small, the father of Warrnambool jumps jockeys Braidon and Daniel, was rushed to the Gold Coast University Hospital on Saturday after suffering a massive stroke. 
Small senior rode Vo Rogue to 26 wins in the late 1980s and early 1990s. 
Braidon, who has faced his own health battles, won the 2026 Warrnambool Grand Annual Steeplechase on the Aaron Purcell-trained Instigator. His younger brother Daniel is enjoying a stellar season on the back of talented jumper Ferago. 
The Small brothers were booked for rides at Hamilton on Sunday but made the trip north to be by their father’s side.