Weary will launch Eliza Park sire Astronomer Royal into orbit with a Group 1 victory in the Doncaster Hcp this Saturday.

Weary (Fr) is favoured to collect a major slice of the $3 million allocated to the Big Mile at Randwick.  He is best priced at $6.50 among Chris Waller’s half-dozen entrants after a cosy victory in the G3 Doncaster Prelude at Rosehill.

“He will be a fair dinkum chance in the Doncaster,” jockey Hugh Bowman said at Rosehill.  “There’s been significant improvement since I rode him in a benchmark race here in February.”

Weary (4h Astronomer Royal – America Nova by Verglas) is raced by Geoff and Mary Grimish after changing hands for 145,000 euros (AUD 31,880) at the 2013 Arqana Sale in October.  He raced successfully in Europe as Sir Patrick Moore winning in France and England and being stakes placed at Longchamp and Newbury.

Astronomer Royal (Danzig) won the 2007 French 2000 Guineas and he was also placed in that year’s French Derby.  He shuttled from Haras de la Reboursiere to Blue Gum Farm for two years before relocating permanently to Eliza Park in 2011.

The initial Astronomer Royal yearlings conceived at Eliza Park have been catalogued for the Inglis VOBIS Gold Sale on April 27 & 28.  There are 14 on parade at Oaklands Junction including the half-sisters to VRC Maribyrnong Trial winner Rossa Glory (Lot 204) and Melbourne Group 3 sprinter Zamorar (Lot 281).

Astronomer Royal’s first southern crop are three year-olds and they have won 13 races so far this season.  He stood at Eliza Park for a $7,700 (inc gst) fee last year.