
Maley's double delight at Pinjarra: Royal Law gritty, Pat's Last Bang explosive
20 August 2025
Tough-as-nails galloper Royal Law has given trainer Ash Maley something to ponder after a gutsy all-the-way victory at Pinjarra this afternoon (Wednesday).
The five-year-old hadn’t been sighted since the Jericho Qualifier (3100m) in Albany last April, but lacked no fitness, dictating terms in front in a 1600m handicap.
Refusing to yield and let rivals go past, Royal Law, under a well-judged ride from rising apprentice, Holly Nottle, won by a long head, defeating a late challenge from State Of Fury with Opal Tango, a length away third.
Sent out at $12.20, Royal Law defied market expectations, promoting Maley to admit the win came as a surprise, but not the horse’s trademark toughness.
“He hadn’t been to the track or anything,” Maley said.
“It usually takes a couple of runs to bring him to his top.
“With the weight (58kg) I thought he might be struggling a bit.
“But that staying toughness certainly stood out today.
“It was really, really good to see that he just toughed it out all the way.
“He’s certainly tough and his last campaign, I think he had four runs in five weeks, and they were all over 2000m.
“He just went so well, he’s a very, very tough horse.”
A part of Royal Law's last campaign that Maley speaks off took in second placings in the Geraldton Cup (2100m) and Jericho Qualifier respectively.
With that staying form in mind, Maley hasn’t ruled out a trip to the Goldfields, with the Kalgoorlie Cup (2300m) on October 4 raised as a possibility.
“We might have a go at the Kalgoorlie Cup,” Maley said.
“We’ll see what happens.”
And the meeting got even better for the stable when, in the very next race, Pat’s Last Bang delivered second-up this preparation, adding a timely double for Maley.
Confidently ridden by Steven Parnham, Pat’s Last Bang led and surged clear at the top of the straight, opening up a commanding margin.
Across the line, the four-year-old daughter of Patronize, had three lengths to spare over Mavis Myrtle, with Talk To Wyn filling third spot.
Unlike Royal Law, Maley had no doubts about Pat’s Last Bang heading into the race.
“I thought on its last run it should have romped in today.” Maley said.
Pat’s Last Bang, who started at $7, recorded her second win from eight starts.
Julio Santarelli