Defending champs reign supreme

REIGNING champions Hez So Royal and Hilltop Blossom have begun their title defences in perfect fashion.

Successful in last season's Two-Year-Old Southern Cross Finals, Hez So Royal and Hilltop Blossom proved too good in the opening heats of their three-year-old divisions at Globe Derby tonight.

First-up since capturing the Sires' Produce Stake at the same venue on September 26, Hez So Royal continued his impressive form for astute trainer Alan Cronin by rating 2:01.1 over 2230 metres.

With Ryan Hryhorec holding the reins, the son of Soho Tribeca worked to the lead from barrier five on his way to a two-metre win from Steam Machine.

Oaklander was a well-defeated 26 metres away third.

"We made a decision to bypass the Derby a few weeks ago for this series and I believe it was the right move," Cronin said. "He's gone into the heats nice and fresh, will benefit from that run and be sharper for next week's Final."

First-up since winning last season's Final on December 20, 2025, Hilltop Blossom led throughout from the pole to complete a 10-metre triumph from Bay La Ville, with Centrefold Star six-and-a-half metres away third.

Trained by Victorian horsewoman Emma Stewart and driven by Jackie Barker, Hilltop Blossom rated 2:00.8 to take her record to five wins and three placings from 10 starts for local owner-breeder Val Bain.