IMILENZEYOKUDUDUMA, Zulu for "Legs of Thunder," delivered another thunderous performance to claim victory in the prestigious Michael Roberts Stakes, following his triumph in the Listed Christmas Handicap. While the spotlight should have been on his impressive run, much of the post-race discussion centered on the shock failure of odds-on favorite Royal Victory, whose performance fell far short of expectations.

Despite a troubled trip, which included being stuck wide and bumped in the back straight, Royal Victory’s effort was well below par for the dual Grade 1 winner. Rated at 125 and carrying a 1.5kg advantage over the winner, the son of Pathfork finished 3rd, running roughly seven lengths below his rating.

Meanwhile, IMILENZEYOKUDUDUMA, trained by Gareth van Zyl and seemingly over his past issues, showed his new found form and consistency. A smart second went to the 33/1 outsider Narina Trogon, with Celtic Beauty finishing fourth, just 1.8 lengths behind. The tight finish saw the first six runners separated by only a little over three lengths.

Bred by Ridgemont Highlands and owned by Hollywood Racing, IMILENZEYOKUDUDUMA’s resurgence continues to delight his fans. The six-year-old gelding is by Dynasty out of the High Chaparral mare Chevauchee. With back-to-back victories in competitive races, the "Legs of Thunder" appears to be hitting his stride under the watchful eye of Van Zyl. Meanwhile, questions linger for Royal Victory as connections assess his below-par performance.