Record numbers braved the heat to see Takedown win this year’s Winterbottom Stakes at Perth’s Ascot Racecourse.
Australian jockey Tim Clark, returning from Hong Kong in 2014, has teamed up with animated trainer Gary Moore to win his first Group One in Australia and take out today’s Crown Perth Winterbottom Stakes, the second of three $1,000,000 Group One races in the TABtouch Masters.
More than 6,000 people watched Clark, a previous NSW champion apprentice, win his second Group One race and Takedown’s first Group One win. Clark is having a particularly stellar last two months of wins - winning three races at Ascot in the Crown Perth Winterbottom Stakes day in his first appearance at Ascot Racecourse.
Sheidel with local son Damien Oliver on board placed second, with local favourite and 7- year old veteran Rock Magic placing third in the battle for this year’s Crown Perth Winterbottom Stakes win.
A dead heat between Albany’s Secret Minx and Pinjarra’s Granlarado stunned crowds in the finals of the TABTouch Regional Championships: The Road to Ascot and Luke’s Gold, named after Damien Oliver’s son Luke, finished third.
“It was a great result for country racing and added to the excitement of a very successful Crown Perth Winterbottom Stakes Day,“ said Julian Sullivan, Chief Executive Officer of Perth Racing.
William Pike rode another double to lead the Frank Treen Medallion with four firsts, three seconds and two thirds across The TABtouch Masters to date. Grant and Alana Williams had one winner for the day and maintain their Albert Jordan Medallion lead. At this stage, Jarrad Noske leads the Rodney Kemp Medallion.
The TABTouch Masters is putting Perth Racing back on the map with the excitement of quality thoroughbred racing and colour of fashions on the field. Along with exciting Group 1 Racing, Ascot hosted the WA Country Cups Fashions on the Field Final. Pilbara Regional Finalist, Sarah McEwan placed first, 1st Runner Up was Elizabeth Winlo from the Wheatbelt Final and 2nd Runner Up was Elicia Anders, a Wildcard Winner from the Bunbury Cup.
“Seriously good times is the theme of The TABtouch Masters and, based on what we are seeing at Ascot Racecourse for the Tabtouch Masters, that’s what thousands of people are experiencing,” said Mr Sullivan.
Perth Racing is expecting to welcome another large crowd of happy racegoers through the Ascot Racecourse gates next Saturday for the final of the TABtouch Masters with next week’s $1,000,000 Peters Investments Kingston Town Classic.