A maiden Group One-winning trainer and a jockey having his first day out at Ascot Racecourse stole the show.
New South Wales-based trainer Gary Moore prepared his first Australian Group One winner with Takedown in the Crown Perth-Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) while Tim Clark rode three winners, including the feature on the Moore-trained son of Stratum.
Keeper Keen showed that he is a two-year-old to be reckoned with moving forward to next autumn while Respondent broke a 959-day drought to stamp himself as a genuine Perth Cup contender.
Race 1 - 12:19PM CROWN TOWERS PLATE (1000 METRES)
THE WINNER
It was a kind welcome to Ascot Racecourse for Tim Clark riding his first winner in the west from his first ride. SLIK SAM settled behind the leader, which was I Am Incredible, and gave a nice kick in the straight to hold off a wall of horses.
THE GOOD
FAERIE WHISPER, DAINTY TESS, BADGE OF COURAGE and SPEEDY LADIDI all charged to the line nicely with only half a length between the first five across the line.
THE BAD
DELANEY was a beaten favourite after having missed the start by half a length. Troy Turner was chasing her up the whole way which suggests that she might just be an on speed leader type.
FASTEST LAST 600M
BADGE OF COURAGE – 34.07
Race 2 - 12:54PM AMELIA PARK LAMB HANDICAP (1600 METRES)
THE WINNER
A positive and patient ride by William Pike saw STAR EXHIBIT breakthrough for his first win this preparation. He positioned behind the leader and received the run of the race.
THE GOOD
OUTLAW PETE and DARK MUSKET closed off well. SETTLERS CREEK led at a slow tempo and battled away to only be beaten by 1.5 lengths.
THE BAD
Both Alan Mathews runners, DJANGO and POUNAMU, had no luck after the former was slightly held up on the inside and Damien Oliver found traffic on the latter.
FASTEST LAST 600M
DARK MUSKET – 33.85
Race 3 - 1:34PM AVENUE Q HANDICAP (1500 METRES)
THE WINNER
In typical Pike fashion, he guided ASTRONOMITE into a lovely trailing position behind the leaders and looked hard to beat in the run. Enter the last 200m. Astronomite wanted to lay down but when Jaspara came along side of the eventual winner to challenge, Astronomite dug in under Pike and found the line in front.
THE GOOD
JASPARA was excellent back to Saturday class. PRESELECTION hit the line well again and looks to have a bright staying campaign on the cards. Even SIGIL was good second up over 1500m having come from 1100m. TOPPA DAWOZZA was the fastest home from back in the field.
THE BAD
MACAVITY was judged a fair starter after rearing in the barrier and taking no part in the race. A tough way to do your dough.
FASTEST LAST 600M
TOPPA DAWOZZA – 35.42
Race 4 - 2:14PM J.J. RICHARDS & SONS HANDICAP (1200 METRES)
THE WINNER
With the light weight on her back, DENDEE made a surging run from the second half of the field to give Tim Clark his second of three winners for the day.
THE GOOD
RED PUBLISHER sat wide rounding the turn and returned to good form to run second while MALIBU STYLE gave his all with 60.5kg on his back to battle away for third.
THE BAD
Favourite LENIENCE was very disappointing after handing up the lead to Baraki Beats. He was being chased when rounding the bend and never really got into the race.
FASTEST LAST 600M
DENDEE – 34.10
Race 5 - 2:55PM MUMM CHAMPAGNE-CRYSTAL SLIPPER STAKES (1100 METRES)
THE WINNER
KEEPER KEEN proved to be the West’s superior juvenile in what is the first half of the 2016/17 racing season.
THE GOOD
RIASC ran on strongly and, on that run and his recent trial, he should be winning soon.
THE BAD
The form lines out of the Wednesday two-year-old race which COOL INTRIGUE won and METALLIC QUEEN ran second might not be worth following in Saturday two-year-old races moving forward.
FASTEST LAST 600M
RIASC – 35.08
Race 6 - 3:35PM TABTOUCH-TATTERSALL'S CUP (2100 METRES)
THE WINNER
Former Bob and Sandra Peters-owned galloper RESPONDENT broke a 959-day winning drought when he beat current Peters-owned Dark Alert in barnstorming fashion.
THE GOOD
DARK ALERT, KIA ORA KOUTOU, PROPERANTES, SHINTA MANI all look set to give the Group Two Perth Cup (2400m) a good shake.
THE BAD
The class galloper of the field ZARANTZ probably got to the wrong part of the track and didn’t let down as expected. Still worth following towards the Perth Cup.
FASTEST LAST 600M
SHINTA MANI – 34.63
Race 7 - 4:15PM TABTOUCH REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP: THE ROAD TO ASCOT (1200 METRES)
THE WINNER
GRANLARADO and SECRET MINX dead-heated in what was an exciting finish. The latter looked to have held on but the judge could not split them in the hotly contested affair.
THE GOOD
Only two lengths separated first and eleventh so this will be very tricky to read as a form race moving forward.
THE BAD
BATTLE TORQUE was last and three-wide for the trip but nothing in the stewards’ report suggested that anything was to blame for the poor performance.
FASTEST LAST 600M
QUALITY FAIR – 33.99
Race 8 - 5:00PM CROWN PERTH-WINTERBOTTOM STAKES (1200 METRES)
THE WINNER
TAKEDOWN gifted Gary Moore his maiden Group One success in Australia after a positive ride from New South Wales-based hoop Tim Clark. He sat outside the leader, which was Sheidel, and toughed out a gritty win.
THE GOOD
SHEIDEL continued her great form at Ascot with a tough on speed runner-up performance. The locals in ROCK MAGIC and FIRST AMONG EQUALS were super in running on and acquitted themselves very well in Group One company. STATE SOLICITOR ran a superb race despite finding trouble in the home straight. He may well be top drawer.
THE BAD
TERRAVISTA did not have the run to suit but was still disappointing when being beaten over eight lengths. He copped a bump on the turn and seemed to have mis-strode. Hopefully he pulls up without any issues.
FASTEST LAST 600M
STATE SOLICITOR – 34.72
Race 9 - 5:40PM GET THE TABTOUCH HANDICAP (2100 METRES)
THE WINNER
BORN BLUE won at healthy odds after a lovely ride from Patrick Carbery. There wasn’t much speed on so it was a wonderful effort by the Trade Fair gelding.
THE GOOD
DOLUSKY, MAGIC ROCKET, HAY MAGIC and FLYING FORCE all ran on very powerfully. DOLUSKY will be winning a race very soon.
THE BAD
It wasn’t a bad performance, but O’REILLY’S CRUMPET loves running on and running good races. Very unlucky for punters trying to get out with William Pike in the last.
FASTEST LAST 600M
BORN BLUE – 35.19
PERFORMANCE OF THE DAY
GARY MOORE’s post-race celebrations took the cake as the once world champion jockey trained his first Group One winner in Australia. Moore took off on the Ascot track to go and retrieve galloper in unprecedented scenes. You will not see anything like it ever again (unless they win in Hong Kong).
RIDE OF THE DAY
JARRAD NOSKE gave KEEPER KEEN a strong and positive ride from the wide barrier and proved to be too tough after landing outside of the leader. In the straight he had to hold off RIASC and showed great determination to hold on for the win.
#AscotGoodTimes
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