DRIFTWOOD GIRL gave Ascot trainer Nick Cox his second city two-year-old winner for the season after Hard Of Heart won in October. Brad Parnham box-seated in fourth, on the rail, and followed Time On My Side before switching over two sets of heels in the straight to finish off strongly. A smart win by this $50,000 yearling purchase.
After jumping well, LUCY MAE sat outside of the leader and boxed on well for second. FROSTY BEVERAGE worked home well for third from back in the field and there is a win in store for him very soon.
Favourite MASSAGI never looked likely after starting as $3.50 favourite. He was fractious in the barrier, green and didn’t respond well to the whip.
Race 2 - 1:28PM PERTH RACING MEMBERSHIP MAIDEN (1200 METRES)
THE WINNER
DOLLY EM was given a textbook ride from Alan Kennedy after lobbing into a lovely position midfield and in the running line. When produced, the four-year-old mare let down nicely to record her first career win.
THE GOOD
After opening $101 on Thursday with TABtouch, AND SO AM I continued his good second up record, recording a another second. From four attempts, he has never missed a place when second up.
THE BAD
William Pike tried to push favourite BLUE HOUDINI through a gap along the inside on straightening but failed to finish off as punters would have hoped.
FASTEST LAST 600M
UNIVERSAL MAE – 36.11
Race 3 - 2:08PM LAVAZZA HANDICAP (1500 METRES)
THE WINNER
Despite having to carry the impost of 60kg, WRINKLY was too strong in the finish after receiving a lovely ride, behind the leader, from Brad Parnham. The move to run him in the race after scratching from Wednesday proved to be the right one.
THE GOOD
VEUVE DE VEGA worked to the line well for second after sitting one out and one back.
THE BAD
FAST AS THE WIND and GENERAL HUSSON were the favoured runners in betting but as the latter failed to lead all of the way while the former barely fired a shot after being chased along for the majority of the race.
FASTEST LAST 600M
KHAWAJA – 36.39
Race 4 - 2:44PM HEINEKEN HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
THE WINNER
BARAKI BEATS came into the race with some key gear changed it proved to be the winning difference. Ryan Hill jumped him out of barrier 10 and led very comfortably at a solid rolling tempo. The form from three starts prior, behind Candlelight Star, looked to be good enough for a race such as this.
THE GOOD
SETTLERS CREEK ran another brave second after not getting the best run in transit. That’s five seconds in a row for the Colin Webster-trained gelding. He’s consistent, but when will that win come?
THE BAD
Favourite POINT got into a reasonable midfield position but couldn’t finish off. 1500m down to 1400m may not have suited the son of High Chaparral.
FASTEST LAST 600M
RUN LIAM RUN – 34.80
Race 5 - 3:20PM STONE MOTHERLESS AFTER THE RACES HANDICAP (1000 METRES)
THE WINNER
AGACHAR CRUZ jumped nicely and was ridden to perfection by apprentice Tayla Stone. The gelding got out of the machine well enough before going on to sit outside of Chinetti, in second. Stone stalked Chinetti everywhere he went and wore him down at the 200m mark before going on to record a comfortable win for Bunbury trainer Simon Foster.
THE GOOD
CHINETTI was game in the lead and just held on for third while another Bunbury-trained galloper in MIGHTY BLONDE zoomed through along the inside to grab second.
THE BAD
BOMBS AWAY ran a good race for fifth considering he was posted wide.
FASTEST LAST 600M
RED PUBLISHER – 33.79
Race 6 - 4:00PM AUTO CLASSIC BMW CHINESE NEW YEAR RACEDAY-4 FEB (1200 METRES)
THE WINNER
SHADY GRAY was too strong after sitting outside of the leader, Naturaliste, and ground away to the line strongly. He has a more explosive finish with cover but nevertheless it was good to see him get the win for Simon Miller and Aaron Mitchell.
THE GOOD
MR AFRICAN bounded on jumping and settled near last after racing keenly in the early stages of the race. He finished off with a fast late sectional to run third.
THE BAD
PRESENTATIE went off as second elect in betting but never really worked into the race as if she was going to win. Might need further?
FASTEST LAST 600M
WICKED HUNTER – 34.60
Race 7 - 4:40PM AUSTRALIA DAY BBQ NEXT SATURDAY HANDICAP (1800 METRES)
THE WINNER
ELEVEN SECONDS led all of the way like a good thing. The son of Encosta De Lago was in fact a $26 hope. He jumped well and took up the running, a strategy which jockey Brad Parnham had wanted to try for some time.
THE GOOD
Even though well-backed and a beaten favourite, three-year-old Gatting worked to the line well for his first time over a middle distance trip and against the older horses in restricted grade. PUSH TO PASS also ran a nice race for third. Ashley Maley continues to keep his horses bright, happy and running well.
THE BAD
JUICING CARROTS carried 60kg but was still disappointing to the eye. He was keen in the run and was under pressure after passing the 800m mark.
FASTEST LAST 600M
LE SCHILLER – 35:41
Race 8 - 5:15PM SUMMER BRIGHT LAGER HANDICAP (1600 METRES)
THE WINNER
FIRST AFFAIR was given a perfectly-timed ride by apprentice Clint Johnston-Porter. On a day which did not suit backmarkers, the pint-sized mare by Saxon tracked into the race nicely, after settling just worse than midfield, and ran down Hedlander Boy in the straight.
THE GOOD
HEDLANDER BOY was game in the lead but was just run down in the shadows of the post. The runner-up performance suggests that there is a win around the corner for him. STRIKING STAR also hit the line well for fourth. Trainer Neville Parker will be looking forward to getting the gelding out to 2000m and beyond.
THE BAD
Many punters went home with empty pockets after William Pike failed to salute the judge. Pike began the day as $1.04 favourite to take out the jockey challenge but could only manage second on Gatting and third on ROMELO (in this race).
FASTEST LAST 600M
FIRST AFFAIR – 36.17
STEWARDS REPORT
PERFORMANCE OF THE DAY
Brad Parnham went second in the West Australian Metropolitan Jockey Premiership after riding a treble. He moved to 20 wins, passing Paul Harvey who is sitting on 18.
RIDE OF THE DAY
Brad Parnham went out with a plan on $26 pop ELEVEN SECONDS and that plan was to lead at all costs. After finding the lead comfortably, he was never worried in running and went further away, in the straight, for stunning victory. A beautifully rated ride out in front.
#AscotGoodTimes
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