Race 1 - 12:47PM PERTHRACING.COM.AU MAIDEN (1200 METRES)
THE WINNER
Jarrad Noske positioned six-year-old mare Persona beautifully behind the leader Apollo before getting clear along the inside at the 125 metre mark. Pushed out hands and heels by Noske, the daughter of Lonhro broke through at the fifth time of asking. “I thought my mare’s well and I know she’ll try, she always tries” – trainer Ashlea Stelmach had plenty of confidence in her mare leading into the race.
THE GOOD
Dixie Win ran well again for her sixth career placing from 10 starts after enjoying a perfect run in transit next to the eventual winner. Apollo led under Joseph Azzopardi and gave a good kick in the straight to hold on for third. Out in distance and a bit more race experience will suit the well-bred son of So You Think. The one the punters had the money on was Volador. Backed from $91 into $17, the gelding hit the line strongly for fourth but punters left the money in the bookies’ bag.
THE BAD
Race favourite Burning Magic was caught three-wide and failed to finish off as expected.
FASTEST LAST 600M
Volador – 35.43
Race 2 - 1:22PM AMELIA PARK BEEF PLATE (1400 METRES)
THE WINNER
Brad Parnham gave favourite Trackta a peach of a ride from barrier six. He followed Jarrad Noske on Can La and once Parnham extracted the gelding out of traffic, the race was all but over. The Daniel O’Connor-trained gelding had to hold off his conqueror from last start in Honorfic but the two kilogram weight swing on last start certainly helped the eventual winner. “I think he’s just going to make a cracking three-year-old, maybe a Guineas type of horse” – winning trainer Daniel O’Connor has lofty expectations of Trackta.
THE GOOD
Honorfic was excellent again after running on from last to claim second and was beaten by a ½ length. Out to 1600m would suit the son of Danehill Express. Peters Investments-owned runners State Prosecutor and Sentimental friend were both excellent when finding the line for third and fifth respectively.
THE BAD
Apart from racing slightly keen, Can La looked to get every possible chance in the run but failed to let down in the straight and finished tailed off in 11th.
FASTEST LAST 600M
Honorfic – 35.90
Race 3 - 1:57PM FIFTH LEG HANDICAP (1300 METRES)
THE WINNER
Mrs Brown’s Boy was last to be loaded into the barrier but first past the post. After bouncing well from barrier six, Alan Kennedy managed to find his way to the fence in a midfield position before switching off heels, into the clear, and running down the leading bunch. Trainer Anne King his having a wonderful time at the moment after training Miki Two Toes to a Group Three placing on the weekend.
THE GOOD
A Knight Of Pro stuck on well for second after sitting near the speed. Jupiter Rising flew home from last to run an eye-catching fourth.
THE BAD
Favoured in betting, Paris Texas, Deadly Shot and Regal Class didn’t have much of an impact on the race and in the finish. It was a tough race to watch for punters who backed the runners at the top of the betting market.
FASTEST LAST 600M
Jupiter Rising – 34.96
Race 4 - 2:37PM SEACORP HANDICAP (1200 METRES)
THE WINNER
Pinball Wizard slightly missed the kick at the start for four kilogram-claiming apprentice Maddison Brown, who had her first metropolitan race ride. It was a successful city debut for the young female rider where she showed maturity and poise to hold a position behind the leader and go for runs in the straight. The gelding by Trade Fair hit the front and went away to score nicely by 1 ½ lengths. “He’s been shinny (shin sore) and we always thought that he goes okay” – co-trainer Grant Williams suggests that they have had problems with Pinball Wizard but should win a few more races.
THE GOOD
Dia De La Raza was caught three-wide on the speed but battled to the line gamely to hold on to second and was only beaten by 1 ½ lengths.
THE BAD
Favourite Badge Of Courage faded badly into last and was beaten 17 ¾ lengths after sitting three-wide with cover. Cardiac arrhythmia was the reason for the poor performance.
FASTEST LAST 600M
Bushfire Blonde – 35.22
Race 5 - 3:15PM TOLL HANDICAP (1650 METRES)
THE WINNER
Come On Board led all of the way with thanks to well-rated ride from Peter Hall. After drawing awkward barriers at his previous four starts, barrier one was a blessing and Hall used the inside gate to full advantage. “What he lacks in class, he makes up in stamina” – Hall mentioning that Come On Board is no superstar but he is an honest performer.
THE GOOD
Favourite Nelson’s Flight ran on strongly into second after being heavily backed late and enjoying the run of the race behind the speed. O’Reilly’s Crumpet continued his good second up record and is still yet to miss the top three when second up.
THE BAD
Senso was down in class and probably had to do too much work in the early part of the race but he dropped out noticeably to finish a long last. Watch for the stewards’ report regarding this galloper.
FASTEST LAST 600M
O’Reilly’s Crumpet – 36.97
Race 6 - 3:55PM MUMM CHAMPAGNE HANDICAP (1650 METRES)
THE WINNER
Positioned perfectly behind the leader by apprentice Kate Fitzgerald, Middle Earth got the gun run in transit and held off late challenges from the fancied Fast As The Wind and Midnight Sky. “He was very immature in the head” – winning trainer Vaughn Sigley saying that time to develop a racing brain has been the key to Middle Earth’s improvement on the track.
THE GOOD
The top two in betting, Fast As The Wind and Midnight Sky were both good in running on into placings. Take It Like A Man and Grand Cadeau both ran eye-catching races too.
THE BAD
The top three in betting filled the top three placings. Just in the wrong order for punters.
FASTEST LAST 600M
Take It Like A Man – 36.49
Race 7 - 4:35PM CROWN TOWERS HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
THE WINNER
Gomer Wipple was another impressive winner for trainer Vaughn Sigley after having prepared the winner of the previous race. The gelding by Lookin At Lucky handled the step up to 1400m with aplomb and burst away from rivals in the concluding stages to win comfortably. “He impressed me a lot, this horse” – winning rider Jarrad Noske following the runaway victory by Gomer Wipple.
THE GOOD
After seemingly struggling to keep up with the main body of the field, Fire Detonator rocketed home through runners to finish third under Alan Kennedy. This is a horse which possesses his share of ability as well as head issues.
THE BAD
Men Of Mukinbudin may not have featured in the finish but he got noticeably hampered in the straight when being chopped off by Chaser. Forgive him and follow for next start in a similar grade of race.
FASTEST LAST 600M
Gomer Wipple – 35.69
PERFORMANCE OF THE DAY
Trainer Vaughn Sigley will go home a happy man after saddling up four runners for two winners and a second. Middle Earth and Gomer Wipple won the last two races on the card impressively while Dia De La Raza ran a tough second after sitting three-wide without cover.
RIDE OF THE DAY
Middle Earth jumped superbly well from barrier seven for apprentice Kate Fitzgerald and, with thanks to her positive mindset, she pushed forward before finding cover behind frontrunner Something Big which towed Middle Earth into the race perfectly. Needless to say, once the Vaughn Sigley-trained gelding popped off the fence on straightening, the fancied runners in Midnight Sky and Fast As The Wind had a lot of work to do to try and chase down the leader. They couldn’t and Middle Earth registered his second consecutive and career win.
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