A record contingent of 14 Equine All Stars touched down in Perth today ready to represent the most famous names in Australian racing in this year’s second edition of The TABtouch Masters that starts on Saturday.
The illustrious surnames of Cummings (Bart’s grandson, James), Freedman (the third oldest of the brothers, Anthony), Hayes (Hall Of Fame handler, David), Waller (Winx’s trainer, Chris), Waterhouse (the first lady of Australian racing, Gai) and Weir (Australia’s most successful trainer this season, Darren) will feature in Perth Racing racebooks during the three consecutive Saturdays of The TABtouch Masters at Ascot Racecourse.
The interstate horses which Cummings, Freedman, Hayes, Waller, Waterhouse, Weir, Lloyd Kennewell and John Sadler have consigned to The TABtouch Masters have won 41 feature races in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom – including seven at Group One level – and earned more than $12 million in prizemoney.
The Equine All Stars of The TABtouch Masters include Group One winner Black Heart Bart, which will carry top weight in the James Boag’s Premium-Railway Stakes on Saturday 25 November, Group One winner Santa Ana Lane, which will run in the Crown Perth-Winterbottom Stakes on Saturday 2 December, and Group One winner It’s Somewhat, which is being prepared for the Magic Millions-Kingston Town Classic on Saturday 9 December.
“Last year, Perth Racing made history when it conceived, developed and launched The TABtouch Masters, the world’s first single-track thoroughbred racing festival featuring a Group One race worth at least $1 million on three consecutive Saturdays,” said John Yovich, Managing Director of Perth Racing. “Twelve horses made the trip from outside Western Australia and they ran 14 times across the back-to-back-to-back weekends.
“This year, Perth Racing has lured even more top-class horses across the Nullabor and the club is projecting new race records for interstate participation levels in the James Boag’s Premium-Railway Stakes, which is Perth’s oldest Group One race, and the Magic Millions-Kingston Town Classic, which is the southern hemisphere’s richest event over its distance of 1,800 metres, that top and tail The TABtouch Masters.
“The significant backing of not only supporters such as naming rights sponsor TABtouch and raceday sponsors James Boag’s Premium, Crown Perth and Magic Millions but also the Government of Western Australia – through Tourism WA – has enabled Perth Racing to attract Equine All Stars to The TABtouch Masters and they’ll contribute to intrastate, interstate and international visitors enjoying seriously good times at Ascot Racecourse.
“More than 26,000 people attended The TABtouch Masters last year. This year’s new travel and hospitality packages, developed in partnership with Tourism WA, offer extraordinary experiences not only at Perth Racing’s Ascot Racecourse but also elsewhere throughout Perth and greater Western Australia.”
Meet the Equine All Stars (in descending prizemoney order)
Black Heart Bart (James Boag’s Premium-Railway Stakes and Magic Millions-Kingston Town Classic)
Trainer: Darren Weir, Victoria
Record: 45-16:13:4, including 5 Group One, 1 Group Two, 2 Group Three and 6 Listed ($3,729,830)
It's Somewhat (James Boag’s Premium-Railway Stakes and Magic Millions-Kingston Town Classic)
Trainer: James Cummings, New South Wales
Record: 36-9:3:9, including 1 Group One, 3 Group Two, 3 Group Three and 1 Listed ($3,337,624)
Viddora (Crown Perth-Winterbottom Stakes)
Trainer: Lloyd Kennewell, South Australia
Record: 22-6:6:1, including 1 Group Three and 1 Listed ($858,480)
Tom Melbourne (James Boag’s Premium-Railway Stakes and Magic Millions-Kingston Town Classic)
Trainer: Chris Waller, New South Wales
Record: 24-5:8:1, including 1 Listed ($839,158)
Santa Ana Lane (Crown Perth-Winterbottom Stakes)
Trainer: Anthony Freedman, Victoria
Record: 22-5:1:4, including 1 Group One and 1 Group Three ($613,700)
Supply And Demand (James Boag’s Premium-Railway Stakes and Magic Millions-Kingston Town Classic)
Trainer: Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, New South Wales
Record: 19-7:6:2, including 2 Listed ($571,935)
Ulmann (James Boag’s Premium-Railway Stakes and Magic Millions-Kingston Town Classic)
Trainer: Darren Weir, Victoria
Record: 28-7:4:3, including 1 Group Three and 2 Listed ($555,450)
Sovereign Nation (James Boag’s Premium-Railway Stakes and Magic Millions-Kingston Town Classic)
Trainer: David Hayes, Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig, Victoria
Record: 22-4:3:2, including 1 Group Two ($517,250)
Fuhryk (Crown Perth-Winterbottom Stakes)
Trainer: David Hayes, Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig, Victoria
Record: 13-6:1:0, including 2 Group Three and 1 Listed ($514,985)
Observational (James Boag’s Premium-Railway Stakes and Magic Millions-Kingston Town Classic)
Trainer: John Sadler, Victoria
Record: 22-4:3:1, including 1 Group Three and 3 Listed ($470,711)
All Our Roads (James Boag’s Premium-Railway Stakes and Magic Millions-Kingston Town Classic)
Trainer: Chris Waller, New South Wales
Record: 23-6:5:1, including 1 Group Two ($216,599)
Life Less Ordinary (James Boag’s Premium-Railway Stakes and Magic Millions-Kingston Town Classic)
Trainer: Chris Waller, New South Wales
Record: 24-5:9:1 ($203,113)
Gaulois (Sky Racing-WA Guineas)
Trainer: James Cummings, New South Wales
Record: 8-2:3:2 ($138,175)
Crystal Fountain (Jungle Mist Classic)
Trainer: Anthony Freedman, Victoria
Record: 6-4:0:1 ($99,950)
Read more at mediastatements.wa.gov.au