The stable had a busy day at Bunbury’s Sunday meeting, managing a winner, a 2nd, a 3rd and two 4ths.
Our winner came in the first race, over 1100 metres. ZARATINO was one of the fancied runners and was always on the pace, tracking the leader McDonald throughout the race. 150 metres from the finish Jason Whiting asked the Zedrich gelding to quicken and the horse responded well, winning by an impressive 1 1/4 lengths from the favourite Pure Attraction.
ZARATINO is one of Peter’s home-breds, who he races in partnership with his good friend Nino Buratovic. The gelding has made a great start to his racing career, and hopefully should go on to better things.
In the last race NOVEMBER RED ran a gallant 2nd in the 2000 metre handicap.
On WA Country Builders Race Day at Bunbury we had some competitive runners.
In the Combined Metal Industries Handicap over 1400 metres, REAL HONOUR was backed into favouritism in an open-looking race. As usual the Verglas mare was settled towards the rear of her field, as Dark Humour set the early pace. On the home turn Kyra Yuill angled REAL HONOUR to the outside and began a steady run. The horse sprinted well, and swept past her rivals to win by an easy length under another good ride from Kyra.
REAL HONOUR loves Bunbury, and has only been out of the placings once in seven starts here.
In race 7 the 3 year old filly BIONICLE ran another super race to finish a close-up 2nd to the favourite Incoherent. This promising young horse should do well when racing in her own age group.
In the final race of the day over 1200 metres JOMATESI ran another sound race to finish 3rd to the hot-pot, Metal Talk.
The stable took a competitive team to Pinjarra, and was rewarded with two winners, two 2nd and a 5th.
The day started well with the WA Bookmakers Association Maiden over 1200 metres. Our runner was BIONICLE, for new stable owners Mr and Mrs Glen Kettlewell. The Oratorio filly had run well on her debut at Northam and was fancied to go close today. The race was run at a steady pace, and Jason Whiting was able to settle BIONICLE in 6th place. He waited until 300 metres from home before asking the filly for an effort, and she quickly gathered in the leaders and sprinted away to win by an impressive 3 lengths.
BIONICLE has really thrived in the rural environment of Gelorup, and should be in for a profitable prep.
In the 3rd race LOUISIANA LADY, the full sister to Fleming Son, made her racecourse debut. The filly distinguished herself by running a superb race to finish a close-up 2nd to the well-fancied Talent Show. LOUISIANA’s enthusiastic band of owners should have a lot of fun with her this season.
In the Premier Hotel Pinjarra Handicap over 1000 metres we saddled up the favourite, DU PRINTEMPS. She was well drawn in barrier 16 over the straight course, and Jason Whiting made full use of the gate. He settled the filly in behind the front runners amd then made a winning move up the stand side rail at the 200 metre mark, and DU PRINTEMPS won a shade cleverly by half a length. Her owners John and Sharon Molloy were on course to see her run, and Sharon is seen here leading her in. No doubt DU PRINTEMPS will step up to Metro racing soon.
After our two victories the stable was in line for the $10,000 Trainer’s Treble bonus if NOVEMBER RED could win the last race of the day. Unfortunately despite a brilliant ride from William Pike out of barrier 16, and a huge effort by the horse, NOVEMBER RED was just caught in the shadow of the post and beaten a short head by the fast-finishing Ascot Taxi.
A terrific day for the stable, with all the horses looking and performing well, and benefitting from great rides by their respective jockeys.
Our only runner on Oaks Ladies’ Day at Pinjarra was FLYING FALCON in the Pinjarra Motel Handicap over 1603 metres. It was the horse’s first run for our stable and, despite three trials, he was unfancied in the small field of 6.
None of the jockeys wanted to make the pace, and in the end Wullkuraka reluctantly led the field at no more than a canter. Troy Turner did well to settle FLYING FALCON in third place, and he waited until the home turn before asking the horse to quicken. It proved a very smart move, as FLYING FALCON galloped resolutely to the line to win by a length from the favourite The Sleeping Giant.
A clever ride by Troy, and a game effort by the horse, and another great training feat by Peter to get a win out of a horse which had been out of form for a long time.
The new Bunbury season opened today, and the stable was as always well represented, with runners in all races. Most of the horses acquitted themselves well, and we finished up with one winner and three 3rds.
The day started with a bang, in the Wake Up With Cliff And Nay Handicap over 1100 metres. Although there were only six runners, it was an extremely competitive event, with some promising sorts doing battle. Our runner GIVE ME MONEYHONEY had recently trialled well, and we were hopeful of a good run despite the confidence behind three of her rivals.
The race was run at a tremendous pace, but new rider Troy Turner settled HONEY just off the pace, keeping the favourite Incoherent locked in a pocket on the rails. On the home turn Troy let HONEY go, and she quickly gained an invaluable 2 length lead. In the last 50 metres the favourite was closing rapidly, but HONEY hung on bravely to win by a nose on the line.
It was a great day for the Daqui family, with most of them there to celebrate the perfect start to the Bunbury season, and to their horse’s campaign. Charlie was delighted to lead GIVE ME MONEYHONEY in – let’s hope he’ll be doing it a few more times this season!
We had two runners entered for the Polytechic West Equine Training Handicap over 1200 metres – STATES SECRET, the hot favourite, and the outsider JOMATESI.
The race was run at a good clip, led by Amberman, with STATES SECRET settled in 3rd and JOMATESI in 5th. In the last 150 metres Troy Turner asked the favourite for an effort, and the horse responded well, going on to win by 1 1/4 lengths. JOMATESI, under a good ride from Kyra Yuill, also ran on strongly to finish up a close 3rd.
All STATES SECRET’s owners were on course to cheer home their horse, who has now won his first two races this prep.
Thursday’s race meeting at Northam was sponsored by Gannon’s, who were celebrating their long connection with WA racing.
Our one runner of the day, ZETA BAY, was favourite for the Gannon’s 25 Years Supporting Racing Handicap, over 1600 metres. The large field set off at a frenetic pace, led by New Focus and Narva, and Clint Harvey had to bustle ZETA BAY along to hold his mid-field position. As the leaders began to feel the pinch in the home straight Clint manouevred the horse through the field to challenge the long-time leader, Narva. For a few strides ZETA BAY was unsure of what to do, but he soon stretched out and battled on well to withstand the late challenge of the lightly weighted Jazz n’ Shiraz by a head.
This was ZETA BAY’s second Northam victory but, although he is 4 years old, like a lot of stayers in the making he still has a lot to learn.
Matthew Giadresco accepted the trophy on behalf of the owners.