3 minute read
Luke Fernie backed his judgement and he was bang on the money for both the stable and punters who heavily backed Iseered Iseered and Spin The Knife in the final two races. The former jumped grade in the Jolly Beggar Stakes, but Fernie believed his superior form over the short course would prevail. He pulled the trigger on the latter and elected to take on older horses rather than wait a week after he came through a trial on Monday in top shape. It was junior Fernie day on Saturday, leading up to what could be senior Fernie day at Kalgoorlie on Sunday.
He can talk the talk but he can walk the walk. Roy Rogers is not someone who lacks confidence and anyone who heard his TAB Radio Hour Of Power interview on Friday would have been influenced by his push for Fangio. First-up over 1400m without a trial was no obstacle for the lightly raced mare.
Colin Webster has assembled a nice team around him including Trix Of The Trade, who has been a pleasant winter find for the stable. In his maiden campaign the Trade Fair three-year-old has looked the goods and turned the tables on He's A Sizzler after suffering his first loss to him when second two weeks ago. The short turnaround to Ascot will mean he won't be going on a WA Guineas path, but he looks to have a bright future in front of him when he returns.
It looked a day that might have been dominated by Chris Parnham, but William Pike thought otherwise and chimed in with a double. He came from last and hugged a hot rail aboard Fangio. He made it a 'Pike in the last' after he had Spin The Knife perfectly poised behind the leader before the turn.
5-KESHAW DHURUN /SHAUN MCGRUDDY
Pike shared the riding spoils with apprentice Keshaw Dhurun and Shaun McGruddy. Dhurun played to his strength with two well executed front-running rides on Sassy Trader and Ohbeeh, helping the Jim Taylor-trained gelding break an exasperating sequence of five straight minor placings. Shaun McGruddy booted home General Grant and Special View to maintain a good patch of form. From his last 11 rides, he has produced six top two finishes.
6-CERISE AND WHITE
The Grant and Alana Williams-trained Picture Perfect completed an interstate double for the cerise and white colours of owners Bob and Sandra Peters after earlier in Melbourne, Superstorm stormed into Cox Plate discussion following his exciting Feehan Stakes victory at Moonee Valley.
7-THE LANE TRAIN
It's hard to believe Michael Lane left the day empty-handed with a couple of his fancies. Campese was strung up behind horses, but was he travelling like the winner? and La Farola blended into the race like she was going to run over the top of them but she didn't come on. Phoneme set the tone earlier in the day.
