Prolific W.A. owner Bob Peters its his WA Guineas winning filly Perfect Jewel has work to do from her worse than midfield draw in Saturday’s Kingston Town Classic 2017 field.
Jockey Brad Rawiller is happy with barrier one for Black Heart Bart in Saturday’s Kingston Town Classic 2017 field. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Peters races four of the 15 runners in this year’s Group 1 $1 million Magic Millions Kingston Town Classic (1800m) field saddling-up the Adam Durrant-trained Silverstream (15) from the outside alley; along with the Grant & Alana Williams-trained trio of $101 race roughie Cosmic Storm (3), Royal Star (10) and the well-fancied Perfect Jewel (9).
Premier Perth hoop William Pike retains the ride on $6 third favourite in Kingston Town Classic betting through Ladbrokes.com.au, Perfect Jewel out to Niconero (2006) for his first as the only other winner in the past 30 plus years to salute from gate nine.
Redoute’s Choice Perfect Jewel has won all but one of her five career starts to date and comes off a lead-up win from a fortnight ago in the Group 2 W.A. Guineas (1600m).
Saturday has the 50kg lightweight against the older horses for the first time this campaign and racing over further than a mile for the first time in her career.
There is obviously work to do from the up-and-coming bay, who impressed against the colts and geldings from her wide alley in the WA Guineas (13 of 15), but Peters remains hopeful.
“It’s going to be hard work but you never know,” Peters told The West Australian.
“We’ve been lucky enough to win it four times and three of those were three-year-olds.”
The last of those was the fellow Grant Williams-trained filly Perfect Reflection in 2015 who backed-up off a Group 3 win at the track to salute as the equal favourite in the markets.
This year’s favourite at Kingston Town Classic odds of $3.30 is the Darren Weir-trained Black Heart Bart who drew barrier one.
The inside alley produced the also Weir-trained Stratum Star for his 2016 win in the same race, but Black Heart Bart’s strapper Tyson Kermond wasn’t thrilled to draw the inside alley.
“[It’s] the only one I didn’t want,” he said.
The Blackfriars seven-year-old’s regular rider and Kingston Town Classic hoop Brad Rawiller however was more than happy with the gate as he prepares to chase a third win in the race after success aboard the David Hayes-trained Niconero (2006 and 2008).
“Barrier one sometimes means you might get caught a couple back on the fence, but I’ll take it any day,” Rawiller said on Wednesday.
“Especially in this race as it means he should be able to find his position without too much trouble, relax in the run and be really strong through the line over the 1800 [metres].”
Black Heart Bart comes off a devastatingly close second in the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) at the track on November 25, the horse’s first run back from a hoof injury that hampered his spring campaign in Melbourne.
“He’s going really well the horse and we all know he’s well in at the weights at the [weight-for-age] conditions so if I can give him a good run in the race, then I reckon he’ll take care of the rest,” Rawiller said.
For all the best Kingston Town Classic 2017 odds this summer visit Ladbrokes.com.au.
