No sooner had trainer Michael Ball claimed his first ever cup success when his thoughts and attention turned to grabbing his second.
Ball has next month’s Carnarvon Cup (2000m) firmly in mind after Captain Cool’s nail-biting win in Saturday’s Elders Junction Cup (1900m).
The six-year-old was made to earn his victory and for a fleeting moment the race looked beyond him if not for a cool ride from Sasha Starley.
The apprentice jockey settled in back half of the field but got her timing right when she grabbed Tell Me This to score by a half-length.
“He just got there but as long as you’re first across the line it doesn’t really matter,” said Ball.
“Sasha had to make two or three lengths in the straight and took off at the half mile.
“He will target the Carnarvon Cup but he is going to meet a few smart one there.
“But if he is with them at the top of the straight he will be thereabouts.
“It’s just a good feeling to win my first cup and reward a group of owners who made the trip from Wickham.”
Adding lustre and capping a perfect day for the Ball and Starley combination was Nippering’s win in the Carnarvon Electrics Handicap (1400m).
The Husson Lighting gelding put paid to his rivals with ease, scoring by 1 ¼ lengths from Cut Loose. Alumnus was a further length adrift in third place.
“He pulled away from them at the end and I think he will get better the further he goes,” said Ball.
“He will step up to a 1700m race in Carnarvon next time out.”
Ryan Murphy had a frustrating day when Tell Me This, Trade Tip and Cut Loose ran second in their respective races.
But he pulled one back in astonishing fashion when Fleming Son destroyed his opposition in the Shire of Upper Gascoyne Handicap (1400m).
Giving apprentice Chloe Azzopardi an armchair ride, the former Perth galloper defeated Limerick Beau by 11 ¼ lengths.
The Bletchley Park eight-year-old deserved a change of luck after three consecutive placings at Carnarvon.