Promising three-year-old Heeza Phoenix ($6.50 TABtouch) continued an impressive beginning to his career, making it two wins from as many race appearances in the day’s opener.
Working to the front after almost 400m, the bay travelled sweetly with the hot favourite God’s Rapture outside him approaching the corner.
But soon after straightening, the son of Grunt bounded away and once finally shaken up nearing the 200m, he accelerated to beat Girls On Fire ($7) by two and three-quarter lengths.
The youngster is owned by an eclectic group of connections stretching across the three racing codes and they are sure to enjoy further success judging by the effort.
Despite racing in third position, Climb On Top ($7) was at least six lengths off the lead passing halfway as Bigdayonit ($7) set a stern gallop from Ain’tsobad ($3.50f).
Coming to the home turn, William Pike wound up the six-year-old and he sustained the gallop up the home straight, grabbing the lead with 100m to go and defeating Kelora ($23) by a half-length.
From a high gate, Split The Gee ($4.40) was immediately dropped out by Chris Parnham to the tail of the field.
Travelling strongly through the mid-stages, the field compressed noticeably at the 500m, and Parnham crept the filly within a few lengths of the lead.
Hooking her to the extreme outside, the daughter of Rommel let rip with a withering run which carried her to the top passing the 200m.
However, soon after, she leant left abruptly, and an evasive correction was required from Parnham to iron her out.
Once remedied, Split The Gee picked up the bit and hit the line purposefully, beating Magali Magic ($8) by a half-length.
After a strong-closing second to King Adviso over the unsuitably short 1200m distance three weeks ago, Stormageddon ($2.80f) was etched into many punters’ blackbooks.
The rise to 1600m appeared a much better fit for the five-year-old, who was dropped out and remained near the back on the bend.
But after being eased to the outer by Clint Johnston-Porter, the bay covered them quickly, snatching the front from Maxwhooshtapin ($8.50), who fought bravely but came up three-quarters of a length short.
After a dynamic win a fortnight earlier, punters had little hesitation in piling aboard Essentric Nature ($1.65f) to repeat the dose over 1400m.
Third last with 450m left, Pike peeled the five-year-old from the back of Soldanelle ($15) to start a run, though the mare proved a worthy adversary.
Eventually, the gelding’s class shone as he got the better of the argument and drew on to salute by a half-length.
Two weeks earlier, I Love Your Smile ($3.10f) had prevailed courtesy of a typically brilliant Pike ride over the 2200m journey at Belmont.
Backers again rallied to the cause on Saturday afternoon but found themselves in a jam with 500m to go, trapped on the fence with only one opponent behind.
Deeming the wall impenetrable, Pike ripped the chestnut to the very outside to start a run but gave away a tidy start.
At almost every stage of the final 400m, you could be forgiven for thinking their task was insurmountable but in quintessential Pike fashion, the run was perfectly timed as the Sebring six-year-old foiled Lyrical Angel ($4.80) in a last-stride, half-head success.
On that same September 13 card, Too Much Talk ($3.90f) was a beaten favourite and an unlucky loser behind Sweet Tea ($5).
But this time, he enjoyed a glorious transit courtesy of Lucy Fiore and travelled with arrogant health into the final turn.
Cut loose by Fiore, the bay roared to the front and went through the line with gusto, holding the late-finishing Gold Maker ($5.50) to more than a length.
Springing brightly from the gates, Sonoftheboss ($9.50) achieved a comfortable lead and determined the mid-race speed to a nicety.
Kicked into the 400m corner by Jason Brown, the five-year-old responded to the call and blasted away from his rivals, streaking to a two-length lead that mares Angel Undercover and Memory Parade (both $15) could not reduce.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY
Boutique trainer Jarrad Humphries’ victory with Too Much Talk in the $100,000 TABtouch Westpeed Platinum Spring Series Final (1600m). After a tendon injury threatened his career in late 2022, the lightly raced seven-year-old was not seen at the races until earlier this year. Humphries’ patience and perseverance were rewarded with glory in the feature event, made even more sweet as the sole owner of the gelding.
HORSE TO FOLLOW
Rommeo (Race 5)
Went back to the tail and was held up on the rail coming to the corner. Then, he tried to come to outside but found further blockages and went to the line virtually untested. Could go around big odds next start when he appears third-up and surprise some.
Hayden King