Ascot delivered a feast of drama and quality on Saturday, with emerging stars stamping their authority and seasoned performers proving their mettle. From Beatty’s explosive debut to King Of Light’s breathtaking late surge in the Fairetha Stakes, the meeting had everything, speed, tactics, and a glimpse of what’s to come in the WA Guineas.
Here’s how the action unfolded across a cracking nine-race card.
Beatty entered Saturday’s opening contest with big wraps after a dashing 850m trial at Belmont less than two weeks earlier, with punters hammering the Gingerbread Man debutante from $3.90 down to $1.85.
He didn’t let them down. With Pike slotting the colt across into third place trailing the leaders, he received a lovely run before peeling three wide around the final bend.
The loping youngster took a while to wind up and get the message as previously unbeaten professional All On Red ($3.30) made all haste for home.
But lengthening powerfully, Beatty stormed to the front 75m out and drew away to beat fast-finishing Casey-trained stablemate One Last Resort by a length and a half.
With two emphatic successes from his previous three starts, it came as no surprise when Hoba West was backed from $8 down to a $4.40 starting price for the second event.
Sent forward by Austin Galati, the six-year-old shadowed three-year-old and fellow strongly backed runner Rubens’ Ceiling ($6 to $3.30) in a share of the lead.
Asked for the supreme effort at the 200m, Hoba West collared his younger companion and asserted to score by a length.
The third race, the WA Apprentices’ Cup, gave nine of the progressive talents of the saddle a chance to showcase their wares over 2200m.
Despite drawing the outside gate, Holly Nottle fired Royal Law ($7) forward and the pair eventually went clear after 650m to occupy the rail.
Nottle bottled the field up before easing the tempo up 600m out and the five-year-old kicked powerfully off the final bend to shoot two lengths clear.
Simply ($13) and First Encounter ($2f) finally organised their challenges, but the bird had flown, with Nottle’s tactical ride ensuring a length victory.
(Image: Trophy Presentation after the Apprentices Cup)
Sold for $16,000 after racing for her old connections just two over two weeks earlier, Define Beautiful ($9.50) glided to an easy lead under Chris Parnham early in the fourth event.
Fired up in front, the mare, who had won only once from 15 previous appearances, shot into the straight lengths clear and extended her margin, having three lengths in hand with 100m left.
Late inroads from Desert Dancing ($17) were immaterial as Define Beautiful scored by a length and a quarter in a fine training effort from new conditioner Luke Fernie.
Define Beautiful Interview/Replay Here
Making good progress in two starts this preparation which had both resulted in wins, Nicciana ($2.05f) was a warm market elect to continue his succession.
Settling just off the pace, Clint Johnston-Porter slid the four-year-old in an improving three wide position from the 600m and he ranged into the lead on the turn.
However, Supido Express ($15) matched his every stride up the running and fought valiantly to the line.
But despite his and Pat Carbery’s best efforts, Nicciana emerged the stronger and got home to win by a head.
Sky Duke ($51) excited by beating hot stablemate September Born in a trial last month but dropped out when working hard after sustaining a three wide no cover run five days later.
In his first outing since, he was able to find some cover behind the pacesetters as Norich ($13) went typically quick upfront.
Eased out by Steve Parnham on the final bend, the six-year-old swiftly raced to the front.
However, co-leader Cessation ($11) proved a worthy adversary and the two staged a bitter dispute up the running, yo-yo’ing the ascendancy.
In the last 20m, it was Sky Duke who gained the upperhand and got the verdict by a long head.
An all-important lead-up to the WA Guineas in a fortnight, the Listed $125,000 Fairetha Stakes (1400m) was a new test for untapped youngster King Of Light.
From gate one, an awkward watch appeared almost inevitable for the $1.70 fancy, who was pumped along by Pike to identify a midfield position in the initial stages.
Meanwhile, Heeza Phoenix ($5) was in a free-flowing rhythm at the head of affairs and slipped the pack at the 400m.
King Of Light was forced to sit and suffer on the fence until a gap appeared at the 200m, at which point Heeza Phoenix still had three lengths over any pursuers.
But unveiling a flashing burst, Dan Morton’s gelding delivered a lightning finale to grab the longtime leader in the final 20m, winning by a long neck.
Fellow Guineas hopeful Rock Fest ($12) followed his every move and was only a length behind at the finish.
(Image: Pike returns to scale on King of Light)
Morton’s afternoon only got better thirty-five minutes later when he produced Super Smink ($2.80f) and In Good Order ($126) in the Group 2 $300,000 Lee Steere Stakes (1400m).
Also from gate one, Super Smink jumped competitively and soon occupied a pitch behind leader Comfort Me ($8) with In Good Order to her outside.
As Bustler ($31) shifted out on the bend, Chris Parnham sent the market primary through the opening to hit the front nearing the 100m.
(Image: Apprentice Jockey & strapper Tiana Murray with Super Smink)
In Good Order tried admirably but class shone as his fairer-sex counterpart eked out a half-length success.
Western Empire ($2.90), facing an impossible task from second last, broke the clock to finish fifth and only two and a quarter lengths behind the victor.
Heavily tried into $2 favouritism, Captain Pluto appeared ready to fire third-up from a break after a ripping last run in the Northam Cup.
This time, in the Listed $125,000 Luckygray Stakes (1800m), he was able to sit much closer in centerfield before being produced out wide by Pike on the last turn.
Releasing a turn of foot which carried him to the front 150m later, the six-year-old raced past Memory Parade ($5.50) and Red Sun Sensation ($6.50) to land a length win.
(Image: Captain Pluto and William Pike)
Drifting back near last, Angel Undercover ($13) was four wide exiting the back straight and pushed five and six wide moments later.
But the mare had class on her side and persevered with that deep effort, steaming after the front-runners on the bend.
That momentum carried her to the lead 150m out and in a top performance, she stayed out the gruelling transit strongly to beat Sixinch Heels ($6.50) by a length, giving the Casey team the day’s bookends.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY
The WA Guineas is shaping to be a heck of a contest. King Of Light has done no wrong and was exceptional to get out of jail, but Heeza Phoenix, Rock Fest and co. are going to be deserved opponents. The Fairetha Stakes had the essences of a classic contest, made so by a loose leader and two formidable chasers. The WA Guineas could be even better. In latest markets, King Of Light ($2.50) leads Heeza Phoenix ($8), Buthelezi ($9) and Rock Fest ($10), while the former is also the $3 Northerly Stakes favourite.
Watch the replay and Dan Morton’s interview here
HORSE TO FOLLOW
Our Rocky Bay (Race 10)
Worth another chance. Worked hard without cover deeper on the track and was still there pitching at the furlong mark. With a better run, he could bob up at long odds and should be kept safe.
Hayden King