In a thrilling conclusion to an amazing race, Perfect Reflection won a heart stopping edition of the Group 2 Ted Van Heemst Stakes (2100m) at Ascot on Saturday.
Capping a memorable day for the Pike, Williams and Peters triumvirate, Perfect Reflection gathered in Fathoms Of Gold who made a daring bid for victory.
Fathoms Of Gold and his jockey, Matthieu Autier, cut a lonely figure when they cleared out to as much as a 15-length lead midway through the race.
With 100m remaining the Fath gelding was still well out in front and the race was within his grasp, but the back markers were charging home.
Perfect Reflection , who started a hot favourite, would have given punters heart burn as she looked a forlorn hope at the back of the field on straightening.
But as Fathoms Of Gold started to shorten strides, Perfect Reflection lengthened hers and under a perfectly timed run from Pike, she gobbled up the leader close to the post.
Autier may have been vanquished but he was certainly not bowed in defeat, his daring, imaginative and enterprising ride almost came off to high plaudits.
Perfect Reflection’s 3/4 length win over Fathoms Of Gold was a perfect entree to the Perth Cup and her showdown with nominal favourite, Kia Ora Koutou, will be a highlight.
Ihtsahymn ran third ahead of Zarantz. Tradesman finished fifth and was working as well as anyone towards the end of the race in an encouraging Perth Cup trial.
Cosmic Storm kicked off a stellar day for Pike, owner, Bob Peters and co-trainers, Grant and Alana Williams, when she won the Starstruck Classic (1600m).
Giving Peters’ a trifecta, Cosmic Storm ran on powerfully to defeat stable mate Silverstream by a neck with Antique Dream, prepared by Jason Miller and Geoff Durrant, a further length away third.
Cosmic Storm, who started the punters elect, claimed the second-leg of a feature double after taking out the Jungle Mist Classic (1200m) when first up last month.
The daughter of Street Sense, is well on target to continue her dominance of the fillies and mare series when she steps to the 1800m of the La Trice Classic.
In the middle of the Pike and Williams treble was Tommy Who, the son of Blackfriars led and had enough in reserve to stave off the fast-finishing Rum Liam Run.
Julio Santarelli