Outstanding mare, Perfect Reflection, tightened her grip on Group One Railway Stakes favouritism when she surged to victory in the Group 2 WAROA Lee Steere Stakes (1400m) at Ascot on Saturday.
Perfect Reflection was in second last position at the turn. but once William Pike angled off the rails she launched a powerful finish to defeat Disopstion by a half-length and hand co-trainers Grant and Alana Williams and owner, Bob Peters a quinella in the $250,000 race.
Tradesman ran a bolter for third to confirm he was certainly not out of place in this grade, backing up from first-up victory two weeks ago.
Perfect Reflection, Disposition and Tradesman spaced their next rival with three lengths to international raider, Kawi, who faded on his run after chasing hard behind tearaway pacesetter Porinchet.
The Savabeel gelding, a five-time Group One winner in New Zealand, is sure to improve on his run , his first in 49 days and further acclimatise to Perth after arriving just a few days ago.
Perfect Reflection emerged as the state’s best three-year-old last season when she went through her maiden campaign undefeated, winning five races that culminated with Group One success in the Kingston Town Classic (1800m) before travelling to Melbourne.
She enjoyed a mixed campaign after she running third in the Group 3 Vanity Stakes (1400m) and last in the Group One Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington earlier in February and March for Victorian trainer, Darren Weir.
The More Than Ready mare failed to erase concerns after placing third to Lite’n In My Veins when resuming in the Group3 Northerly Stakes (1400m) two weeks ago.
“It was a really good effort today, “said Grant Williams.
“We didn’t want to say it but we thought her run the other day we were a bit disappointed.
“For her to come out and do that we are rapped.”
Williams, Pike and Peters claimed their second Lee Steere Stakes after Ranger won five years ago and Alana Williams her first.
Saul’s Special confirmed he would be a leading contender in the Group 2 WA Guineas (1600m) with a breakthrough feature win in the Fairetha Stakes (1400m), gunning down Humanity and stable mate, Lusaha, who ran bold races for second and third respectively.
Saul’s Special is trained by Dan Morton who has a good affinity with the Fairetha Stakes, finishing one-two last year when London Line defeated Man Booker.
He has a high opinion of Saul’s Special, who has yet to finish out of the money in six starts, Saturday’s victory improving his record to two wins and four placings from six starts.
Saul’s Special has looked a top prospect since bursting onto the scene last year as a juvenile, placing third in the Karrakatta Plate and runner-up in the Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) behind Whispering Brook.
“The gate was important and he got a really nice cart into the race,” Morton said.
“He is tracking up really good and needed to do that to frank himself for the Guineas.
“He is going to be in the ball game and is a high quality horse who has raced at the highest level all the time.”
Julio Santarelli