Perfect Reflection underlined her class and cemented her reputation as WA’s best three-year-old with a pulsating win in the Group 3 Champion Fillies Stakes (1600m) at Ascot on Saturday.
Casting aside an injury interrupted preparation that caused her to miss the Burgess Queen Stakes (1400m), the More Than Ready filly extended her unbeaten sequence to four.
Ridden by William Pike, Perfect Reflection stood chief rival and odds on favourite, Blackwood, as much as six lengths at the top of the straight before launching a blistering finish.
She grabbed the lead inside the final 100 metres and defeated stable mate, Arcadia Dream, by one length with, Blackwood holding on for third place.
Perfect Reflection gave trainer Grant Williams and leading owner-breeder, Bob Peters, their third Champion Fillies success after Delicacy won last year and Dreamaway in 2010.
“As I’ve always said before I have always liked her,” said Peters.
” She has been my pick this year and it’s good to see her come through.
“This is a hard race to win and we have tried many times over the years.
“Dreamaway and Delicacy were good fillies to win before so hopefully she can go on and do something as good as they did.”
Peters said it was unlikely Perfect Reflection would tackle the boys in next week’s Group 2 WA Guineas (1600m).
“My thinking is she won’t run,” he said.
“We’ll have a look at the program and see what is there.
“I wouldn’t think at this stage we would be asking her to do it again next week.”
Perfect Reflection, who is nominated for the Group 1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m) on December 5, gave Peters a winning trifecta.
The Peters and Williams combination were well in line for another feature win when Battle Hero was sent out a warm favourite in the R.J.Peters Stakes (1500m).
But the Stratum gelding couldn’t bridge the gap on Hazzabeel who had set up a commanding lead after getting to the front comfortably for jockey, Lucy Warwick.
Hazzabeel, trained by Dan Morton, scored his most important win to secure direct entry into next Saturday’s Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m).
“I think he is a legitimate chance and is peaking at the right time,” Morton said.
Hazzabeel is looking to become 12th horse to win the Peters Stakes-Railway double and the first since El Presidente in 2007.
The Zabeel gelding will have to win it without Warwick who has committed to riding her trainer father’s horse, Wink And A Nod in next week’s Railway.
Last season’s leading apprentice, who later closed out the meeting aboard Hobart Jones, claimed her maiden Group success with Hazzabeel.
RWWA: Julio Santarelli