Ted Van Heemst Highlights

Western Ace ($2.45f) encouraged on debut with a close-up third behind Don’t Wink and that was enough for punters send him around the elect to break his maiden in the opening event.

However, after being caught wide from barrier 11, the three-year-old raced without cover and sustained a tough run under William Pike.

But the champion jockey rallied the son of I’m All The Talk to hit the front 150m out, and the chestnut kept up the gallop, forging away to score by a length.

(Image: Western Ace and winning connections)

More maidens went to war in the second race, anxious to shed their status with on a Saturday with some top prizemoney on offer.

Steve Parnham fired out the Ryan Hill-trained London’s Rascal ($16) and began to stoke the first passing the 450m, slipping two lengths clear of the pack.

300m later, that margin had increased to three lengths, however, the front-runner was now beginning to wear.

But the margin proved too great and under Parnham’s vigour, the Gingerbread Man three-year-old lasted the 1200m trip to score by three-quarters of a length.

An eclectic mix of maidens and non-maidens composed the third event, with a two-time winner and two one-time winners met by six inglorious hopefuls.

After cornering in second last place and beginning his two previous appearances at starting prices of $31 and $201, you could be forgiven for allowing Major Flirt ($41) little hope.

But with Zephen Johnston-Porter getting animated in the saddle, the colt responded to the weaving ride of the three-kilo claiming apprentice and burst through narrow gaps to clinch success in the dying strides.

After two highly auspicious trials, He’s A Machino ($2.80) entered his debut appearance with high wraps.

However, he was a notable drifter in the late stages of betting and was displaced as favourite by the well-drawn Ace Queen Suited ($2.35f).

But from barrier 10, Pike quickly offset the perceived disadvantage aboard the hulking youngster and fired him up to race outside pacesetter Sovereign Rock ($18).

Momentarily challenged by Wolf Whistle Zel ($6) on the corner, Pike engaged the massive motor of He’s A Machino and they found extra to bound away for a cosy length success.

His herculean physique is not typically conducive of two-year-old success, but all signs are promising and hold the bay in good stead for next year’s Karrakatta Plate.

It provided the father-son Casey duo with a fourth juvenile victory already this season and was made more sentimental by brilliant-producing dam There’snonesosassy being Jake’s first winner as a hoop.

Jaz Session ($4.40) has built an impressive record in her career and further improved that on Saturday when delivered to another success this preparation under Shaun O’Donnell.

Tucked away behind leader Lucky I Am ($3.80) rounding the bend, the daughter of Sessions was positively bolting as O’Donnell guided her across heels at the 250m.

Letting down, she quickly raced to the front at the 150m but Supernatural ($2.65f) unwound a terrific surge down the outside and loomed as a big threat.

But the end of 1200m arrived in time for Jaz Session, who clung on grimly to salute by a half-head.

View Replay/Post-Race Interview Here

The field took their time to sort out positions in the 2100m staying event but eventually Noahquintilly ($10) cut down to lead from Rock In Wonder ($15), who eased across to park second at the 1500m.

Quickening at the 600m, Noahquintilly opened up by two lengths on Rock In Wonder, who was cajoled along by Victoria Corver and closed within a length on the home turn.

Soon after, Rock In Wonder took over, but the pack were making inroads and the Ryan Hill-trained gelding looked vulnerable.

However, Kisses From Kelly ($26) could get no closer than a neck as the son of Awesome Rock stayed on strongly to succeed.

Our Paladin Al ($2.30f) caught the eye in his 1400m return and remained at that distance for his second-up start.

After initially getting back, he was importantly able to sit much closer and trailed three wide with cover approaching the final bend.

On the tails of the pacemakers on straightening, Chris Parnham pulled the four-year-old to the outside and he let rip to swiftly take over, storming away for a very comfortable two-and-a-quarter-length triumph.

At his two previous starts over 1400m, Auto Cruise ($3.80) had given all indications of a horse practically begging for a mile.

For the first time, that’s what she got on Saturday afternoon. Forced back from their wide gate, Clint Johnston-Porter joined the three wide train on the A Lot mare and pulled five wide on the corner to let loose.

Seven Candles ($2.20f), who had raced ahead of Auto Cruise throughout, proved a tough nut to crack but was eventually overcome in the final 50m as the Holly Taylor-trained four-year-old raced a half-length win.

Apulia ($2.75f) appeared much better suited in the Group 2 $300,000 Ted Van Heemst (2100m) than the Northerly Stakes (1800m) of last start and attracted strong punting interest in the day’s feature.

But after lunging at the start and despite some scrubbing from Pike, the five-year-old drifted to be last on the fence with a mountain to climb.

Out-graded front-runner Hoba West ($18) gave a tremendous sight in front, skipping effortlessly clear of his chasers rounding the home bend.

However, Pike pulled Apulia to the extreme outside and presented the Victorian-trained entire with an irresistible burst, rocking home down the centre to grab the brave Hoba West in the final 30m and score by three-quarters of a length.

(Image: William Pike on Apulia)

Charino ($7) was a major eye-catcher two weeks ago in a 1000m event at Ascot despite finishing a seven-length 13^th and entered plenty of blackbooks.

Making his first run since, the gelding raced three wide without cover but slid closer as the tempo lapsed at the 800m mark.

On top of the front-runners at the 400m, Lucy Fiore committed the Maschino four-year-old for home at the 200m and he bounded into the lead.

Prospector’s Pick ($6) launched a late effort but could get no closer than a length as the Brett Pope-trained gelding had gas to spare.

(Image: Charino and winning connections)

HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY

Apulia sent a tremor into his Perth Cup rivals less than two weeks out from the big race by conceding his rivals a start and a beating in the Ted Van Heemst Stakes. He’s now a $2.60 TABtouch elect for the New Year’s Day clash despite carrying 58.5kg and does look the one to beat. William Pike is without a ride – surely, you’d keep The Wizard on?

View Replay/Post Race Interview Here

HORSE TO FOLLOW

Defending (Race 10)

Caught in congestion throughout and found the line well once clear very late. That was his ninth first-up start and he’d only placed once prior, so he’s one to watch next time he goes around.

Hayden King