Trained by Peter Tilbrook and driven by Shannon Suvaljko, the now three-year-old lined up from barrier six in race one as the $1.45 favourite, and he did not disappoint, proving too good for his rivals when he sat outside the leader throughout over the 2190m trip to win by a very comfortable 16.9m margin in 1:59:0. The win saw the gelding break a 19-start losing sequence.
It was a battle of the locals as well as brothers in the run to the line in race two, with Mister Riggers (Christine O'Driscoll and Donald Harper) and Boston Rob (Maryann White and Kyle Harper) going hoof for hoof to the line, with the O'Driscoll runner coming out on top with a very tight margin separating them.
With Donald Harper's steer coming home the better, the eight-year-old double Westbred son of Allamerican Ingot USA has been in the placings in recent weeks, with Saturday night's win his first win in 17 starts, as well as five months.
The win brought up the geldings fifth career victory from 122 starts, with his stakes now cracking $50,000.
Shannon Suvaljko drove a double on the night, with Path Of Gold taking top spot in race three on the card. Trained by Craig Hynam, the $1.55 favourite was able to lead all the way from barrier three, staving off his rivals to win by 2.4m in 2:00:3 over the 2190m journey.
Newcomer Chivalry NZ won on debut for trainer/driver Lindsay Harper. After leading all the way from barrier two, the $1.28 favourite never looked in any danger, going on to win by a 4.1m margin in 1:57:6 over the 1780m sprint trip.
Owned by Michael Boots (Boots Properties Racing Pty Ltd), Harper was fortunate to be offered the three-year-old to train after purchasing a share in three-year-old filly Unlucky, also owned by Boots. The ownership group has been extremely successful in the past seven days with a owning double on Monday with Scootin Around and Blaze On NZ.
"I was pleased with Chivalry's first up win, and we are hopeful he will keep improving and be a competitive force in the three-year-old races that remail on the racing calendar this year." Harper said.
Favourite punters were on a roll, with Carana NZ taking honours in the standing start over the 2150m trip, race five on the card.
Trained by Greg and Skye Bond and driven by Deni Roberts, the six-year-old was off in a break at release point, but after getting back down and pacing after around 30m, the pair eventually caught the three front runners before Roberts made her move for the lead. Carana NZ then went on to claim his third win from just four starts since relocating from New Zealand, with a winning mile rate of 2:00:6.
$1.28 favourite Star Casino NZ took out race six on the card for trainer Ray Williams after leading for the majority of the way over the 2620m trip. Driven by Dylan Egerton-Green, the win was the first of his race-to-race double on the night, with the four-year-old gelding making it two from two in WA since his move from New Zealand.
Valhalla Angel delivered Egerton-Green the final instalment of his driving double on the night, with a first up win for her new trainer, Hayden Reeves. The three-year-old daughter of Fly Like An Eagle came from behind and after being checked by a galloping runner with around 700m to go, went on to fight it out in the finish to win by the narrowest of margins over Just All Style.
The two-year-olds rounded out the meeting with the Robbie Williams reined and trained Opal Hunter taking top spot. Bred by KTC Bloodstock and purchased by his large ownership group at last year's APG Yearling Sale for $27,500, Opal Hunter has now won three races from just eight starts with Williams hoping to aim him towards the Golden Slipper on Friday, September 29 at Gloucester Park.
