Trainer Grant Williams celebrated a double at Belmont yesterday when he won the third and fifth on the program with Pure Glamour (William Pike) and True Gold (Glenn Smith), respectively.
Williams and leviathan owner, Bob Peters, had a debate on whether the resuming Pure Glamour would race over 1000m mid-week or in the 1200m race at Belmont yesterday.
Always a chance when fresh the connections eventually plumped for the more lucrative race and the chestnut filly won her third first-up race from four such outings in her seven start career.
Peters said he was worried in the last 100m as topweight, and pacemaker, Grand Crusade, refused to lie down after being challenged.
“William Pike had saved her to the end and it was a good ride. In the past she has pulled a bit and raced with her head in the air,” Peters said.
Pike later made it a double for the day when he charged home late on the Dan Morton trained Red Blast to edge consistent greys Ask Me Nicely and Verdello Blue, in the stayers 2000m race.
Williams other chestnut, True Gold, won his first race for 364 days when Glenn Smith brought him home better than anything else, to score from Finnegan’s Gold and Black Romeo, in the 1400m race.
Racing near the rear early he was still eighth at the 400m mark before powering home.
“This was like the old True Gold as before he had been consistent but in his current campaign he hasn’t been running on until today,” Williams said.
WOLFE’S TIGER DEVOURS THEM: Tiger Pete (Natasha Faithfull) finished with his trademark late run to swamp his rivals in the fourth race over 1200m.
Trainer Steve Wolfe said his charge had given a “super run first up at his last start”, when third over a 1000m on July 27, and that he appreciated the extra 200m of this race.
“He got a bit far back today but I have always considered him a 1400m horse.”
Tiger Pete has won eight races from 17 starts over 1000-1300m, four of them over 1100m.
The trainer and apprentice made it a double victory in the last race when Alvares completed back to back victories in the Amelia Park Handicap (1650m).
Up on the speed Alvares staved off Helena Miss and State Form. Wolfe was happier with this ride from his apprentice and predicts the galloper will go over 2000m.
Faithfull was the victim of a car-jacking earlier in the week so has showed good composure to hit back in her chosen profession.
GREG KERSLEY’S STAR: When We Were Kings (Daniel Staeck) has thoroughly deserved a break after winning his fourth consecutive victory in the perthracing.com.au Handicap (1400m).
He proved too strong for New Time and Tax A Million.
The versatile galloper has won seven races from 17 starts and his last four victories have been over distances between 1200-1600m.
Trainer Greg Kersley virtually ruled out a Kalgoorlie carnival preparation by saying he favoured the spelling paddock option for his quality performer.