With wet weather plaguing Perth over the last week; it was a welcoming scene for the capacity crowd that descended upon the Kalgoorlie racetrack today for their feature race meeting, as the sun shone over the Goldfields on what was a picture perfect day.

And the crowd would be in for a real treat, with the good track conditions ensuring a bevy of popular results for the punters.

The day kicked off with the TIS Recruitment Maiden 1400m, won brilliantly by the Redoute’s Choice 4yo Responsive ($4.00) who blew away rivals in the straight to salute untouched by 5 ¼ lengths.

Trainer Helen Harding secured a nail-biting victory in the Bloodstock Sales HCP 1400m, when her Dane Shadow 5yo Whiskey Prince ($5.00) put in a career best performance to outlast the fast finishing Screaming Plum ($13.00) by a short head.

Albany trainer Steve Wolfe and jockey Shaun McGruddy carved out a training/riding double when Ancient Spell ($4.00 fav) prevailed by a half-length in the Metro Property Group 1600m, and secured the second leg with I See Luck ($4.00) getting the bob on the line to win the Reed Resources 1200m by a long neck.

Hoop Shaun O’Donnell left his best work for the end of the program – victorious aboard Classique Ivory ($7.00) in the XXXX Gold Kalgoorlie Cup 2300m with a masterful ride from near last to claim the feature in the last stride by a neck, and backed up in the last (Sita Australia HCP 1300m) when Prince Of Stars ($7.00) rattled home from sixth on the turn to triumph by 1 ¾ lengths.

In other races, roughy Star Trader ($15.00) stormed home from seventh to run away with the Castrol/Optival HCP 1100m by a half-length, while Just A Falcon ($3.00 fav) put a smile of the face of punters with a barnstorming late charge in the Coates Hire HCP 1760m to claim victory by 1 ¾ lengths.

The Hoops / Trainers

Trainer Gino Poletti only had the one winner for the day – but the most important – with his Savabeel 5yo Classique Ivory crowned the “King of the Goldfields” after saluting in the XXXX Gold Kalgoorlie Cup 2300m.

Trainer Steve Wolfe and jockey Shaun McGruddy teamed up for a training/riding double with Ancient Spell and I See Luck both successful in their respective races.

The Tipsters

Despite finding the majority of winners amongst his selections, Blackie failed to capitalise – his best bet Holder was dead lucky when held up for the length of the straight to finish third, and his eachway best Imperial Command stopped as if shot at the 100m mark after looking the winner in the Cup.

On the east coast, Shane did notably better, landing best bet Guelph ($2.45) at Randwick together with Streama ($8.50) and Boban ($2.70 fav). Shane also had success with Gregers ($6.50) at Caulfield and De Dozen Stars ($6.00) at Eagle Farm.

The Black Book

The run of Starlight Lady in the Cup was spectacular and worthy of following up next start.

Chris Blackwell

21.09.13