Karnup trainer Grant Williams had a perfect start to this year’s trainer’s premiership, preparing the winners of the opening two races of the “new year”.
His Blackfriars filly Midnight Shimmer ($6.50) made up for a disappointing run last week on the slow going, with a powerful victory in the Westspeed Sprint 3YO 1200m. Rated perfectly throughout by apprentice jockey Chanelle O’Grady, Midnight Shimmer powered past rivals over the concluding stages for a 1 ¾ length salute.
The tabtouch.mobi HCP 2100m on paper looked a tricky race, but the William’s Blackfriars 6yo Friarday ($5.00) put the result beyond doubt, flashing home from fifth on the turn for a runaway 1 ¾ length result.
After watching William Pike take out his third jockey premiership award during the week, veteran hoop Paul Harvey had something to prove – producing a text book riding treble.
Aboard the Al Maher 5yo Accrual ($6.00) in the Workforce Clothing HCP 1400m, Harvey was all class – rating his mount to perfection to career home from eighth on the turn for a two length exhibition. Forced to jump off First Flight (which ran second in the tabtouch.mobi HCP 2100m), and The Alleged (winner of the tabtouch.com.au HCP 1600m) after weighing in too heavy, the “pontiff” stormed back into winner calculations with a gutsy long neck victory aboard Full Steam Ahead ($3.60) in the perthracing.com.au HCP 2000m.
Harvey’s third winning ride came in the very next race – the National Jockeys Trust HCP 1000m – when teaming up again with the Due Sasso 4yo Dueton for the second victorious time in eight days to salute by ¾ length.
In other races, Harvey’s replacement on The Alleged ($3.10) in the tabtouch.com.au HCP 1600m – Shaun O’Donnell – made the most of the pickup ride, outlasting the fast finishing Young Lionel ($4.60) to prevail by a half-length. Premiership appreciate jockey Ben Paterson kicked off the new season with a close neck victory aboard the Choisir mare Rose Of Choice ($4.00 fav) in the Workit Workwear HCP 1400m, while Tax A Million ($7.00) continued its stellar preparation for Sharon Taylor with an all the way win in the WAROA 2013 Racing Awards HCP 1400m.
The Hoops / Trainers
Three masterful winning rides for Paul Harvey, and a training double for Grant Williams.
The Tipsters
Leading bookmaker Don Martin backed up from last week’s tipping exhibition, finding The Alleged ($3.10) and Rose Of Choice ($4.00) amongst selections, together with a $197.50 trifecta in the opener, and a $114.40 trifecta in the third.
Blackie looked set to retire after his $154:1 fixed odd multi – Midnight Shimmer ($5.50) into best bet Accrual ($7.00) into Full Steam Ahead ($4.00) – came through, but as Blackie is known to do, his celebrations became costly with disappointing results in the last three races.
On the east coast, Shane bounced back in style – again finding the value. At Mooney Valley Shane found Day Procedure ($3.50 fav) in the seventh and a whopping $140.00 quinella in the fifth. On the good Rosehill track, Shane spruiked Coup Ay Tee ($9.50) and Queen’s Elect ($9.50), while at Doomben tips included De Dozen Stars ($8.00) and Liesele ($13.00).
The Black Book
Romp To Fame lived up to its name in the fourth with a flashing late run from last to get within a length of victory, while Resetgold did much the same in the penultimate – both gallant runs stay under strong notice.
Chris Blackwell