Since a week before Australia Day jockey Troy Turner has been in fine form with three doubles that week and another this Wednesday at Ascot – with other victories in between.

Turner struck early again yesterday when he quickly took the well backed Rouge Dior ($13 to $7) to the front from the outside barrier in the 1000m sprint of the third race.

Rouge Dior continued to find more in the home straight and fought off the classy Peggie’s Dream a mare that had previously been beaten only once in her first seven starts.

Peggie’s Dream and Bombora (third) were both resuming from a spell.

“She has been in good form, is a strong mare and has never finished further back than fifth. She fought back very well after working a bit early and she had the edge in race fitness.” Todd Harvey, representing his father Robert, said.

Trainer Todd Harvey has also been in fine touch, in mid week races particularly, and was prepared to back their Stormy’s Son mare against the quality opposition.

Rouge Dior has won four times from five starts over the 1000m journey and has won seven times from 17 career starts.

Owners Lex and Shirley Piper have also enjoyed a purple patch as owners and the orange and red colours seem certain to be in the winners circle some more with Rouge Dior.

Expect Bombora to appreciate more ground than 1000m and be improved by the run.

BUBBLE BURSTS

Grey Cheval has looked as impregnable in her first four starts as the great medieval fortress Krek des Chevaliers, in Syria.

But just as the great Knights Hospitallers fortress fell after almost a century and a half of occupation so too was the grey filly put the sword in her clash by Magnifisio. 

The Jim Taylor trained filly paid the lucrative dividend of $13  and gave  jockey Jason Brown a winning double after the fourth race, the Crown Perth Handicap (1200m). Brown had won the first race with Play With Fire.

The dividend was generous seeing Magnifisio had run Hey Blondie to a nose on January 23 after resuming from a five month spell

Taylor who always enjoys his battles with arch-rival Simon Miller said he knew the grey filly would cart them up to the lead.

“We were on the outside of her but knew she would get across and lead and Magnifisio could slide up there next to her.”

Although Grey Cheval fought back she was carrying 58.5kg some 4.5kg more than winner and it told at the end.

Rusty Peaches was third but was never going to catch the first two.

The Alan Mathews trained The Other Harv (Shaun ODonnell) showed her liking for the 1800m distance with her third win over that journey, including a back-to-back double to (she won on Australia Day).

The Other Harv was simply too strong for The Corporation in the run home, completing her sixth career win from 22 starts in the Smiths. Snacks WA -Sales T.O.Y Handicap.

The mare will be set for AHA Cup at Bunbury on March 3.

The Oz Racing Syndicate galloper, Comfysofa, won the last race on the card in a fashion that would have made the sofa very comfortable for his backers watching at home.

 Certainly Oz Racing chief Bruce Saxild looked pretty comfortable in his chair, on the Members deck, as Jason Whiting threaded the gelding off the rails with a pin perfect ride.

Whiting pushed off the fence to split the two grey pacemakers, for home, and it was then a case of put down the binoculars.

Comfysofa is well named, being a big relaxed chestnut, and completed a hat-trick with his Ascot victory on February 9.

Comfysofa has won a total of four of his eight starts but Whiting has a perfect record on the chestnut as does Simon Miller, since the horse entered his stable.

11.2.13