SHE is named after a famous London underground tube line – and there was no stopping her!
Master Newcastle trainer Paul Perry took great pleasure in scoring with breakthrough city winner Bakerloo at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
He bred the three-year-old filly, who is the last foal of a mare he trained (French Fantasy), and by his 12th and latest Group 1 winner The Mission (2017 Champagne Stakes at that track).
Making it a real homebred victory, The Mission is a son of Choisir, the horse trail-blazing Perry took to international fame in 2003, carrying off Royal Ascot’s feature sprint double.
Having her 12th start and partnered by Ashley Morgan, who gave the $21 chance a rails-hugging ride before setting out after the two front-runners November Falls ($19) and Putt For Dough ($7.50) in the straight and running them down to post her fourth victory.
Perry, surprised at his filly’s luxury odds in the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1400m) in view of her excellent first-up victory at home on May 4, defeating subsequent city winner Oakfield Duke, explained the background behind naming her.
“We had to travel on the Bakerloo (a combination of Baker Street and Waterloo stations) line during a visit to London,” Perry said on Sunday.
“This filly is French Fantasy’s last foal. She was retired after missing to Super One the following year.”
Perry won three races – all at Newcastle with French Deputy mare French Fantasy, who had eight foals, and six of them were fillies.
Her first foal, a Fastnet Rock filly named Look Sharp, died from a paddock accident as a yearling, and her second foal (Casual Look) failed to win in 13 starts.
But French Fantasy’s six following foals, including Choisir fillies Peggy’s Cove and Ellie’s Encore (six wins each), and of course Bakerloo, have won 22 races.
Bakerloo’s city triumph was the first leg of a Saturday double for Perry, but it could have been a huge day with an ounce or two of luck.
He also landed the Midway 2YO Maiden Handicap (900m) at Newcastle with another $21 chance Tiwi Girl (apprentice Braith Nock), who was on the spot when her stablemate Flying Argyle ($3.90 favorite ducked in sharply passing the 100m when he appeared the likely winner.
Tiwi Girl was a $5000 purchase at last year’s Inglis HTBA yearling sale in Sydney for Perry’s daughter-in-law Christie, who also secured last December’s Wyong winner Pearl Treasure (by Press Statement) for the same amount.
Tiwi Girl is well named. She is a daughter of Territories from the now deceased Desert King mare Northern Cath, who won twice in Melbourne from only four starts.
The Tiwi Islands are part of the Northern Territory, 80km north of Darwin adjoining the Timor Sea.
Tiwi Girl was having only her second start, having run well on debut as a $101 bolter when sixth in the Miss Finland 2YO Handicap (1000m) against her own sex at Muswellbrook on May 3.
Whilst Perry landed the quinella with Tiwi Girl and Flying Argyle, he went close to winning another three races.
Senshi ($5), Princess Cruizer ($4.80) and Curl Curl ($1.60 favorite) finished second in the last three races – all beaten narrowly.
Perry also had third placegetters Special Day ($8.50) and Rothrock ($14); his successes with Bakerloo and Tiwi Giri lifting him to 50 winners for the current season, continuing a remarkable training career which began 52 years ago.
Meanwhile, Perry is pleased with the progress of his recent Scone Cup winner Sky Lab, and is looking to chase another victory at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
He will enter him for the Listed Lord Mayor’s Cup (2000m) at the track where he was pipped by Mo’unga in the 2021 Group 1 Rosehill Guineas over the same distance.
The now six-year-old subsequently won a Benchmark 100 Handicap (1400m) there with 60kg when resuming in February the following year.
There was a real Gosford connection to Diamond Diesel’s Randwick victory on Saturday.
Gosford trainer Adam Duggan gave Mitch Stapleford, a grandson of now retired legendary Gosford trainer Albert Stapleford, his city debut on the former Hong Kong sprinter, who motored home to land the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m) at $10.
Duggan’s decision to book the talented young jockey proved wise as his 3kg city allowance lessened Diamond Diesel’s 62.5kg handicap, and the gelding clinched his seventh win, and fourth in town.
Provincial trainers Damien Lane (Wyong), Kris Lees (Newcastle), and Kembla Grange pair Mitch Beer and Joe Ible also were weekend winners.
Lane took debutante Singing Star ($3.20) to Dubbo on Saturday for the Silver Goblet 2YO Preview (1000m), and the Star Turn filly, who cost only $7000 at the same Inglis HTBA yearling sale last year where Tiwi Girl was purchased, upset $2.50 favorite Saint Philomena.
Mayfair Spirit (Andrew Gibbons), a $14 chance and having his first start for Lees, landed Sunday’s Big Dance Eligibility Gunnedah Showcase Cup (1600m).
Stablemate Tavi Time, currently spelling, also became eligible for the $3m Big Dance at Randwick in November when he bolted away with last December’s Mudgee Cup.
Beer (Mount Warning) and Ible (Xtra Gear) won races at Sunday’s Moruya meeting.
Mount Warning ($5) was ridden by Beer’s apprentice Angus Villiers, and Louise Day had the mount on Ible’s Xtra Gear ($1.70 favorite), who was an emergency for the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday and did not gain a start.
Story John Curtis, May 26, 2024 - Pics Bradley Photos
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