Guineas Beckons For Special Reward
16 June, 2018
Thoroughbred
A WA Guineas campaign is firmly on the agenda for Demerit gelding Special Reward, following a comfortable win in the Quayclean Plate (1300m) at Belmont this afternoon.
After the two-year-old won on debut on June 6, trainer Simon Miller expressed his desire to get the gelding into the WA Guineas later this year and wanted to get another win with him this campaign.
The plan worked wonders for Miller, with Special Reward far too good for his rivals today.
Punters found it difficult to split Special Reward and fellow last start winner Kelly’s Callisto in the market, but favouritism eventually landed with Special Reward.
The pair both jumped well from the gates, but jockey Shaun Mc Gruddy was able to find the front with Special Reward, with Arnie’s Boy and Kelly’s Callisto also handy to the speed.
On the turn for home, Special Reward had plenty left to give, as some of his fancied rivals were put under pressure.
Mc Gruddy asked for Special Reward to find another gear over the closing stages, and he stormed away to win by two-and-a-quarter lengths.
Kelly’s Callisto continued his consistent form finishing second, with Arnie’s Boy back in third.
Miller said Special Reward could be one of the better two-year-olds he has this season.
“He’s exciting…we haven’t got to the bottom of him,” he said.
“He’s had a fair bit thrown at him in the last three weeks, he trialled then quickly into that Wednesday race, and 10 days later he lobs in on a Saturday.
“We haven’t bottomed him out…but he’s very good.”
Meanwhile, Enticing Star has made it seven wins from as many starts, with another impressive win in the Furphy Handicap (1200m) this afternoon.
Owner Bob Peters revealed earlier today there had been interest from a slot holder about running the mare in the Everest later in the year.
After the win, Peters said he wouldn’t pursue an Everest campaign with Enticing Star, who will head to the paddock then map out her spring campaign.
“We’ve got a paddock for her, and she will have a good time,” he said.
“We will wait, give her the spell, then bring her back in and have a look at the races coming up.
“I would think we would keep her at the sprinting and shorter ones, but we will see what happens.”
Tim Walker