Eastern States Invaders Arrive For Perth Features
19 November, 2018
Thoroughbred
An influx of eastern states horses arrived in Perth this morning for the Ascot Masters.
16 horses from leading stables across Australia including Darren Weir, Chris Waller and co-trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott will be out to plunder the riches of Western Australia’ major feature races.
Saturday’s Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) launches the first of three $1 million Group 1 races with the Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) to be run on December 1 and the Kingston Town Classic (1800m) on December 8.
Leading Victorian horseman Darren Weir, who won the Kingston Town Classic with Stratum Star two years ago, has the strongest contingent in Perth with a team of five runners: Iconoclasm, Peaceful State, Holy Snow, Voodoo Lad and Junipal.
Weir’s stable foreman, Jarrod McLean, has also brought across former Perth galloper Trap For Fools, fresh from winning the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington two weeks ago.
Iconoclasm, Peaceful State and Holy Snow launch their Perth campaigns in Saturday’s Railway Stakes while Junipal will run in the Group 2 WA Guineas (1600m).
“It’s only early, but they have all got off the plane really well,” McLean said.
“It’s been a long night for them, but they travel to Lindsey’s (Smith) now and we will give them the day to themselves.
“We will jump on them in the morning to see how they are, but at this stage everything looks really good.”
Viddora also stepped off the plane in good order and looked bright as she prepares to defend her Winterbottom
Stakes crown. The Lloyd Kennewell-trained mare holds Tabtouch favouritism to go back-to-back.
The remaining horses who arrived include:
Prized Icon (Kris Lees).
Malaguerra (Peter Gelagotis).
John McArdle (I’ll Have A Bit).
Mister Sea Wolf (Chris Waller)
Orcein (Chris Waller).
Ashlor (Dan McCarthy)
Malibu Style (Neville Parnham).
Runson (Leon & Troy Corstens).
Ulusaba (Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott).