Belmont Park’s Top 7
1-BRAD RAWILLER
A strict 10 days of hard wasting was worth the effort and made all the sweeter after he produced a perfect ride on Tellem We’re Comin to win the Listed Farnley Stakes. The former Victorian rider got down to 55.5kg, his lightest weight since arriving in WA last year.
2-TELLEM WE’RE COMIN
A deserved win in the Farnley Stakes after consecutive seconds in the Belmont Newmarket and Idyllic Prince Stakes, his first victory in 685 days. The seven-year-old son of Blackfriars staved off a late charge from hot favourite Notorious One to win his first race under trainer Dan Morton, who won it previously with Man Booker.
3-THIS’LL TESTYA
A dazzling return victory from the speedy mare who has carried a heavy burden of expectation since blitzing her rivals by big margins in the first two races of her career. The daughter of Testa Rossa has since tested the resolve of trainer Adam Durrant, but his long-held view she could achieve black-type status may ring true by the end of the year.
4-COME MAGIC
At $1.80 the punters didn’t miss the lightly-raced four-year-old who put the writing on the wall when runner up to Wilchino first up three weeks ago, her first run back since injuring her knee and suffering a virus after the 2020 Karrakatta Plate. A daughter of He’s A Decoy, she travelled strongly in front and couldn’t be run down to continue a top day for jockey Willie Pike. Top training effort from Dion Luciani who took his time in nursing her back to full health.
5-SUE OLIVE
The day didn’t start all too well after Kaymay, on her return, ran second last in race one, but it ended with a bang in the last event when new stable pick up Mystical View, on the seven-day turnaround, came thundering home from the back of the field. Purchased for breeding purposes, the dual stakes placed mare is picking up stake earnings along the way and will tackle the Black Heart Bart Stakes in a fortnight.
6-WILLIE PIKE
Adding great atmosphere there was a big and noisy section of the crowd chanting Pike’s name on his return to the enclosure and they had plenty of opportunity to voice their support. The ‘wizard’ booted home four winners: Red Fifty Three, This’ll Testya, Come Magic and Karijini Aurora.
7-PHOTO FINISH
Not the ideal time for technology to let you down with the photo finish camera failing to activate in race two after three runners went to the line locked together. Following a lengthy delay stewards were left to declare a dead heat for first between Hoover and Red Hot Hope. Atlantis Beach, a breath away third, could have made it easier for all if he got away cleanly and had better luck in running.
Julio Santarelli