The Group 2 WA Guineas (1600m) features prominently in trainer Simon Miller’s plans for First Law, who ended is maiden tag in dominant fashion at Belmont on Wednesday.
First Law was sent out the $2.20 favourite in the Amelia Park Plate (1200m) after a debut fourth to Dunbar last month and he didn’t disappoint at his second race start.
Punching into a strong head wind outside of the leader Choice Bid, First Law stamped himself as a genuine Ascot carnival prospect for Miller after a convincing victory.
Ridden by Chris Parnham, First Law had the race sewn-up at the 200m when he shot clear and accelerated away from his rivals, Convalesce the only horse who got close, running 2 ¾ lengths second. She’s God To You was another half-length away in third place.
“That was real good and a sound effort,” Miller told The Races WA.
“He had to face the breeze and then went into another gear in the straight.
“That will do it for him now, he is off to the paddock and can come back later.
“He’s my Guineas horse on the strength of what he was able to do today.
“I was really happy with what I saw and he was probably unlucky first up.
“He didn’t step on that occasion and charged late, but he did today.
“The conditions were horrific and he didn’t bat an eye lid.
“He is a really good horse who is going places.”
Meanwhile Wine Night justified favouritism and gave trainer Justin Erkelens a flying start to the Belmont card with a top return in the Perth Racing At Home Handicap (1000m).
The Playing God filly underlined her promise when last in work with two third placings in the Magic Millions 3YO Trophy (1200m) and Challenge Stakes (1500m) in February.
The three-year-old, ridden by Peter Knuckey, sat off the leader Sweetassa and despite that filly fighting back in the straight , Wine Night got the better of their duel and won by a neck.
Erkelens said Wine Night had matured considerably since her maiden campaign.
“She did it well,” Erkelens said.
“I thought the 1000m might be too short, but she does like the sting out of the ground.
“She is a lot calmer and taking everything in her stride.
“She has come on in leaps and bounds and has learnt a lot.”