WA Racing News Update
BATTLE STORM
Owner Bob Peters and trainer Adam Durrant are still none the wiser about the shock defeat of Battle Storm last weekend.
The Statue Of Liberty gelding was sent out a hot favourite, but suffered his first loss in a 1200m handicap on Saturday.
Battle Storm failed to go past a winner in the straight and finished last behind Multiverse, his only loss in six career starts.
“We have done a scope on him and they could find nothing wrong,” Peters told The Races WA.
“We are now awaiting results from a lung wash, but I’m not expecting to find anything from that.
“He is back at my farm and will have a rest.”
SCALES OF JUSTICE
Comeback horses Scales Of Justice competed an all-important jump out at Ballarat on Tuesday for trainer, Lindsey Smith.
Scales Of Justice has not raced since his he ran third to Durendal in the Group 3 Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m) last November.
The six-year-old will launch his return in the Bletchingly stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
“It was fair,” Smith told Tabradio.
“He settled back in the field and circled them.
“It look likes he needs to sharpen him up a bit and hopefully that has woken him up.
“Honestly I thought he would go to the line a little better, but the jockey was happy with him.
“He thought he was bludging.
“If he has pulled up there is no reason to go into hiding.”
Smith said Black Heart Bart, who also competed in the same jump out as Scales Of Justice, was on track for his return.
“He’ll have an official trial next week and will get another vet test before he gets ticked off,” Smith said.
PYM’S ROYALE
There was better news for Pym’s Royale after a veterinary examination cleared him of any major injury or illness.
Concerns on the gelding surfaced last start when he ran a disappointing ninth to Stageman at Belmont on July 13.
“A lung wash revealed he had some allergies,” said Luke Fernie, son of trainer Peter Fernie,”
“It’s treatable and we are confident he will be back racing in the next few weeks.”
THE PEARCE STABLE
Co-trainer Ben Pearce said Don’t Fuss will target the New Season Sprint (1000m) at Belmont on August 3.
The five-year-old has been a genuine pleasant surprise packet for the stable after a breakout campaign.
Since February Don’t Fuss has raced on 11 occasions for three wins, including last Saturday and seven placings.
ANGELIC RULER
Meanwhile a Melbourne campaign has been mapped out for their star filly Angelic Ruler
“She will target the Group 2 How Now Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on September 21, the Group 2 Blazer Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on October and the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on October 19,” Ben Pearce said.
“Her next runs will be performance based.
“She has been back in work a month and was doing pace work last week.
“She will have a trial before she goes to Melbourne.”
Angelic Ruler will be joined in the east by Vital Silver, the winner of the Roma Cup (1200m) and Pinjarra Classic (1300m) when last in work.
“He will either run in the Gilgai Stakes or the Schillaci Stakes,” Pearce said.
“The winner of the Schillaci Stakes now gets an exemption into The Everest.
“It looks a hot race and maybe the Gilgai could be the way to go.”
DIG DEEP
Pearce says the Karrakatta Plate winner has been back in work for the past week and is ticking along nicely ahead of a WA Guineas campaign.
CHRIS GRAHAM
The talented Tasmanian apprentice’s permanent move to Perth to link up with the Pearce stable could be delayed.
The 26-year-old had a taste of Perth racing recently when he rode Don’t Fuss, Father Knick and Mad Brad for the Pearces.
“He is the track rider for Adam Trinder so does a lot of the work with Mystic Journey,” Pearce said.
“He (Trinder) is pretty keen to retain that association until the Cox Plate.
“He is still coming over, but it’s a matter of when and not if.
“He was very professional when he was over here and impressed me.”
JERRY NOSKE
Pearce said the stable will be utilizing top hoop Jerry Noske in Melbourne with Angelic Ruler and Vital Silver
“She will go over and be with the horses throughout their campaign,” Pearce said.
“It will be good to have someone you know and with the experience who can ride track work.
“I’m not sure how Dan and I will split the time in Melbourne, bearing in mind we have to prepare for our own Perth carnival.
“Jerry will go across when the Broome season ends.”
JINGTANG
Jingtang has run his last race after finishing second to Don’t Fuss last Saturday.
The six-year-old ran a gallant race, but pulled up lame.
He raced on 33 occasions for five wins and ten placings for prizemoney of $180,122.
“The decision has been made to retire him,” Michael Gangemi said.
“He has given us his best so it’s the right thing to do.
“He was a cheap purchase who has paid for himself tenfold and owes us nothing.
“We’ll find a good home for him.”
JOHN LUGG.
After a 12 year absence John Lugg was back in the winner’s list after Knight Tempest won at Kalgoorlie on Sunday.
The respected horseman returned to the Goldfields after the sad passing of his wife Irene two years ago.
Lugg prepared Violent Wind to win the Kalgoorlie Cup and Go The Grey, the Hannans Handicap.
Julio Santarelli