Delta Continues Staggering Cerise And White Run
29 December, 2018
Thoroughbred
After enjoying a wonderful run of success over the recent TABtouch Masters, owners Bob and Sandra Peters, together with trainers Grant and Alana Williams, now appear set to round out the carnival by taking out next week’s Perth Cup, following today’s Listed ATA Stakes (2200m).
The Peters’ and Williams’ had the top two in the market for this afternoon’s Listed feature in Action and Mississippi Delta and they filled the top two placings.
Action, who was aided by the services of leading jockey William Pike, narrowly started favourite ahead of Mississippi Delta, but it was the mare who proved too good today.
Already a winner of the Listed Tattersall’s Cup earlier this campaign, Mississippi Delta added a second blacktype victory this afternoon with Chris Parnham aboard.
Parnham had the mare handy to the speed set by Heart Starter and Cappo D’Oro and held off a late surge from the stablemate to win by a half-length.
The Peters’ will likely have five runners in next week’s Group 2 feature, headed by today’s pair, as well as Royal Star, Perfect Jewel and Star Exhibit.
Perfect Jewel will represent the Williams stable, while Royal Star and Star Exhibit will represent the Adam Durrant stable.
The Peters’ will be hoping Mississippi Delta can replicate the deeds of Star Exhibit from two years ago, who did the ATA-Perth Cup double.
Bob Peters said he saw enough in the performance of both Mississippi Delta and Action
“I just want to see a horse finish off well and be nice and comfortable,” he said.
“I said to Chris they’re probably going to walk, so try and be a bit closer and I think the fact he was up there closer made the race for her.
“He (Action) is coming along…hopefully he can keep going.”
Parnham will have to wait for Pike’s decision on who he will ride in the Cup before he finds out his own mount.
Parnham rode Perfect Jewel in last Saturday’s Van Heemst Stakes and said both her and today’s winner would be worthy Cup contenders.
“They’re all good rides,” he said.
“I can’t split Perfect Jewel and Mississippi Delta, they’ve both been really good Perth Cup lead up runs.”
Later in the day, Mad Brad broke a 1378 day absence from the winners circle to take out the Schweppes Handicap (1200m).
Tim Walker