It’s something not all that uncommon in British racing but seldom seen in Australia: the 48-hour back-up.
Argyle Star ($2.80f TABtouch) triumphed at Thursday’s Kalgoorlie meeting in a 1760m event at an almost-identical price and returned to the scene of the crime in Saturday’s opening event, however, this time, over 2200m.
Despite the rise in trip, new jockey Pat Carbery made a move 700m from home that carried the seven-year-old to the front soon after.
Developing an unassailable lead, the mare ground out a length victory over Sluice Box ($6.50) to reward trainer Josh Brown for a programming masterclass with the four-time winner.
Although he took 11 starts to break his duck, Saturday Sesh ($2.70f) has certainly found his mojo.
Pouncing upon the lead under Steve Parnham, the four-year-old bowled along strongly upfront and kicked off the home turn to lead by more than two lengths.
The Ash Maley-trained galloper kept up the tempo to record an easy two-and-three-quarter-length success, making it three out of his last four appearances.
The Jester’s Son ($2.75f) continued the theme of favoured and in-form runners under three-kilo claiming apprentice Zephen Johnston-Porter.
Tardily away and buried against the fence, Johnston-Porter worked the five-year-old away from the inside and up behind the pacesetters around the turn.
Extricated to the outside and cut loose at the 300m, The Jester’s Son grabbed the lead over the final 50m to defeat Feuding ($6) by a half-length.
William Pike is not usually seen in front (early, not at the end) but Exceltrain ($3.90) sprung quickly and allowed the leading hoop to control the tempo.
Nursed to the 150m mark, Pike finally committed the six-year-old for the judge but had challengers looming left and right, including Close At Hand ($3.50f), who began to squirm up his inside.
In a desperate struggle to the line, Pike got every bit out of Exceltrain and staved off Close At Hand to get home by a half-head.
Positively ridden, Don’t Wait For Luck ($8) seized the early initiative and Lucy Fiore found the five-year-old a glorious rhythm that had the opposition chasing a fair way out.
Skidding into the straight two lengths clear, Fiore got stuck in and her old pal responded purposefully, sizzling to a three-and-a-quarter-length success.
Since his WA arrival only months ago, Immortal Bliss ($1.80f) has carried high wraps.
With two wins and two seconds to his name from just four local appearances, it was no surprise to see punters rally behind the four-year-old, who got his first dry track in the State.
In ninth place and with a mountain to climb at the 400m, Pike got busy on the bay and brought him to the outside with a rush.
Making up ground hand over fist, by the 200m, he already had them covered.
Coaxed home to make sure, the son of I Am Immortal ran riot over the concluding part to trounce his chasers by three lengths.
In the inaugural $1 million Develop Golden Saddle (1200m), consistency came to the fore.
Evergreen seven-year-old Magnificent Andy ($2.40f) was robustly supported in betting and didn’t let his supporters down with a typically courageous first-up showing.
Half a beat slow from the barriers, Brad Parnham settled the Magnus gelding in seventh place before shoving three wide at the 500m.
Pumped along by Parnham, the chestnut responded manfully to his rider’s call and boomed to the front 200m out.
Despite a furious final burst from Yonga Lass ($10), time ran thin for the mare and Stephen Miller’s galloper held on to win by a neck.
Local guru Peter Fernie added another cup to his trophy cabinet by preparing Sentimental Hero ($2.70jf) to success in the Listed $150,000 Kalgoorlie Cup (2300m).
Onlookers would’ve felt a wave of déjà vu from the Boulder Cup as Fiore plugged the eight-year-old into the one-out, one-back position before peeling three deep down the Charles Street side of the course with 500m left.
Blasting past the front-runners on the bend, the son of Al Maher kept up the gallop to score a resounding two-and-a-quarter-length triumph, providing Fernie with his third cup in the last 11 years.
It was Fiore’s second Kalgoorlie Cup victory after saluting in 2019 with her father Justin Warwick’s Spiritual Warrior.
.jpg?sfvrsn=54b0f940_1 "Sentimental Hero")
Fernie and Fiore finalised the day with a flourish, producing lightly raced five-year-old Treble Maker ($2.75f) with an irresistible flurry.
Trapped on the fence with a wall ahead rounding the corner, Fiore thread the mare through narrow gaps, splitting the front-running Commissions ($4) and Dreamers Never Die ($26) over the last 100m to snatch a three-quarter-length win.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY
Great mates Stephen Miller and Brad Parnham combining for a big payday as pioneers of the Golden Saddle. The trainer-jockey combo have shared some top successes but this rises to the beginning of the list. Magnificent Andy had not won since June 2024 but had earned $750,000 in the 16 months prior, showing how invariably brave he is at an esteemed level.
.jpg?sfvrsn=b1e6adee_1 "Magnificent Andy Trophy")
HORSE TO FOLLOW
Immortal Bliss (Race 6)
This horse was jet-propelled. He’s shown a lot, but this success showed he could be the real deal. He picked them up instantly and roared away with the seldom seen arrogance of a nice horse. In the right care to go on with the job.
Hayden King