A thrilling day of racing at Ascot delivered no shortage of drama, upsets and standout performances, headlined by the triumphant return of WA Horse of the Year, Jokers Grin, in the Group 3 Prince of Wales Stakes.
From gritty front-running wins to barnstorming finishes, the card had it all. Rising stars like Odinaka and Luana Miss made their presence felt, while seasoned campaigners such as The Calabrese and Desert Whisper proved their class.
With the Railway Stakes picture beginning to take shape and the summer carnival heating up, Saturday’s results have set the stage for a blockbuster season ahead. Hayden King reviews the winners from Saturday's Asian Beau Stakes Meeting:
Booted forward by Craig Staples, Battle Commander ($10) quickly lobbed a striking position in the opening event, parking to the outside of pacemaker Rock In Wonder ($7).
Rounding the bend, Staples sent the four-year-old to introduce himself to the early front-runner and soon struck the top.
However, Audio Boy ($2.80f) had pulled off his back and with William Pike getting to work, the market chief set about eroding the deficit.
But Battle Commander proved hard to pass and stuck on gallantly to hold a short head margin, making it two wins within a week.
Michael Grantham entered the second event with a firm grip over the 2200m staying event, saddling up the two favourites Twilight Tale ($3.90f) and Long Genes ($5).
Easing three wide at the 500m, Long Genes stole an initiative over his stablemate, who attempted to grab his back entering the straight.
But Long Genes powered up the home running and despite being shut down by Clint Johnston-Porter over the final 75m, he had almost two lengths in hand over Twilight Tale in a Grantham quinella.
Odinaka ($12) entered the third event as a rough hope despite months of consistent form.
But he sprung the gates well and landed behind the leader Classic Rogue ($16), who travelled sweetly into the home turn.
Extricating into the open at the top of the straight, Shaun McGruddy got to work and the five-year-old ground into gear.
Until the 100m, he had not made meaningful inroads on the longtime leader but eventually the pace folded, and he was first on the scene, grabbing the front and holding Funchal ($2.20f) to a neck.
Breaking his maiden at start three – his most recent outing – punters didn’t hesitate to include Buthelezi ($4.80f) in calculations for a repeat of that 1500m Ascot win.
But after being beaten for initial toe, the gelding tracked up three wide with cover before peeling at the 450m.
Pumped along by Brad Parnham, the big three-year-old gradually got the message and wound into his work 200m from home to take the lead.
With long, lingering strides, the son of Smart Missile drew away for an eye-catching two-length success over Saam Time Lucky ($5.50).
After a promising last start second to Black Ora, The Calabrese ($4.20) was well considered by punters to go one better second-up.
With a hot tempo upfront, Jordan Turner drifted the four-year-old back near last before pulling wide at the 600m.
He made smooth progress to the 300m, but the nippy Thermosphere Lad ($7) had abandoned the pack and raced three lengths clear.
Eventually, the effort told on the front-runner and The Calabrese asserted over the last 75m to win by a length going away.
(Image: Jokers Grin and Pat Carbery)
The much-anticipated return of reigning WA Horse of the Year Jokers Grin ($1.60f) in the Group 3 $200,000 TABtouch Prince Of Wales Stakes (1000m) promised to be a highlight whether win, lose or draw.
But as he invariably does, he delivered.
Taken back by Pat Carbery, the five-year-old fired up with a gentle gallop set by Snowdome ($20) at the head of affairs.
Easing wide between the turns, he was forced four wide as they swung.
However, this allowed him to get his momentum up while dangers Oscar’s Fortune ($3.40) and Repossession ($6) were snowbound by the wall.
Surging to the front inside the 200m, Bernie Miller’s pride and joy burst clear of Oscar’s Fortune, who eventually found room and hit the line bravely into second but three-quarters of a length astern.
Watch Jokers Grin Replay/Interview Here:
Scoring on some sloppy decks throughout winter, Desert Whisper ($4.80) found firmer foot for her first-up assignment on Saturday.
Sizzling through to lead from barrier one, Chris Parnham shook up the four-year-old 250m from home and she responded, booting away to lead by two lengths.
Shifting out under duress, she had enough gas in the tank to last the 1000m distance, fending Hanchi ($18) and Black Ora ($2.05f) by a neck.
Beaten a breath in the Max Simmonds on October 11, Luana Miss ($4.20) entered the Placid Ark Prelude with undeniable claims.
Plotting a path in the three-wide train and two-back, Shaun O’Donnell slid her deep around the home bend and she cruised into contention before he cut her loose 200m out.
(Image: Luana Miss and Shaun O'Donnell)
Bounding away up the run-in, the daughter of Bivouac had a length and three-quarters in hand over Twisted Steel ($5.50), who tried hard in second place.
Watch Luana Miss Replay/Interview Here:
A warm Railway Stakes favourite, Cosmic Crusader was smashed in betting for the Group 3 $200,000 Asian Beau Stakes (1400m), with as much as $2.15 reduced to $1.45 come start time.
Working forward, he raced almost a length in front of stablemate Luvnwar, though that galloper retained the inside running.
While they cornered as one, Watch Me Rock ($7) and William Pike had whizzed up onto the back of Cosmic Crusader and he shot into clear air after straightening.
Soon, he was on level terms with Cosmic Crusader, who struggled to muster meaningful resistance to the challenge, with Pike’s charge blasting into the lead.
A late thrust from Rope Them in ($17) got that horse to within a neck but Watch Me Rock avenged his unlucky effort last time to claim the vital Railway lead-up.
Although finishing third, Cosmic Crusader retains favouritism for that contest at $3.60, ahead of Watch Me Rock ($4.80) and Super Smink ($9).
(Image: Watch Me Rock and William Pike)
Not seen since a heroic win in the three-year-old Magic Millions at just his third start, Smooth Chino ($4.40f) resumed for his first run since February in the final event.
Zooming forward to race in second place behind Catalpa ($201), who raced almost two lengths ahead, Smooth Chino claimed the front at the 400m but had challengers quickly alongside.
But Indianna Weinert’s gelding fought manfully and brushed aside allcomers, defeating Jaz Session ($6) by a length and a quarter, going away again on the line.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY
If Jokers Grin is on course, it’s hard to go past him. Although over-racing slightly, he got the job done, and I feel there’s plenty of improvement to come. He will take beating in the Colonel Reeves but I’m particularly enthralled by his imminent Winterbottom and Gold Rush participation where he could establish himself as one of the best sprinters produced by WA in a while.
HORSE TO FOLLOW
Don’t Declare (Race 8)
Heavily supported for his debut where he should’ve won by lengths (and lengths), he backed that up with a positive display despite racing well out of his grade in the Placid Ark Prelude. Held up early in the straight and his late work was good enough. One to watch.
Hayden King