Leviathan owner Bob Peters appeared to have a good hand with three runners in the WA Champion Fillies Stakes (1600m) –and so it turned out but only narrowly.
In a driving finish Delicacy, described by jockey Peter Hall, “as a tough fighter,” staved off Dancing Express (Brad Parnham), by a head. Another Peters owned galloper Ideal Image (Shaun O’Donnell) finished in third place while his third runner, Silverstream, finished 11th.
All three are trained by Grant Williams and the winner described by Hall as a “tough fighter” has now won four of her five starts. Hall would know as he is one himself.
“That is what a good barrier draw can do for you and I think it made the difference,” Peters said. (Delicacy jumped from barrier three whereas Ideal Image drew 10).
However the breeder-owner was quick to add it turned out better for him with Delicacy winning. “That gives me another black type mare to breed with as the other filly has already achieved that status,” Peters said.
By narrowly beating the Parnham stable, in the Champion Fillies Stakes, the Peters-Williams combination reversed the order of the previous race.
In the RJ Peters Stakes (1500m), trainer Neville Parnham combined with his youngest son, Chris, to win with Bass Strait. It was the apprentice jockey’s first Group winner and gives him a good mount in next week’s Railway Stakes.
Peters galloper, in the race named after him, Respondent (William Pike), was second with Trading Day (Willie White) third.
The day got even better for Peters when he gained a quinella in the last race.The Adam Durrant trained Real Love (William Pike) beat Dark Delight (Peter Hall) with Angel Rose (Joe Azzopardi) next best.
As for Neville Parnham, WA’s most successful trainer, he headed off to the Hall of Fame dinner as a short priced favourite to be inducted.
But even shorter odds were given that he would have been more pleased with his youngest son’s winning ride than the honours predicted to come his way that night.