Mike Storer’s up-and-coming three-year-old Lord Hatras has earned a shot at Group glory in the 2012 WATC Derby next season after breaking their black-type maiden in the $80,000 Listed Aquanita Stakes (1800m) at Ascot’s Kingston Town Classic Day on Saturday.
Backing up from an unlucky eighth place finish to King Saul in the WA Guineas over the mile, Lord Dane gelding Lord Hatras relished the step up to the 1800 metres on the weekend.
In a powerful staying display the William Pike-ridden $14 chance stormed home to snare the Aquanita Stakes win three-quarters of a length ahead of the $3.20 favourite Keepers Court, Neville Parnham’s Fort Courage finishing the same distance away for third.
“He got beat by five (lengths) last start but he copped a check which cost him roughly that margin,” Storer said.
“If punters had done their form they could have found him.”
The Aquanita Stakes is the same race Parnham’s stable ace Playing God, who won their second Group 1 Kingston Town Classic on the weekend, took out 12 months ago.
A bright future looks to be on the cards for Lord Hatras, their Lark Hill-based trainer naming the $400,000 Group 2 W.A.T.C. Derby (2400m) at Ascot on April 14, 2012 as their next major goal.
“He’ll go for a break now and we may even bring him back for the (WATC) Derby in April,” Storer said.
Playing God managed to run second in this year’s Group 1 WATC Derby to Oaks-Derby double victor Dreamaway, the race since downgraded to Group 2 status.
Saturday was Lord Hatras’ second career win from 13 starts, the galloper having scored their first race win back in October at Pinjarra after having debuted a full 12 months earlier.
The Festival of Perth Racing action continues this Saturday with the running of the $125,000 Group 3 Lee Steere Classic (1400m) at Ascot.
Make sure you get the guaranteed best odds on all of your summer season punts by signing up with the country’s leading online bookie Luxbet.
Sign up with Luxbet today and take advantage of their limited-time-only $400 bonus welcome bet offer, rewarding new customers that deposit and quote the promo code BONUSBET!
2011 Aquanita Stakes Results & Finishing Order
Ascot Race 3 – 03/12/2011
| Place | # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Br. | Wgt. | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | LORD HATRAS | Mike Storer | William Pike | - | 3 | 55kg | $15 |
| 2 | 4 | KEEPERS COURT (NZ) | Alan Mathews | Patrick Carbery | 0.75L | 10 | 55kg | $3.20F |
| 3 | 2 | FORT COURAGE | Neville Parnham | Steven Parnham | 1.5L | 5 | 56kg | $6.50 |
| 4 | 1 | FINAL CUT | Brian O’Malley | Peter Knuckey | 2.25L | 1 | 56.5kg | $8 |
| 5 | 6 | INDEPENDENT MAK | Julie Clements | Shaun O’Donnell | 2.25L | 2 | 55kg | $26 |
| 6 | 9 | NINGALOO BLITZ | Daniel Morton | Glyn Schofield | 3L | 4 | 53kg | $4.80 |
| 7 | 8 | WAKAHA KID | Steven Ryan | Alan Kennedy | 3.25L | 7 | 55kg | $101 |
| 8 | 5 | ARETE (NZ) | Darren Mcauliffe | Jason Whiting | 4L | 6 | 55kg | $26 |
| 9 | 7 | FIRST FLIGHT | Graham Yuill | Ms Kyra Yuill (a) | 4.5L | 8 | 55kg | $7.50 |
| 10 | 10 | ALLEZ MARSEILLES | Shane A Edwards | Jason Brown | 5.25L | 9 | 53kg | $16 |
