Results are included from Saturday's black-type races at Ascot, WA
Group 3 Colonel Reeves S., Ascot
Race Summary:
Persistence has paid off for Durendal (Medaglia d'Oro {USA}) who broke through for his second black-type win from a run of 12 stakes placings in Western Australia in the G3 Colonel Reeves S. (1100m) at Ascot.
The 7-year-old had half a length to spare over Belter (Denman) with Scales Of Justice (Not A Single Doubt) third, and he will now head to the G1 Winterbottom S., a race he ran third in last year.
Formerly trained in Melbourne, Durendal won the 2016 G3 Standish Hcp. Sold to Perth, he has become one of the most consistent sprinters, but had not won in 17 starts, all of them at stakes-level.
Pedigree Notes:
Durendal is from a strong stakes-producing family, with his dam Razor Blade (Blazing Sword) having produced Group 1 winner Flamberge (Exceed And Excel), Listed winner and Group 1-placed Curtana (Exceed And Excel) and the Group 2 winner Sunburnt Land (Scenic {Ire}).
He was bred by David Moodie's Contract Racing, which has raced most of Razor Blade's progeny including her last foal, Weapon Of Choice, who is prepared by Durendal's former trainers, Mat Ellerton and Simon Zahra.
Group 3 WA Champion Fillies S., Ascot
The Grant and Alana Williams-trained Arcadia Queen (Pierro) atoned for her recent defeat in the Listed Burgess Queen S. with a strong finish to claim the G3 Group 3 WA Champion Fillies S.
Tracking the horse who beat her last start, Lady Cosmology (Universal Ruler), Arcadia Queen charged home to beat her by a length and a half with a big margin back to Leading Girl (Reliable Man) in third.
She became the 12th stakes winner for her sire and a step up to the G1 Kingston Town S. is among the options being considered by her owner and breeder Bob Peters.
Pedigree Notes:
Arcadia's Queen's dam, Arcadia (Redoute's Choice) has produced six winners from as many foals to the track, including G2 WA Derby winner Arcadia Dream and Listed Belgravia S. winner Arcadia Rose (Kheleyf {USA}).
With an as yet unraced 2-year-old by Sebring and two other fillies, both by Domesday, on their way, Arcadia's impact on WA racing is far from finished.
Arcadia won three of her 11 starts and is a half-sister to Listed-winning pair Broadway Belle and Antique Belle. Their dam Antique was a full-sister to stakes winners Kalatiara and Kentiara.
G3 RJ Peters S., Ascot
Freo registered the first stakes win for his sire Izmir and his trainer Daniel O'Connor in the G3 RJ Peters S.
The 5-year-old had half a length to spare on the line to beat Cappo D'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro {USA}) and Takagano (Rogano) to give his trainer a massive thrill.
It was Freo's fourth win in 13 starts and helped take his career prize money to over $180,000. His connections are now considering whether to pay the late entry fee for the G1 Kingston Town S.
Pedigree Notes:
Freo's dam Mexican Lass, a consistent mare in her racing days, has only had three named foals and Freo is the only one to have won. Having been not served in two years, she foaled a colt by Gingerbread Man last month.
