Peters Out To Spread His Influence

Posted on March 3, 2016March 8, 2016 | Posted by Julio Santarelli

Bob Peters will attempt to stretch his powerful racing influence across three states on Saturday.

WA’s leviathan owner-breeder will have big race representation in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth.

Headlining Peters’ cast of runners is Perfect Reflection. The star filly faces an acid test against a crack group of three-year-olds in the Australian Guineas (1600m).

The daughter of More Than Ready is out for redemption after she suffered her first defeat in the Vanity Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on February 18.

She started favourite but ran third to Don’t Doubt Mamma and Egypt.  Ridden by Victorian jockey, Ben Melham, there were excuses after she got held up.

Her challenge in the Australian Guineas does not get any easier with New Zealand star, Xtravagant, Palentino, Tarzino and Mahuta posing quality opposition.

Boom colt Xtravagant’s preparations hit a mini hurdle when his arrival in Melbourne was delayed a day after his flight on Wednesday was cancelled.

He is the TAB’s clear-cut $3 favourite, firming from $3.70 after drawing what appears to be a perfect barrier of three in the 16-horse field.

Perfect Reflection, who won five races in Perth for Grant Williams before being transferred to Weir’s Ballarat stables, will start from gate two.

Peters said he would rely on Victorian jockey, Ben Melham, who retains the ride, to display his guile and skill from an inside position.

“He just needs to ride her for luck, Peters said on TABradio.

“In a field like that you couldn’t be pulling her back to last and try and circle the field.

“He will look for a split and if he does he does and if he doesn’t he doesn’t.”

Perfect Reflection is one of two Australian Guineas starters for Weir.  Palentino, on the second line of betting at $7, has drawn the widest gate.  Mark Zahra will ride the chestnut colt.

Earlier in Melbourne programme, Real Love, will tackle the Roy Higgins Quality (2600m). The Desert King Mare, en route to the Adelaide Cup (3200m), is equal favourite with stable mate, Signoff and Assign.

Real Love, who won the 2015 Perth Cup (2400m) when under the care of Adam Durrant, has been placed twice in her two Melbourne starts.

The Desert King mare ran third to Tashbeeh over 2000m at Flemington and was a shade unlucky when she filled the same placing behind Swacadelic and Signoff in the Listed Torney Cup (2500m) at Moonee Valley.

Peters is pleased by her progress but believes Assign poses a massive threat.

“She has settled in well and is tough, nothing unsettles her,” Peters said.

“But she will run into a pretty good horse of Lloyd Williams.

“He looks like being a very good stayer who has been bought to go to the Melbourne Cup.

“He is a very good horse and it will be interesting to see how he goes.”

Peters’ WA Oaks and WA Derby campaign gathers momentum at Ascot.

Arcadia Dream, First Impressions, Royal Attraction and Impassioned tackle the Ascot 1000 Guineas (1800m).

Peters said First Impressions was the most impressive of his quartet after she won impressively over 1400m at Pinjarra.

Heart Starter and Royal Supreme take on the boys including Kia Ora Koutou in the Lex Piper Stakes (1600m).

Peters said Heart Starter had impressed when he stepped up to 1705m and defeated Sir Vatican at Bunbury.

Kinglike will race under the Peters banner for the first time in the Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Randwick.

The Exceed and Excel colt, prepared by Peter Moody, won the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington last campaign.

The TAB have Kinglike a $9 chance.

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