Delicacy delivers in WATC Derby
Delicacy overcame an early fright to deliver Bob and Sandra Peters their sixth win in the $400,000 Schweppes WATC Derby (2400m) at Ascot today.
Shortly after jumping out of the gates, the raging $1.90 favourite slipped forward and went down on her nose.
Jockey William Pike was close to falling from Delicacy and he returned to scale with blood in his mouth and on his face.
Remarkably, Delicacy recovered to sit just behind the speed in fifth position.
Pike angled out to obtain clear running on straightening and the WA Oaks (2400m) winner took the lead from Boom Time inside the final 150m.
Keysbrook ($31) ran on strongly from seventh but couldn’t reel in Delicacy, with ¾ of a length separating the two fillies.
Boom Time ($6.50) ran third.
Bob Peters said he had his heart in his mouth when Delicacy began badly.
“You don’t want those sorts of things happening,” Peters said.
“You don’t know what it does to them but obviously she picked herself up well and got the job done again.”
Delicacy continued her remarkable autumn campaign and the Peters’ domination of the WATC Derby.
It was their fourth win in the classic in the past five years, following success with Respondent (2014), Mystic Prince (2013) and Dreamaway (2011).
Old Money (2000) and Natasha (1990) were the Peters’ other derby winners.
Delicacy, the surprise packet of the autumn, made light work her rival fillies with dominant wins in the Oaks, Natasha Stakes (2200m) and Ascot 1000 Guineas (1800m).
She was catalogued as an unraced filly for sale last year but Bob Peters withdrew her.
“We love to win the derby,” Peters said.
“She’s definitely the best one.”
The Peters’ have taken all before them this season, claiming 22 of the 64 stakes races staged in WA.
Delicacy gave Pike a feature double after he booted home Resonates in the Matchmaker Classic (1400m) earlier in the day.
