Elite Belle upstages Barakey
Six-year-old Elite Belle bounded into calculations for the $1 million Railway Stakes when she produced a devastating first-up run and won today's $150,000 Seacorp-Starlight Prince Of Wales Stakes (1200m) at Ascot.
Elite Belle ($8.40) rocketed down the outside to score by 3/4 length from front running favourite Barakey ($1.50). A long neck away in third place was Checkpoint ($18.10).
The Grant Williams-trained Elite Belle, ridden today by William Pike, looks capable of fully testing interstate stars who are expected in Perth for the Railway Stakes (1600m) on November 22.
"She will start in the Lee-Steere Stakes and then head to the Railway," managing-owner Bob Peters said. "Elite Belle made an exceptional comeback after straining a tendon.
"She recovered during a year off racing. Gallopers rarely win again after that type of injury."
Elite Belle, who will be suited by a step up to1400m in $250,000 Lee-Steere Stakes on November 8, has scored eight wins in a 21-start career.
Barakey, a winner at 13 of 15 before the Prince Of Wales Stakes, was today having his first start in two months.
He remains a leading contender for the $750,000 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) on November 22.
Cuanzo earned starts in a three-year-old feature events double when winning today's $60,000 Seacorp Handicap (1100m) for trainer Eric Wake and jockey Jason Whiting.
The gelding, starting at $11, finished powerfully to defeat Shengmu and Django.
Wake said Cuanzo would tackle the $100,000 Fairetha Stakes (1400m) on November 8 and the $400,000 WA Guineas (1600m) two weeks later.
Today's earlier winners Lucky Street ($7.40), Oratism ($6.70) and Bedamijo ($16.10) gave bookmakers good results. Punters were on target when Vital Edition won at $1.90.
