Oaks spot beckons for My Sister Lil
Class filly My Sister Lil pressed her WA Oaks (2400m) claims with an impressive win in the $100,000 Ascot 1000 Guineas (1800m) at Ascot.
Heavily backed from $4.80 to $3.60, My Sister Lil settled outside of pacesetter Fathnoxious and soared to the lead early in the straight.
Real Charm ($4.40) loomed as her only danger when running on from fifth on the turn for jockey William Pike.
But My Sister Lil and apprentice Ben Paterson were in control, holding off Real Charm’s challenge to score by half a length.
Midnight Shimmer ran a solid third and Balmont Girl, the $3.20 favourite, sustained a long run from near last to run fourth.
The race was marred by a nasty fall inside the final 100m when Troy Turner fell from Touch Of Black.
Apprentice Jerry Noske subsequently fell from High Secret.
An inquiry into the incident has been adjourned, but both riders appeared to escape any serious injuries.
They both require medical clearances to ride at Bunbury tomorrow.
My Sister Lil won her first two starts and ran an admirable third in the Challenge Stakes (1500m) before today’s victory.
“We didn’t think there’d be a lot of pace in the race and knew she’d be handy in running,” co-trainer Clint Price said.
“She just proved too strong for them.
“We’ve really had a lot of time for her and we have the Oaks in mind.”
The $250,000 WA Oaks is run at Ascot on March 29.
Respondent caused a boilover when upsetting top three-year-old in the $100,000 Lex Piper Stakes (1600m).
Ihtsahymn, returning from a dominant Ascot summer campaign, made a sustained run from three-wide near midfield to challenge for the lead on straightening.
But as Ihtsahymn ($2.30) looked the winner, Respondent ($18) surged home from worse than midfield to score by 1 ¼ lengths.
Ihtsahymn lost no admirers when running second. Black Hear Bart held third.
“He’s covered a bit of ground too so that’s a good sign heading forward,” Repondent’s breeder-owner Bob Peters said.
“It’s promising because his dam (Avenida Madero) was good and hopefully he can go on with it from here.
“The next race for him is over 1800 and we’ll keep going and see how far he goes.”
Respondent heads to the JC Roberts Stakes (1800m) in a fortnight.
Peters hopes to stretch him out to the $400,000 WATC Derby (2400m), run on April 12.
