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After apprentice jockey Rueven Ravindra rode an early double in the first two races on Friday, it was jockey Danny Beasley’s turn to hog the winner’s circle in successive style, but went one better with a three-in-a-row.
While Ravindra steered home two longshots in Bankers Call ($117) and Tip Of Borneo ($116), his senior colleague got the job done with three well-supported fancies in Laser Storm ($29 third favourite) in the $60,000 Class 4 Division 2 race over 1200m, $11 top-elect Bob in the next event, the $65,000 Initiation race over 1400m, before completing the rout with $24 shot White Coffee in the $60,000 Class 4 Division 1 race over 1200m.
Beasley’s hat-trick of wins incidentally helped spice up the trainer’s premiership battle at the top. Bob completed a double for leading trainer Laurie Laxon after he won earlier with Tip Of Borneo while the winning rides aboard Laser Storm and White Coffee were recorded for trainer Alwin Tan, currently second to Laxon, only five wins astern.
Beasley summed up the race to perfection aboard Bob, a Darci Brahma four-year-old who was getting off the mark at his ninth start for the Oscar Racing Stable.
Sent on his way from a middle draw, Bob, who normally takes up a midfield spot, was a lot more forward on Friday night, when he took up the running – and there was to be no looking back from that point onwards.
Delfyne (Lisa Allpress) gave a fleeting scare when she levelled up at the 300m, but was left standing once Bob was off and gone by the 300m, a first for him given he did not really lengthen up at his previous starts. The John O’Hara-trained mare stuck on solidly for third four lengths away.
Mighty Glory (Nooresh Juglall), who had Bob in close quarters in the early stages, soon conceded four lengths upon straightening, but managed to whittle the space down to two lengths at the winning post. The winning time was 1min 23.48secs for the 1400m on the Long Course.
Beasley said the leading tactics were not by design, but more a case of going with the flow.
“We were supposed to ride him quiet, off the speed, but he landed in front and it worked out good in the end,” said the in-form rider.
“I ride him a fair bit in the morning and to put it simply, he’s not an easy horse to ride. You’ve just got to go with him.
“He’s a Darci Brahma, but he is a bit of a thinking horse, which cost him a few races before when he just hangs off the fence.
“But he was pretty relaxed tonight and as soon as he rolled forward, he found the fence and I think that helped him go straight, not to mention he had a one-eyed blinker on.”
Laxon’s assistant-trainer Shane Ellis concurred with Beasley that Bob had always shown potential, but the firmer track worked in his favour this time.
“It’s pretty firm tonight and the track is playing that way. It wasn’t our plan to lead but he put himself there,” said the Perth horseman.
“Danny gave him a good ride. He’s always showed us ability and I think the one-eyed blinkers was a big help, too.”