Ken Casellas | Photo: Pacepix
“It’s now for the Higgins,” declared Deni Roberts after driving Peter Petrify to a comfortable victory in the 2130m Jani-King Thanking Our Cleaners Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“This was a nice lead-up for next Friday night’s race.”
Peter Petrify, the $1.80 favourite on Friday night, was given a perfect trip in the one-out, one-back position while Peligroso ($8.50) was setting the pace from $5 chance Cheer The Major in the breeze. Roberts brought Peter Petrify home with a spirited burst to get to the front with 120m to travel and go on and win by a length from Peligroso, rating 1.57.1.
Peter Petrify, a New Zealand-bred four-year-old, qualified for the $50,000 final of the John Higgins Memorial when he ran home solidly to finish third behind Rockmyster and Cheer The Major in a 2100m heat at Bunbury three Wednesdays ago.
A winner at two of his ten New Zealand starts, Peter Petrify has been a work in progress for champion trainers Greg and Skye Bond, and he now has a record of 21 starts for seven wins, six placings and stakes of $59,899.
He is by American sire Pet Rock and is out of the Christian Cullen mare Isabella Anvil, who managed one win from 14 starts in New Zealand. Isabella Anvil also produced Mighty Major, whose 13 wins included seven in Western Australia between 2016 and 2018.