Ken Casellas | Photo: Pacepix
The powerful Bond stable maintained its dominance of the John Higgins Memorial when Deni Roberts drove Peter Petrify to victory in the $50,000 feature event at Gloucester Park on Friday night, giving it its sixth success in the 29-year history of the race.
Peter Petrify, a New Zealand-bred four-year-old and fourth favourite at $5.70, overcame a wide draw at barrier seven to win by a neck from the $2.75 favourite Paul Edward, with $61 outsider Miss Lamarr flying home, out five wide, to snatch third place.
Roberts wisely restrained Peter Petrify at the start and the gelding settled down in tenth position while Bee Jays Boy ($5.50) was setting the pace.
Roberts bided her time until she switched Peter Petrify three wide approaching the bell, and soon after that Maddison Brown sent Paul Edward forward, three wide, thus giving Peter Petrify an ideal trail in the final circuit.
After Machs Bettor came from the breeze to hit the front with 420m to travel Paul Edward assumed control 90m later. But he was unable to hold out the strong-finishing Peter Petrify, who got to the front in the final 90m.
“I lost a bit of confidence when Peter Petrify drew No. 7, knowing how hard it is to get into the race from that draw,” said Roberts. “But we got the perfect cart into the race, behind a perfect horse (Paul Edward) and didn’t get pushed any wider than we had to. It all worked out quite good for us.
“Peter Petrify never looks impressive; he doesn’t like to put them (the opposition) away. But he doesn’t let them get past him.”
Peter Petrify, who won twice from ten starts in New Zealand, has shone for leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond, with his twelve starts for them producing seven wins, four placings and one fourth. He is by American sire Pet Rock and is the eighth foal out of the Christian Cullen mare Isabella Anvil, who raced 14 times for just one win and two placings.
Rockmyster, a stablemate of Paul Edward, was an unlucky fourth in Friday night’s race. He was shuffled back to seventh in the one-wide line at the bell and was badly hampered for room in the last lap before getting clear in the final stages and finishing strongly out wide.