Up and coming driver Corey Peterson has recorded his first Friday night double at Gloucester Park, producing two impressive drives on Always Arjay and Kuhn Ratha.
Peterson had to be patient with the Matt Scott-trained Always Arjay in the Book Your Next Conference At Gloucester Park Pace (2536m), where there was a strong early pace on.
Always Arjay settled four back on the pegs for much of the race, as Livura set the pace in front of race favourite Bravo Tex, while another of the race favourites Tisadream was left in the breeze.
Peterson was able to get to the outside on Always Arjay and finish over the top of Forever Remembered and Livura.
Peterson said he was never concerned during the run, despite being a long way off the leaders approaching the turn.
“He’s been racing well and the 2500m suits him to a tee,” he said.
“When the speed was on early, I was quite confident.”
Peterson then teamed up with Khun Ratha in the New Year’s Eve At Gloucester Park Pace (2130m), where he was happy to relinquish the lead to Handsandwheels in the early stages.
Khun Ratha was able to settle on the back of the leader, while race favourite Maxentius made his way to the breeze.
The eight-year-old loomed up to the leading pair on the turn and eventually wore down Maxentius in the closing stages and seal the double for Peterson.
“I was happy to sit on Handsandwheels and Maxentius because they were the best in the race,” Peterson said.
“Then they went hard from the bell, so I was happy camped over them.”
Elsewhere, Vampiro booked himself a trip to Melbourne for the Inter Dominion after taking out the Group 2 James Brennan Memorial (2130m).
Reinsman Ryan Warwick had few issues finding the front on Vampiro from barrier three and went on to win by 2.3m.
Vampiro’s stablemate Our Jimmy Johnstone produced an encouraging return to finish second, while Tricky Styx was third.
Trainers Greg and Skye Bond will take Galactic Star to Melbourne as well as Vampiro.
Galactic Star is ranked 12th in the Inter Dominion, while Vampiro is 17th.
Another horse the Bond team contemplated taking to Melbourne for the Inter Dominion was Mitch Maguire, who showed he wouldn’t be out of place in the series with a comfortable win in the Book A Private Box At Gloucester Park Conditioned Handicap (2503m).
Owner Rob Gartrell said a lot of thought was given to taking Mitch Maguire to Melbourne, but felt it may have come a year to soon.
Gartrell didn’t rule out giving Mitch Maguire a shot at the Fremantle and WA Pacing Cups in January.
“We tossed up whether to take him across for it,” he said.
“He’s a nice horse, he had some time off as a juvenile with injury but he has come back really strong.
“This year, he will tell us, but if he can hold together he’s probably a chance to go in our better quality races.”
Tim Walker