It was the major shock on a night when several short-priced favourites failed. But it was a well-deserved reward for her consistency since she finished second at each of her first four starts in June and July of last year.

Dial A Taxi notched eight placings from her first 12 starts before she broke through for wins at Pinjarra and Gloucester Park this month. Her win in the rich classic brought up a hat-trick and boosted her earnings to $92,230.

Dial A Taxi, trained at Byford by Kevin Giblett, was handled in fine style by Mark Reed, who fired the filly out fast from barrier two, but was unable to get to the early lead as Ryan Warwick kicked Apache Sunrise up on her inside to assume control.

Reed quickly angled Dial A Taxi on to the pegs to enjoy a soft run behind the pacemaker. After setting a moderate pace Apache Sunrise looked a good thing to go on and record her fifth win. But, despite Warwick’s urgings, she wilted over the final 120m.

Dial A Taxi, bred by Regent Park Pty Ltd (managed by Jim Wooltorton), is by former star pacer Saab out of Dial A Light, a hardy mare who had 153 starts in WA for 11 wins, 20 placings and $67,743. She retired in 2001 on an M4 mark.

Dial A Taxi is the second foal out of Dial A Light, whose first foal Botts Xample failed to be placed from his 21 starts.

Punk Rocker, who was last in the middle stages, moved up to be eighth (three wide) at the bell and impressed in sustaining her finishing burst to be third, just ahead of Cuvee Riche.

Ken Casellas
Western Australian Trotting Association