Reigning Champion WA Breeders Peters Investments signed off the first month of the 2025-26 season with impressive winner Arcadia Knight at Belmont on Saturday.
Sent out a $2.50 favourite, Arcadia Knight was left in front a long way from home and had to find again when tackled by Street Band (Lucky Street) half-way down the straight. He responded and eventually went to the line with over a length to spare in the Wittens Irrigation & Design Hcp (1600m).
Owner-breeder Bob Peters admitted he was worried in running when Arcadia Knight settled well back before circling the field turning for home. “The plan was to sit outside the leader or just off the speed. We were tossing up whether to run him in this race or over 2100m and the way he won shows we can now step him out over longer trips.”
Arcadia Knight (5g Pierro – Arcadia by Redoute’s Choice) saluted for the third time this prep and that progress coincides with Clint Johnston-Porter taking the reins on a more regular basis. “He’s getting better every run,” CJP said. “He will get over more ground every day of the week. His manners and the way he hits the line has put the writing on the wall.”
He had won the Lou Luciani Hcp (1600m) at Pinjarra on August 9 and those wins came on either side of Bob and Sandra Peters receiving the 2024-25 WA Breeder Of The Year Award (pictured) at Crown Perth on Saturday, August 23.
Bred in the purple, Arcadia Knight is a full-brother to Group 1 Champion Australian Mare Arcadia Queen and Arcadia Prince (G3 Scahill Stakes) and a half-brother to Arcadia Dream (G2 WATC Derby) and Arcadia Rose (LR Belgravia Stakes).
His Micheal Grantham-trained stablemate Spectacular Park (Ocean Park) had also carried the cerise and white colours to victory at Pinjarra on August 2.
Royal Law was another Peters Investments-bred winner in August albeit for part-owner and trainer Ash Maley. He was sold for $12,000 at the 2024 Inglis June (Early) Online Sale and since banked over $130,000 following wins at Northam, Belmont and Pinjarra on August 20.
Like Arcadia Knight, Royal Law carries the Pierro – Redoute’s Choice cross through his LR Natasha Stakes-winning dam Royal Star. That cross has generated 63 individual winners topped by the Peters Investments homebred G1 Kingston Town Classic winners Arcadia Queen and Regal Power.
Peters Investments have bred the winners of 16 per cent of all stakes races held in Western Australia over the past decade and a succession of Awards have reflected that dominance – except for the 2022-23 Award won by Amelia Park and the 2023-24 Award won by Mungrup Stud.
