Show On The Road was stepping up to a mile for the first time in six starts on Wednesday and made every metre count in the Bisley Workwear Maiden (1600m) at Ascot.
He went out a short-priced favourite after placings over shorter trips at Pinjarra and jumped in front for Brad Parnham before handing up the lead to Pilbara Song (Oratorio). The 40-start maiden galloper set a quick clip in front for claiming apprentice Rocky Cheung only to fade from view when the pressure was applied in the straight.
A big horse with a high head carriage, Show On The Road loomed up to take over and did just enough to defeat Savvy Ruler (Universal Ruler) and Pretey Royal (Royal Meeting) in a three-way finish.
“He was the best out and I thought he would get the lead on paper but it wasn’t that simple,” Parnham explained. “He still has a lot to learn and there’s more to come when he works it all out. He was too strong today but if he ran to his true ability, it would have been a lot easier.”
Show On The Road was bred by Greenfields Lodge owner Tony Patrizi and is a half-brother to Investmentstrategy (Playing God) who was a Listed winner of a Fairetha Stakes and Sir Ernest Lee-Steere Classic. Like last year’s G2 Karrakatta Plate (1200m) winner Talkanco, he’s from the final crop of I’m All The Talk (Stratum) conceived at Darling View Thoroughbreds in 2021.
Their dam World Class (Manhattan Rain) has a filly foal by Playing God at Capel and the mare was bred back to Sessions last September. “He only does enough to win and will probably be needing blinkers soon,” trainer Ryan Hill said. “He’s also getting his confidence back after nearly falling when we took him down to Esperance earlier this year.
