Peters Investments homebred Westbound has come from a dozen lengths off the speed to street his rivals in the LR Aquanita Stakes (2000m) at Belmont.
Westbound (3g Toronado – Western Jewel by Jeune) went out an even-money favourite and Clint Johnston-Porter rode him like the best horse in the winter feature on Saturday. Freewheeling Castle Road (Safeguard) set some quick sectionals but was fair game for King Of The Town (Flying Artie) who took over into the straight.
Meantime, Johnston-Porter had manoeuvred Westbound within range and they put the race to bed to score by three lengths pulling up from Special Counsel (Star Witness) and Linchpin (Playing God). It improved his strike-race to 5 wins in 9 starts for prizemoney of $304,000 including Westspeed Bonuses of $96,850.
“It was good to see pace like that in a distance race here,” Bob Peters said. “We have a good record in this race and he’s as good as any of our previous winners. There have been stronger Aquanitas but that proved he can get over ground and he looks the goods for the future.”
Westbound will sign off in the LR Belmont Classic (2200m) on July 18 before resuming next season for races like the G2 Perth Cup (2400m). Peters Investments has won 10 Perth Cup to date.
Winning jockey Clint Johnston-Porter combined with trainer Michael Grantham to win last year’s Aquanita with Arcadia Park (Ocean Park) and they went on to double up the LR Belmont Classic in the cerise and while silks.
“I rode Westbound first-up this prep at Ascot and knew he needed blinkers. Since then we’ve seen the best of him. I was confident today following Stevie (Parnham) and he did the rest. I just had to get to the outside and it was all over.”
Westbound (Photo / Western Racepix) is by Swettenham Stud sire Toronado (High Chaparral) and his dam Western Jewel won a G2 Perth Cup (2400m) in 2011. She was also a renowned producer of G1 Railway Stakes (1600) winner Western Empire (Ifraaj) and LR Bunbury Stakes (1400m) winner Western Temple (Dream Ahead). Her yearling is a colt by Playing God and her final foal is a filly by Lightsaber.
Earlier at Belmont on Saturday, Peters Investments won the Tim Helfer Hcp (1300m) with the Mapperley Stud graduate Conducive (NZ). The 3yo daughter of Irish-bred sire Contributer (High Chaparral) is a half-sister to Star Of Bombay (Atlante) who won the LR Mufhasa Stakes (1300m) at Ellerslie in 2020.
Agent John Chalmers purchased Conducive on behalf of Peters Investments for $130,000 at the 2024 NZB Karaka Book 1 Yearling Sale.
Peters Investments was also on the mark with another promising 3yo filly at Pinjarra on Thursday when long odds-on favourite American Image spaced her rivals in the Electrical Consultancy WA Maiden (1400m).
Former Coolmore Stud shuttler American Pharoah (USA) sired her in his final southern crop from G3 La Trice Classic (1800m) winner Ideal Image (More Than Ready) who is one of four black-type winners from G2 WA Oaks (2400m) winner Reflected Image (Bluebird).
