Peters Investments just missed out with Westbound (Toronado) in the LR Belmont Classic (2200m) on Saturday but struck back an hour later thanks to up-and-coming filly Western Miss in the aptly-named Peters Investments Hcp (1650m).
Western Miss (3f Ghaiyyath – Western Pride by Animal Kingdom) is closely-related to Westbound and she completed an on-pace hat-trick in the cerise and white silks after Willie Pike elected to stride forward and sit on the speed set by Linchpin (Playing God).
Western Miss wins the Peters Investments Hcp (1650m) at Belmont Photo: Western Racepix
Bob Peters rated Western Miss the best of his current 3yo crop when interviewed back in the enclosure but believes she has a lot to learn. So does Pike. “She was very keen in the early stages. I thought we could get cover early and settle but I was proven wrong,” The Wiz said with a wry smile.
“There was nowhere to hide outside the leader but she’s determined and has raw ability. She rallied late for a good win but Michael (Grantham) will have to work on her manners.”
Bred in the purple, Western Miss is from the first southern-crop of Darley’s Irish-bred shuttler Ghaiyyath (Dubawi) who was named 2020 European Horse of the Year after completing a rare Group 1 treble in the Coronation Cup (2400m) at Epsom Downs, Eclipse Stakes (2000m) at Sandown and Juddmonte International (2000m) at York.
Peters Investments has supported Ghaiyyath who stands at Darley’s Victorian base at Northwood Park in Seymour. Their recent Belmont winner Effortlessly (Churchill) has a 2yo half-sister (Triumphant Star), yearling half-sister (Philogyny) and a weanling colt by the Darley sire who will stand for an $88,000 (inc GST) service fee this year.
That’s a substantial increase from a $27,500 (inc GST) fee during his last southern book in 2024.
Western Miss is the first foal from Western Pride who is an older half-sister to Westbound and Western Empire (Iffraaj). The latter won the G1 Railway Stakes (1600m) back in 2021 but subsequently changed hands to complete a Belmont weight-for-age treble last month for Grant and Alana Williams in the G3 Belmont Sprint (1400m), G3 Hyperion Stakes (1600m) and G3 Strickland Stakes.
