Gingerbread Man gelding Main Act made the most of an on-pace bias to defeat long-time leader Kelvinater (Heritage) in Heat 2 of the Westspeed Platinum Spring Series (1300m) on Saturday.
The two front-runners duelled for the length of the straight before Main Act forged ahead under Brad Parnham at Belmont. It also brought up a double for Yarradale Stud resident Gingerbread Man who sired Bosun to win Heat 1 of the Spring Series a fortnight ago. The $100,000 Final (1600m) highlights closing day at Belmont on September 26.
“He hit the line hard from an outside gate last start and Brad suggested we go forward today,” trainer Bob McPherson said. “He had the run of the race and hopefully he can kick-on from here.”
Main Act returns to scale with Brad Parnham / Photo: Western Racepix
Parnham was also impressed with the win. “Sitting outside the leader wasn’t the initial plan but the pattern today forced my hand. We didn’t do it too hard and he picked up nicely to tough it out at the finish.”
The latest victory broke a twelve-month run of outs for Main Act and sent his earnings through $230,000 including Westspeed Bonuses of $82,500. McPherson and his wife Jan bred and race him in partnership with Dalyellup-based Betty Lammie.
Main Act’s dam West End Theatre (Rogano) is an older half-sister their black-type galloper Playhouse Patron (Patronize) who owns wins in the LR George Towton Cup (2200m) and LR ATA Stakes (2200m) at Ascot.
Playhouse Patron has banked $565,000 to date and was last seen finishing fifth in this year’s G2 Perth Cup (2400m). He’s winding up for another staying campaign after a hit-out over 950m at the Lark Hill barrier trials last week.
Main Act’s younger half-brother On Cue (Ducimus) won a Northam maiden last month and he has been nominated for Belmont this Wednesday. West End Theatre also has an unnamed 2yo filly by Ducimus.
Shooting To Win provided the first-leg of a running double at Belmont for the Yarradale roster and for Parnham when Six Shooter scored first-up in the Wittens Irrigation Hcp (1200m) for Boyanup trainer Michael Lane.
Sunny Honey (Patronize) led them up just like his victory over the same track and trip on August 1, nevertheless, he was there to be beaten by Six Shooter and Swansee (I’m All The Talk). They took over in the straight and didn’t give an inch but didn’t count on the late rally of Hurricane Harley (Safeguard) who charged late to nearly pinch it on the line.
“We had the right run tracking Clint (Johnston-Porter on Swansee),” Brad Parnham said. “It was a good effort and he was just too strong.”
His dam Caipirinha (Nicconi) was trained by Simon Miller and was a Listed winner of the Belgravia Stakes, Placid Ark Stakes and Miss Andretti Stakes at Ascot.
Apart from the Yarradale and Brad Parnham doubles, Six Shooter was the second-leg of a Michael Lane-trained double following stablemate Haida Gwaii (Calyx) who won the $100,000 Jolly Beggar Stakes (1200m) earlier on Saturday.
With Chris Parnham aboard, Haida Gwaii tracked Ginnivan (Steve Parnham) and won in a head-bobbing finish. The favourite September Born (Brad Parnham) failed to flatter back in the field.
Shooting To Win (Northern Meteor) and Gingerbread Man (Shamardal) are both priced at $5,500 (inc GST) service fees at Yarradale this season. For all enquiries contact Davy Hanratty on 0429 336 904.
