Dropped out by William Pike, Rainline ($3.80) still had seven lengths to find passing the 600m but began to make gradual progress as the field grouped approaching the home turn.
When a middle split didn’t eventuate, The Wizard hooked the four-year-old to the extreme outside and she began a rattling run, steaming up to Gold Maker ($3.60f) with 50m to go.
Under Pike’s vigour, the daughter of just found enough to beat the plucky Gold Maker by a half-head.
(Image: Pearce Racing kicked off the day with Rainline, the first of four winners for William Pike)
A first-up winner previously, punters had little hesitation in installing Just Saint James ($3.40f) atop the market for the second event.
Getting back third from last and in much the same manner as Rainline, Just Saint James was extricated to the outer by Chris Parnham.
Releasing his run, the five-year-old raced to the front inside the final 100m to beat Thermosphere Lad ($31) and Resonator ($101) by a long-neck.
Rubens’ Ceiling ($8) created an impression on debut at Northam when leading and running away from his rivals for a comfortable success.
However, on Saturday in metro company, he found himself back next to last and versatility would be required at just his second race start.
But nearing the turn, the son of King’s Legacy travelled smoothly under Brad Parnham, and he let rip as the widest runner early in the straight.
Swooping to capture the lead with just over 100m to go, the Ryan Hill-trained gelding got the better of the argument between him and Saam Time Lucky ($8.50) to win by a short-neck.
Rubens’ Ceiling Replay/Interview
It’s a long way from the rural surrounds of Mount Magnet to Ascot but First Beach ($16) proved that to be the winning formula as he rebounded to succeed in the fourth event.
Beaten on September 20, the chestnut was stuck out four wide without cover for the duration but still moved as well as any rounding the bend.
Asked up by Clint Johnston-Porter nearing the 200m, he found a gear and comfortably held the attentions of Magna’s Choice ($3.10) to salute by three-quarters of a length.
Even with his formidable front-running style, there’s more heart than meets the eye with Prophet And Power ($6).
The now seven-year-old didn’t make the races until a couple of months shy of his fifth birthday and a breakout campaign around the turn of this year, featuring a winning hat-trick – was reward for the patient Taylor team.
But after going down with a bout of colic in February, not only the gelding’s career but life was on the line.
After adopting his typical lead role first-up, Chanel Cooper played a different hand aboard the bay on Saturday when taking a sit on Little Silver ($15).
Little Silver offered a genuine kick rounding the turn and momentarily spurned his chasers but with granite-like toughness, Prophet And Power gathered him up in the last 50m to salute by a head.
His tiny tail, a result of his arduous escape from death, shows it’s not the size of the dog in the fight; it’s the size of the fight in the dog.
After delivering Wembanyama ($1.75f) to a perfect ride last week, punters again piled on Pike when he steered the race six fancy backed from $2.90 down.
Allowed to find his feet in midfield, Pike pulled the Mack Hall-trained galloper five wide around the bend and cut loose with his effort.
Though the race threatened to ebb away from them, the five-year-old responded to the animation of Pike and got up to beat I’m Nipote ($11) by a long-head.
Wembanyama replay/interview here:
The opposite occurred in the following event as supporters deserted Pike’s mount Black Ora, who drifted from $2.50 favouritism out to $4.80 come start time.
With a hot pace upfront, Black Ora remained second last on the corner before WA’s leading hoop spied a gap and drove the four-year-old for home.
Chicaning through the traffic, the four-year-old finished furiously to flash up to the front-runners at the 50m, eventually drilling away for an easy three-quarter-length triumph.
After a tardy start, Rope Them In ($6.50) was left with work to do in the Listed $125,000 R S Crawford Stakes (1200m) against a crack field of Pinnacles hopefuls.
Recovering to be just worse than centerfield on the turn, Shaun McGruddy was walled in as he attempted to come to the outside.
Switching back to the inside, the five-year-old still had lengths to find on London’s Image ($5.50), who had loomed menacingly alongside the leaders.
But Rope Them In simply erupted over the last 100m flying to a short-neck success, with Super Smink ($3.10f) an eye-catching third a further long-neck astern
(Image: Rope Them In was too sharp on return in the R.S. Crawford Stakes)
The day’s headline event, the Group 3 $200,000 Eurythmic Stakes (1400m), was run at comparatively sedate tempo as Comfort Me ($7.50) found his way to his customary role as pacemaker.
Sensing this, Clint Johnston-Porter pushed Diamond Scene ($14) onto the pace and kept the leader company before the intensity rose at the 600m.
When Comfort Me tried to slip the pack on the turn, Diamond Scene responded to the Johnston-Porter drive, giving hot and persistent pursuit.
A two-time Perth Cup starter, Diamond Scene also landed an upset 1400m win first-up last preparation to show he’s no one-trick pony, and eventually his stamina came to the fore as he raced to the front 100m out.
Keeping up the sturdy gallop, the son of So You Think drew clear to score by three-quarters of a length from Comfort Me and the unlucky Watch Me Rock ($2.15f), who was held up behind the pacesetters.
(Image: Diamond Scene under hands and heels of Clint Johnston-Porter wins the Eurythmic)
For one last time, William Pike dropped his mount out to the end of the field, with Essentric Nature ($3.10f) chasing a winning hat-trick.
And in the same fashion as he started the day, The Wizard ripped the five-year-old to the wide outside to produce a flashing finale.
The gelding answered the call, whistling home to collect Correct Choice ($12) and Our Rocky Bay ($20) with 50m left and dashed on to a three-quarter-length victory.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY
Stick or twist? The question begs now for connections of Rope Them In after his dazzling first-up win in the Crawford Stakes whether he sticks to the 1200m journey of the Winterbottom or rises to the 1600m of the Railway Stakes. Either way he goes, he’s going to be an intriguing Pinnacles addition courtesy of his zappy sprint.
Check out trainer Steve Wolfe’s post-race interview here
HORSE TO FOLLOW
Super Smink (Race 8)
Hard to beat next time out rising in distance. Looked sharp in her trial before Saturday’s first-up effort and she looks bang on song for a big campaign, which will culminate in some of the top features over the next couple of months.
Hayden King