New Zealand-bred pacer Miss Leopatra simply had too much speed for her eleven West Australian rivals when she set a solid pace to win the $50,000 Westral Diamond Classic for three-year-old fillies at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Prepared by Ravenswood trainer Cameron Ross and driven with supreme confidence by Jocelyn Young, Miss Leopatra, the $1.20 favourite, began from barrier three and burst to the front after 120m.
The polemarker Sovereign Jewel ($4.60) trailed the pacemaker all the way before running home with great determination to finish second, just one metre from the winner, who sprinted over the final 400m sections in 28.1sec. and 27.8sec. to record a smart rate of 1.55.1 over the 2130m journey which smashed the race record rate of 1.56.5 held jointly by Blockjorg (2020) and Water Lou (2024).
Miss Leopatra is by Bettors Delight but is far from being typical of the progeny of the champion sire who are predominantly dark bay, brown or black in colour, and are generally quite small in stature but sturdily built.
In contrast, Miss Leopatra is a big, tally filly with a massive white blaze and long white stockings on her hind legs.
Miss Leopatra has earned $70,568 and is set for bright future. “We are undecided about future plans,” said Ross. “She is lightly raced and we will let her get over tonight before we work things out.
“She is bright and fresh after her win tonight, and if there are suitable races in the next month or two, we might keep her in work. The Daintys Daughter Classic (September 18) and the WA Oaks (October 2) are likely to be the big targets for her.”
Fakenit, trained by Gary Hall snr, won the Daintys Daughter Classic and WA Oaks last season, and she impressed with a smart win as the $3 second fancy in the $25,000 Westral Free-For-All for mares on Friday night when she began speedily for Gary Hall jnr from the No. 5 barrier and set the pace before winning by a length from the $2.45 favourite Copy Cat Queen, who finished powerfully from eighth at the bell.
Fakenit, who withstood an early challenge from $10 chance Captainshavtime, dashed over the final three quarters in 29sec., 27.9sec. and 28.5sec. She rated 1.54.9 and took her record to 16 starts for six wins, seven placings and $213,864.
“As a three-year-old one thing that Fakenit lacked was gate speed,” said Hall jnr. “And tonight I was happy with the way she got out. She then hit a wheel a couple of times on the first bend, and that made her a bit keen, which wasn’t ideal with horses like Copy Cat Queen and Aardiebytheseaside sitting back.”
