Newmarket Renewal for Perth Elites

Media Release - Friday March 5

WA breeders Bob Peters and Robert Anderson will renew their Group 1 rivalry in the Newmarket Hcp (1200m) at Flemington this Saturday.

Elite Street defeats Celebrity Queen in the G1 Winterbottom Stakes - image Western Racepix

Both long-term TBWA members, they shared a dead-heat when Celebrity Queen (Redoute’s Choice) and Portland Sky (Deep Field) couldn’t be split in the G1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 20.

Peters has Celebrity Queen back in action on Saturday but Anderson’s straight-six representative will be his Perth Group 1 winner Elite Street (Street Boss).

The west is overdue in Australia’s iconic sprint after a purple-patch with Hay List (2012), Scenic Blast (2009) and Miss Andretti (2007).  Celebrity Queen would also emulate former Perth star Placid Ark who completed the Oakleigh Plate – Newmarket double in 1987.

Bob and Sandra Peters

Peters and his wife Sandra were happy with the decision a fortnight ago.  They kept thinking back to 1988 when Congressman dived at Imposera right on the line in the Caulfield Cup.  “Everyone was saying Congressman had won,” Peters remembered.  “But, in the end, we didn’t get it.

“When it was taking so long the other day, I said to Sandra ‘I will take a dead-heat’.  It’s still a Group 1.” 

The Perth couple have won five Group 1 events so far this season which is only bettered by Godolphin.

Celebrity Queen is a Peters Investments homebred by Champion Australian sire Redoute’s Choice and is the first foal from LR Bolton Sprinter winner Celebrity Miss (More Than Ready).  Second-dam Miss Margaret (Marscay) carried their cerise and while silks to Group 1 victories in the 1996 South Australian Oaks and VRC Emirates Stakes.

Elite Street defeated Celebrity Queen by a neck the last time they met in the G1 Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot in November but he has opened a $34 outsider following a dozen-length failure in the G1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington.

Trainer Dan Morton, who saddled Scenic Blast in the 2009 Newmarket, believes Elite Street can bounce back this Saturday.  “That last run was too bad to be true and he’s worth having something on at those odds.  He’s a quality horse and we’re not just here to make up the numbers. 

Advertisement

“He was out of sorts and too wound up before the Lightning.  The damage was done before he got in the barriers.  Hopefully, he’s in the right frame of mind on Saturday.”

Left to right - Len, Dan and Annette Morton with Robert and Ann Anderson.

Elite Street is a homebred for Robert Anderson and his wife Ann who operate Anita Vale Stud at Mardella about 50km south of Perth.  A retired Supreme Court judge, he has already tasted elite-level success at Flemington having bred and sold Scenic Shot (Mackinnon Stakes) and Ancient Song (Salinger Stakes). 

Scenic Shot’s half-sister Line Of Flight (Bletchley Park) is the second-dam of Portland Sky who was an $85,000 Anita Vale graduate at the 2019 Perth Magic Millions.  Trainer Matt Laurie reports Portland Sky has come through the Oakleigh Plate without any problems and will be set for the G1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Friday, March 19.

Elite Street was withdrawn from the 2018 Perth Magic Millions because of high-risk x-rays.  He required surgery twice to remove bone chips and was then held back by a lung infection.

“But from that day to the Winterbottom, he didn’t miss a beat,” Anderson revealed.  “We tick along with about a half-dozen mares and only keep and race the foals we get stuck with.  Sometimes it works in our favour and, obviously, sometimes it doesn’t.”

The Andersons are partners in Elite Street with Dan Morton’s parents - Len and Annette – and their friendship goes back to the 1980s. 

“He’s by Street Boss - I’ve always liked the Street Cry sireline,” he said. 

“His dam Elite Ateates is by Exceed and Excel and we sourced her for $65,000 as a broodmare prospect in Victoria.  That was more than I wanted to spend but Ann was adamant we buy the mare and it turned out she was right.”

News from TBWA

Advertisment
More Reading...
420k NZ Ready to Run Purchase Looks the Goods
Progressive three-year-old Sulek notched his first victory when landing the MRC Foundation Pin & Win Plate (1400m) at Sandown on Wednesday for trainer Dominic Sutton.
King’s Legacy Filly Salutes for Yulong
The first stakes-winner for her sire King’s Legacy when winning the Group III SAJC David Coles AM Stakes (1200m) last season, Steel Trap was subsequently purchased by Yulong privately and she posted her first win in their colours at Sandown on Wednesday.
Kiwi Raider Pier Upbeat Ahead of Epsom
Co-trainer and part-owner Darryn Weatherley is taking a glass half full approach ahead of Saturday’s Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) after he came up with an awkward wide gate for Pier.
Godolphin’s Lonhro Filly Proficient On Debut
From the penultimate crop of Darley’s Champion Sire Lonhro, the Ben, Will and JD Hayes trained 3yo filly Proficient started the race favourite, winning the Sportsbet Race Previews Plate (1000m) at Sandown Hillside in a fighting finish. 
Sires With Winners - Tuesday September 30
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Magic Trials at Caulfield Heath
Early season two-year-olds will step out this Thursday, 2 October, at the Caulfield Spring Trials presented by Magic Millions, with 800m 2YO heats following the opening trial for Group performers at 7:30am on the Caulfield Heath.
Swettenham Stud Delighted with Lofty Strike Foals
Swettenham Stud are delighted with the growing buzz of excitement surrounding the first foals for young gun sire Lofty Strike.
Bryce Bevan Appointed Head of Digital at Magic Millions
Magic Millions' commitment to conduct online thoroughbred auctions has received a huge boost with today's announcement that Bryce Bevan has been appointed as Head of Digital.
Autumn Glow Epsom Challenge - Just How Big Is This Task?
With the unbeaten Autumn Glow set to run as the first odds-on favourite this century in the Epsom Handicap on Saturday we thought we’d run some data to see how big this mountain is that she’s attempting to climb, and turns out, it’s pretty big.
Talented So You Think Mare Goes Two for Two
So You Think is setting the pace for winners this season as we head into October and one of those promising winners is talented four year-old mare Enamorada, who made it two wins in as many starts when saluting at Sandown on Wednesday as favourite.