Midnight Blue Makes it Ten Perth Cups for Bob and Sandra Peters

Mark Smith - Saturday January 1

The Peters Investments and Grant and Alana Williams show rolled on without Willie Pike in the Group II Perth Cup (2400m) at Ascot on New Year's Day.

Pat Carberry won the Cup in 2001 on Lottila Bay, and he gave the favourite Midnight Blue a pearler.

Third in the Perth Cup twelve months ago, the son of So You Think hit the line strongly to defeat Paddy's Shadow (Dane Shadow)  by a half-length with Platoon (Playing God) a long neck back in third.

The winner of the Listed Ascot Gold Cup back in November, Midnight Blue advances his record to five wins, three seconds, and five thirds from 19 starts with earnings of $580,200

It was a tenth win in the race for Peters Investments.

That makes ten for Bob and Sandra Peters (image Western Racepix)

Midnight Blue needed to overcome an interrupted preparation due to a hoof problem.

"It was a bit unfortunate, but he caught up and had not lost a lot of work.

"He had the ability to be there and ran third in the race last year, so he proved he could run 2400m, and he has done it again today.

Advertisement

"He has developed and matured. You only have to have a look at him and see what a big strong horse he is.

Midnight Special was sold for $80,000 in 2021

"He was a late foal and took a long time to catch up."

The Peters Investments homebred is one of three stakes winners for the Zabeel mare Midnight Special.

A sister to Group III Naturalism Stakes winner Rainbow Styling, Midnight Special is the dam of Group II ARC Great Northern Guineas and Group II ARC Easter Handicap winner Demonetization (All Too Hard) and dual Listed winner Neverland (Big Brown), who was runner-up twice in the Perth Cup.

Bob Peters sold Midnight Special for $80,000 at the 2021 Inglis March (Early) Online Sale. She was sold empty having been given a year off in 2020.

The daughter of Zabeel was covered by Highland Reel (IRE) last September.

Advertisment

Race Result - Tabtouch - Perth Cup Gr2 2400m

Ascot Track: Good(4) Time: 2:30.83
1
Midnight Blue
- 5g So You Think (NZ) x Midnight Special (AUS) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: G & A Williams Rdr: P Carbery 53
So You Think
2
0.5
Paddy's Shadow
- 7m Dane Shadow (AUS) x Pattie Me Lass (AUS) (Lords A Leaping (NZ))
Tnr: Ms R L Williams Rdr: S O'Donnell 53
3
0.9
Platoon
- 6g Playing God (AUS) x Oriel (AUS) (Oratorio (AUS))
Tnr: N D Parnham Rdr: S Parnham 56
Inglis March (Early) Online Sale $14,000
Seller: Geisel Park Stud
Buyer: Roy Rogers
MM Perth Yearling Sale $130,000
Seller: Geisel Park Stud, Myalup, WA
Buyer: Roy Rogers Racing
4
1.4
Pure Devotion
- 4m So You Think (NZ) x Paris Romance (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: G & A Williams Rdr: C Johnston-Porter 53
5
1.8
Trap For Fools
- 8g Poet's Voice (GB) x Old Money (AUS) (Old Spice (AUS))
Tnr: L Smith Rdr: B Rawiller 59
6
2.1
Cockney Crew
- 6g Maschino (AUS) x Happily (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: Kieran McDonagh Rdr: S Mc Gruddy 53
7
2.9
Stafford's Lad
- 7g Demerit (AUS) x Crash Hot (AUS) (Blackfriars (AUS))
Tnr: D L Morton Rdr: Chris Parnham 53
8
3.4
Neufbosc
- 7g Mastercraftsman (IRE) x Nonsuch Way (IRE) (Verglas (IRE))
Tnr: N D Parnham Rdr: B Parnham 55.5
9
3.7
Bad Wolf
- 7g So You Think (NZ) x Surpassing (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: A W Maley Rdr: Jerry Noske 53
10
4.3
Come Right Back
- 5g Toronado (IRE) x Sense Of Purpose (AUS) (Tiger Hill (IRE))
Tnr: A G Durrant Rdr: Laqdar Ramoly 53
11
7.1
Marocchino
- 5g Maschino (AUS) x Comesitbesideme (AUS) (McFlirt (NZ))
Tnr: L P Luciani Rdr: P Knuckey 53.5
12
7.7
Bella's Idol
- 8g Vital Equine (IRE) x Bella Contessa (AUS) (Bel Esprit (AUS))
Tnr: Summer Dickson Rdr: Natasha Faithfull 53
13
8.4
Black Shadow
- 7g Trade Fair (GB) x Black Vision (AUS) (Blackfriars (AUS))
Tnr: J P Taylor Rdr: J Brown 53
14
10.9
Divine Shadow
- 6g Blackfriars (AUS) x Idyllic Doll (AUS) (Scenic (IRE))
Tnr: Brett Pope Rdr: Jade Mc Naught 53
15
12.2
Tellem We're Comin
- 7g Blackfriars (AUS) x Bonny Bonny (AUS) (Bletchley Park (IRE))
Tnr: D L Morton Rdr: Joseph Azzopardi 54.5
16
14.3
Truly Reliable
- 4g Reliable Man (GB) x La Roseraie (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: Raymond Vincent Rdr: Shelby Bowtell 53
More Reading...
Spring Juvenile Contest at Otaki on Friday
Otaki trainer Andrew Campbell is excited about the prospects of his promising juvenile Singletary, and he is looking forward to kicking off his career in the Vets On Riverbank Two-Year-Old (800m) at his home track on Friday.
Flying Artie Filly Wins $100,000 Super Maiden for Ingham Family
Blue Gum Farm’s Flying Artie has a very strong crop of three year-olds running for him this season and a promising filly that can call $10million earner Fangirl ‘Aunt FannyG’ was his latest winner when scoring at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Obucci Breaks Through For Hanseatic At Sandown
With a last start second behind Frankel filly Chateau Eze who went on to record a Listed second at her next start in the Jim Maloney Stakes, the Phillip Stokes trained Hanseatic filly Obucci was sent out at double figure odds at Sandown on Wednesday, breaking her maiden by three parts of a length.
Change of Barrier Luck for Written By's Tale of the Gypsy
Lady Luck has finally smiled on talented filly Tale Of The Gypsy, who has been plagued by wide barriers throughout her short career to date.
So You Thinks Midnight Blue Triumphs in Seymour Cup
Midnight Blue was purchased by Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis for $92,500 when offered by Bob Peters through Inglis Digital after finishing fifth in the 2023 Seymour Cup. Twelve months on Midnight Blue captured Sunday’s $200,000 Listed Bet 365 Seymour Cup (1600m).
Tempted's Task is Tough in the Rose
There has been one lone filly win the Golden Rose but that was before it became a Group One, with the count since being zero.
Stakes Potential for Talented Wootton Bassett Colt
The John O’Shea and Tom Charton stable produced Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Napoleonic to break his maiden at Wyong by five lengths at the start of the month and he made it back to back wins when scoring a stylish victory at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Third Trial Winner for Home Affairs – This Time New Zealand
Hot on the heels of siring two trial winners at Randwick on Monday at the official Sydney 2YO trials, Home Affairs produced an impressive trial winner at Te Rapa in New Zealand on Tuesday.
Seeking Slipper Success? Seek Sejardan
The Gr.1 Golden Slipper Stakes - the world's richest juvenile event and Australia's premier test of juvenile speed.
Te Akau Hoping for Hometown Cup Win
Te Akau Racing, the country’s leading stable, has captured some of the biggest prizes in New Zealand racing this year, and trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are keen to add their home cup, the Listed Team Wealleans Matamata Cup (1600m), to their trophy cabinet on Friday.