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.

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"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.

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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
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