Elite Belle, Magnifisio Win in Australia

Jockey William Pike skillfully guided Elite Belle through opponents in the stretch where she caught the leader in the final 100 meters and won the Aus$1 million Carlton Draught Railway Stakes (Aus-I) Nov. 22 at Ascot racecourse in Perth, Australia.

 

The card also included the Aus$750,000 Crown Perth Winterbottom Stakes, won by Magnifisio, who defeated Elite Belle in their previous outing Nov. 8 at Ascot.

 

As expected speed-loving fan favorite The Cleaner, dubbed the "Tasmanian Tiger," set a hot pace in the Railway with Steven Arnold aboard while Fuchsia Bandana, Platinum Rocker, and Alma's Fury tried to keep in touch.

 

Inside the final 200 meters The Cleaner was swamped by challengers, but Elite Belle was full of run and surged to a three-quarter-length triumph. A photo for the places took a long time to determine before going to Balmont Girl, who outfinished Moriarty by a nose for second, while Smokin' Joey was another nose behind in fourth.

 

The Cleaner faded to ninth under top weight of 128 pounds.

 

Toting 118 pounds, Elite Belle was timed in 1:35.59 for the 1,600-meter (about one-mile) contest on good turf. Bred and owned by Peters Investments and trained by Grant Williams, she won three group III stakes from May to October before earning her first top-level win Saturday. She has a 9-5-3 career line from 23 starts.

 

Elite Belle is a 6-year-old Canny Lad mare out of Mississippi Belle, by Marooned.

 

Also on Saturday's card, Magnifisio was first across the line in the Winterbottom Stakes but had to withstand a protest from the rider of runner-up Watermans Bay.

 

Magnifisio edged Watermans Bay by a head in the 1,200-meter (about six-furlong) Winterbottom. But Steven Arnold, rider of Watermans Bay, lodged a protest immediately afterward, alleging that Magnifisio interfered with his mount in the first 100 meters, costing him the race. After a review, stewards said the infraction had occurred too early to affect the result.

 

Moment Of Change led early from Windswept, Eclair Big Bang, and short-priced favorite Angelic Light. In the charge to the finish line Magnifisio asserted herself with Jason Brown and opened a 1 1/2-length lead, and though she weakened slightly when Watermans Bay stormed up, she held on to get take first place in the 12-horse field. Watermans Bay was followed across the line by Shining Knight a half-length back in third, and Testamezzo in fourth. Angelic Light faded to finish fifth.

 

The final time was 1.10.29.

 

Magnifisio, a 5-year-old mare by Magnus out of Ifestio, by Key Business, broke through for her first group I win after earning two group races this year including her victory over Fuchsia Bandana, Platinum Rocker, and Elite Belle in the Waroa-Lee Steere Stakes (Aus-II) last time out.

 

Bred by Rangeview Stud, Magnifisio is owned by several members of the MacAlister family and is trained by Jim P. Taylor. An Aus$80,000 purchase at the 2011 Magic Millions Perth yearling sale, she has won 12 of 22 career starts.