Zarantz flies home late to take out the WA Cup
THE Grant and Alana Williams-trained six-year-old Zarantz has caused a big boil over in the WA Cup after coming from the back of the field to easily win the feature event at Ascot.
The gelding settled towards the tail of the field for the majority of the 3200m trip, but was presented at the perfect time by star apprentice Aaron Mitchell, who drove the $7 shot at Sportsbet.com.au to the line to win ahead of Sunset Superman ($3.20 at WilliamHill.com.au) and Le Schiller, which returned $3.10 at Crownbet.com.au.
First time past the post in the WA Cup! #AscotGoodTimes @PerthRacing pic.twitter.com/G9FHR7JjRj
— Marc Ohlmus (@marcohlmus) April 22, 2017
The win was Zarantz’s first ever success at the Ascot racecourse.
@Aaronmitch69M helps Zarantz end his Ascot hoodoo with a comfortable win in the WA Cup. Treble for the leading apprentice
— Jay Rooney (@Jay_Rooney) April 22, 2017
Stable representative Steele Casey was full of praise for jockey Aaron Mitchell following the WA Cup win.
“All credit to Aaron Mitchell,” Casey said.
“He followed all his instructions, he was told to just let him fall out of the gates and start riding in the race from the 800m.
Lucky he got the dream run at about the 400m and he looked awesome finishing off.”
The big disappointment in the feature event was Dark Alert.
Seriously good ride @Aaronmitch69M . The most patient jockey wins. Tactics on Dark Alert very unPikelike.
— Terry Leighton (@PerthRacingGuru) April 22, 2017
The $1.50 favourite at Sportsbet.com.au was on the speed for the majority of the race and looked to be travelling well coming into the straight but fell away badly to miss the placings.
Dark alert travelled like a $1.10 chance and fell out of that so quickly in the straight
— TheProfits.com.au (@TheProfitsComAu) April 22, 2017
Investors who took the $2.32 on offer from Sportsbet.com.au for any other runner to beat Dark Alert were rewarded for going against the short-priced elect who was meant to be the best bet of the card.