Mogumber Park resident Safeguard (Exceed And Excel) sired an Ascot double on Saturday with headline act Castle Road blazing a trail in the LR Perth Stakes (1100m).

Castle Road (2g Safeguard – Clarecastle by Tribu) spaced his rivals in the final dress-rehearsal for the G2 Karrakatta Plate (1200m) with minor placegetters Just Too Fly (Justify) and Exceed The Boom (Exceedance) more than three lengths in arrears.

The strapping chestnut firmed into $8.50 for Perth’s 2yo grand-final on April 26 while other Karrakatta hopefuls Do I Feel Lucky (Dirty Work), Elite Beau (Brazen Beau) and Luana Miss (Bivouac) eased following disappointing displays on Saturday.

Castle Road jumped the gun for regular jockey Craig Staples with two free-wheeling victories before Christmas but tarnished those demolitions with a fading fifth behind God’s Rapture (Playing God) when resuming last month.  “He played up in the enclosure and was still a bit soft first-up,” trainer Paul Jordan recalled.  “He over-raced and was taken on that day and he was also giving some of them over 5kg.

“He’s a super-moving horse and I would love to win the Karrakatta with him and Craig.”

Castle Road’s bank balance went through $300,000 on Saturday topped up by Westspeed Bonuses of $81,400 for a syndicate managed by Jordan’s wife Laura.  He’s one of 11 black-type performers by Safeguard who also sired Sinful Living to win the MineARC Hcp (1000m) earlier in the day at Ascot.

He’s also the ninth individual winner from nine foals to race out of his recently-deceased dam Clarecastle.  “It’s with great sadness that we mourn the passing of the mighty Clarecastle,” Mogumber Park posted on April 2.  “What a mare she was and what an amazing journey.  She will be missed by all but her daughters will provide a lasting legacy for the WA breeding industry.”