Opportunistic provided Peters Investments with its third LR Raconteur Stakes (1400m) winner in the last five years when he charged home to defeat fellow quick-closer Elite Missile (Smart Missile) at Bunbury on Saturday.

Opportunistic (3g So You Think – I’m Feeling Lucky by Bletchley Park) had won a Pinjarra maiden on debut in May and handled the steep rise to black-type company with aplomb sporting the cerise and white silks in the south-west.

“He’s shown promise behind the scenes,” winning trainer Michael Grantham revealed.  “The boss (Bob Peters) had him gelded because his attitude needed to improve and he was still lean anyway.  He’s really come on since then and now we will head to the (LR) Belmont Guineas (1600m) in a fortnight.”

Jockey Clint Johnston-Porter also spoke of the winner’s potential.  “We were further back than I wanted and it was a big effort.  He’s raw and new with the scope to go straight from a maiden to a Stakes victory.  He was in no man’s land in both races and the writing is on the wall for the Belmont Guineas.”

Unlike Raconteur winners Graceful Girl (Nicconi) in 2021 and Devoted (Xtravagant) in 2022, Opportunistic isn’t a homebred for Bob and Sandra Peters.  They bought him for $200,000 through agent John Chalmers from Lynward Park at the 2023 Perth Magic Millions.

He’s the latest feature winner from a renowned Lynward Park family going back to second-dam Twinkle Toes who was $72,500 buy from Coolmore Stud in 2008.  First-up, the Irish-bred daughter of Danehill foaled I’m Feeling Lucky (G3 La Trice Classic) and followed up with Utgard Loki (LR Bull & Bush Cup), Baronova (LR Belmont Classic) and Petrouchka (LR Belmont Oaks).

Twinkle Toes passed away last October a week after foaling a colt by Coolmore Stud’s sire sensation Wootton Bassett (Iffraaj) who will stand for an all-time Australian record service fee of $385,000 (inc GST) this year.