Playhouse Patron left no room for excuses from the beaten division when he worked overtime in running to claim a second black-type victory in the LR ATA Stakes (2200m) on Wednesday.

The hard-knocking 6yo gelding went into the Ascot feature race as a $31 longshot after a run of outs going back to the LR Towton Cup (2200m) twelve months ago.  That win earned him a start in the G2 Perth Cup (2400m) and he will be back for another crack at our $1 million staying test on New Year’s Day.

Playhouse Patron was caught three-wide for the duration but jockey Jason Whiting redeemed himself approaching the home turn when he kept the favourite Forever Boy (Charm Spirit) in a pocket before getting the better of front-runner Filthy Habits (I’m All The Talk) in the straight.

“Jason got held up last time and he wanted to give him more room today,” trainer Bob McPherson revealed.  “It worked out well and let’s hope he travels like that in the Perth Cup.  I will take him down to Wayne Kiely’s water-walker next week and that always helps them freshen up.”

Whiting won three Perth Cups between 2004 and 2009 on King Canute (King Of Kings), Respect (Zabeel) and Guyno (O’Reilly) and his chances of making it four firmed from $34 into $17 with bookmakers after the ATA Stakes.

“He’s really come on since his last run which was my first ride on him,” Whiting said after weighing in.  “It was a bit of a disaster in the first half of the race but I kept him happy and then gave him a dig at the 600m.  He just did the rest and now it onwards and upwards to the Perth Cup.”

McPherson and his wife Jan bred and race Playhouse Patron with Dalyellup owner-breeder Betty Lammie.  He won a Belmont maiden as an early-season 4yo and Saturday’s win sent his career earnings to $536,000.

He’s a son Darling View stallion Patronize (Redoute’s Choice) who retired from stud duties in 2022 and he’s the third and final foal from Playhouse Theatre (Racer’s Edge) who won at Ascot and Belmont for McPherson.

Lammie had purchased second-dam West End Dancer (West Point) in 2009 when she was carrying Playhouse Theatre.  She cost $3,000 from Victorian-based Chatswood Stud with a pedigree going back five generations to Gunsynd’s dam Woodie Wonder (Newtown Wonder).