Trainer Sean Casey has better gallopers than Civvy Street at his Bullsbrook stables but he was proud to close the Ascot season a winner with the tough gelding in the TABtouch Westspeed Hcp (1400m).
Sean and his son Jake are Top 10 on the Perth trainers’ premiership with Dom To Shoot leading the charge locally and they doubled up with Rear Admiral and Civvy Street on Saturday.
Civvy Street, a 4yo son of Yarradale Stud sire War Chant (USA), settled in the three-wide line with cover before he was pushed a half-dozen horses wide by Pray Again (Playing God) on the home turn. Apprentice Luke Campbell let him get balanced and then drove home to win by a head over Yarradale graduate Arnie’s Boy (Patronize).
“He’s a battler and always tries his best,” Casey said. “He’s fit and healthy and I told Luke not too ride too pretty. He has to stay in stride so keeping him in the clear without being checked is the best plan. He never wins by a long way but Luke rode him to the letter.”
Civvy Street (4g War Chant – Artie’s Belle by Artie Schiller) is a homebred for Victorian-based Brian and Joan Durran and he has a 2yo full-brother named On Patrol for the same connections. It’s the family of G1 South Australian Derby (2500m) winner Testafiable (Testa Rossa).
“He worked really well on Tuesday morning and relaxed when they went along in front,” Campbell reported. “We were flushed out on the corner but it worked out well. He likes plenty of room and we just got there.”
The Caseys produced another smart type at the Ascot trials on Monday when their 2yo filly Twain’s Angel (Toronado) looked ready to debut following a professional win in a 400m hit-out for owner-breeder Wally Daly.
And it’s rare a week goes by without at least one winner from Yarradale Stud. The Steve Wolfe-trained 3yo Little Silver kicked-off last week with a front-running victory on Wednesday in the Western Racepix Hcp (1400m) at Ascot.
Little Silver was bred and sold by Yarradale to Commercial Bloodstock Services (as agent) for $40,000 at the 2021 Perth Magic Millions. His dam Platinum Power (Commands) is a half-sister to G3 WA Oaks winner Lady Chant (War Chant) and a full-sister to G2 ATC Hill Stakes winner Lamasery (Commands).
Former Yarradale resident City Place (USA) followed up with his mare Rakiura in the State Wide Turf Services Hcp (1000m) at Pinjarra on Thursday. She held on for a narrow victory down the straight for local trainer Brett Pope.
Rakiura was bred by Jason Cheetham and Pope’s partner Tameeka Brown from Ishibabe (Ishiguru) who won a Northam maiden after being Group 3-placed in a Gimcrack Stakes at Ascot for Dan Morton.