Mornington trainer Matt Laurie has a great strike-rate with WA graduates and he produced another class act named Perusal this week.

Perusal (Star Turn) was a $30,000 buy for Laurie from Dawson Stud at the 2020 Perth Magic Millions and you can already add a zero to his current value following an outstanding victory in the Growmaster Maiden Plate (1415m) at Sale on Thursday.

“We’re thrilled with that performance,” Laurie said.  “He handled the awkward barrier perfectly to slide forward and sit comfortably just off the pace.  Perusal’s natural turn of foot was impressive in the straight, kicking away to score by over a length eased down.”

Laurie purchased G1 Oakleigh Plate winner Portland Sky for $85,000 from Alwyn Park (as agent) at the 2019 Perth Magic Millions and he returned to the Swan Valley the following year with a $200,000 bid for Ranveer.

Offered by Einoncliff Park, Ranveer looked top-class winning a Sandown nursery in June 2021 but fell ill and had been sidelined for twelve months before returning to trial at Cranbourne last week.

Laurie’s Carringbush Park stable is also home to recent Caulfield winner Big Apple who is a son of Geisel Park stallion Manhattan Rain.

Perusal is the first foal out of Tiffany’s (High Chaparral) who won up to 2200m at Ellerslie for trainers Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman.

“I purchased Tiffany’s but my only foal from her was Perusal,” Dawson Stud’s Graham Daws recalled.  “It’s a very strong pedigree and the New Zealanders bought her back when her half-brother Ping Hai Star won the 2018 Hong Kong Derby.”

Winning jockey Ethan Brown was also keen to credit Perusal as a horse with a future.  “His class prevailed today from the tricky gate.  He dropped his head and travelled beautifully.  He’s still a bit raw but we’ve been getting the work into him.  We probably got to the front a bit early but he levelled out and looks ready to make the next step.”

Meanwhile, Star Turn unearthed a new-season 3yo with ability when Athena Nyx won a Wyong trial in second-gear on Wednesday.  The unraced filly is trained by Kris Lees for Premium Thoroughbreds after graduating from Vinery’s draft to the 2021 Inglis Classic Sale for $90,000.

Athena Nyx’s dam Night War (General Nediym) won a Karrakatta Plate (Gr.2, 1200m) in Perth and is four-from-four at stud with winners by All Too Hard (3) and Press Statement.