Perfect Reflection false favourite for Kingston Town Classic

Prominent Perth owner Bob Peters believes that his mare Perfect Reflection is a false favourite for the Group 1 $1m Peters Investments-Kingston Town Classic (1800m) at Ascot in Perth on Saturday.

Michael Walker, above, rides Kawi in the Kingston Town Classic at Ascot. Photo by Photo by Adrienne Bicknell.

Michael Walker, above, rides Kawi in the Kingston Town Classic at Ascot. Photo by Photo by Adrienne Bicknell.

Perfect Reflection is marked at $4.20 with Ladbrokes.com.au to win back to back Kingston Town Classics and according to Peters is coming off an uninspiring third behind Scales Of Justice and Good Project in the Group 1 $1m James Boag’s Premium Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot on November 19.

“She was well beaten really. Why would you get excited on the back off that run.” Peters told the Herald Sun.

“The horse which finish fourth was an 80 rater and only finished a length behind her.”

“I’m hopeful more than anything else.”

Perfect Reflection goes up 2kg on her last run and will carry 56kg under the weight for age scale in a tough field that includes five time Kiwi Group 1 winner Kawi who is on the third line of betting at $5.50.

“I can’t get my head around it. She’s against a five-time Group 1 winner in Kawi and she’s up in the weights and we’re favourites,” Peters said.

As a three year old last Summer Perfect Reflection quickly rose through the grades and only had the featherweight of 50kg when she scored a narrow win in the 2015 Kingston Town Classic with William Pike in saddle.

“I think she was going better this time last year as she was doing everything we wanted her to do. She’ll carry more weight tomorrow,” Peters said.

Pike has been aboard Perfect Reflection for all her three races this campaign and prior to running third in the Railway Stakes was a first up third in the Group 3 $150,000 Northerly Stakes (1400m) at Ascot on October 15 followed by a win in the Group 2 $250,000 Waroa-Lee Steere Stakes (1400m) at Ascot on November 5.

Peters and co-trainers Grant and Alana Williams also have Disposition, Heart Starter and Neverland lining up in the Kingston Town Classic with all three also coming off a run in the Railway Stakes.

Heart Starter was beaten four and a quarter lengths when eighth while Disposition and Neverland finished eleventh and twelfth.

Glenn Smith again rides Disposition who is listed at $14 while Heart Starter with Peter Hall to ride and Neverland with Jarrad Noske in the saddle are both rated as $51 outsiders in the sixteen horse Kingston Town Classic field.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.