Owner-breeders Bob and Sandra Peters have won 50% of the stakes
races run at Ascot this season but even by their own high standards, Saturday proved
a day to savour.
The Peters homebreds captured all four stakes races run on
the day at Ascot and all were ridden by William Pike.
The run began with Real Love in the Listed Perth Ice
Works-W.A. St. Leger (2100m), followed by Shining Knight (Blackfriars) in the R.S.
Crawford Stakes (1000m), Real Charm in the Listed Starstruck Classic (1600m),
and culminating with the win of the grand mare Elite Belle (Canny Lad) in the Group
II C.B. Cox Stakes (2100m).
I think we've won three Group or Listed races in a day but
never four," Peters said.
"I might be learning a bit."
Peters said he had to talk Elite Belle's trainer Grant
Williams out of sending the daughter of Canny Lad to the paddock after her last
start third in the Group 1 Kingston Town Classic won by Moriarty.
"Grant wanted to stop and I said no we'll go for this one,"
Peters said
"The weight-for-age conditions would suit her and based on
her rating now that's all she can race in.
"She's a great mare, I'm very proud of her," Peters added.
It was the eighth stakes win for the Group 1 Railway Stakes
heroine moving her overall record to 10 wins, 5 seconds and 4 thirds from 25 starts
for earnings of $1,409,300.
A half-sister to dual Listed stakes-winner Battle Emblem (Second Empire), Elite Belle is the fifth foal of the Marooned (GB) mare Mississippi Belle a half-sister to Group III winner Mogul (Serheed).
Mississippi Belle has a yearling filly by High Chaparral (IRE) and a colt foal from the first crop of champion Pierro.
Elite Belle becomes the 11th Group 1 winner for Canny Lad
(Bletchingly) (pictured) who died in June. The Golden Slipper winner was pensioned after
completing his 21st book of mares in 2011.
