Progressive 3yo gelding Hard Ball Get took his record to three wins from four starts when earning his first stakes win in Saturday's Group 3 Sir Ernest Lee-Steere Classic (1400m) at Ascot.
One of three runners in the five horserace for the Simon Miller stable, Hard Ball Get led all the way under William Pike to defeat Fuddle Dee Duddle (Red Ransom) by three-quarters of a length with Passion Cantata (Oratorio) one and three-quarter lengths back in third.
It was not
all joy for Miller. His top-class filly, Miss Bux (General Nediym), who
defeated Hard Ball Get in the Listed Placid Ark Stakes at her most recent
start, suffered tendon injury and trailed home last.
"It's a bit of a concern," Miller told Perth Racing. "I'm not too sure what the problem is but we'll wait and see."
Of the winner, Miller said the way the race was run determined the result.
"He rode it well," Miller said. "He got away with murder but in a small field, it was always going to happen. As I said in winter, he's always been well above average."
A $62,000 purchase from the Geisel Park Stud draft at the 2011 Magic Millions Perth Yearling sale, Hard Ball Get is the first foal of the Spectrum mare Aqua Velva a Melbourne winner of seven races.
Her dam Plash (Zoffany) is a half-sister to Listed stakes-winner Hedge (Dahar) out of the Craiglee Stakes (G2) and Liston Stakes (G2) winner Pleach (Star Of Heaven).
Aqua Velva has a yearling colt by Aussie Rules (USA) a filly foal by Demerit.
Hard Ball Get comes from the second crop of four crops by former Coolmore shuttler Aussie Rules (Danehill) and becomes his first stakes-winner in this country
Winner of the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (G1) and Shadwell Turf Mile, Aussie Rules (USA) moved to Kirsten Rausing's Lanwades Stud in Newmarket at the start of the year.
