A perfect run and first class ride from Troy Turner was the difference as last start maiden winner Playcidium Mint nosed out quality three-year-old Black Felix in the Group Three Sir Ernest Lee-Steere Classic (1400m) at Ascot on Saturday.
Sent out at $11 after a brilliant three length win at Pinjarra, Playcidium Mint enjoyed the run of the race from barrier one and was able to edge out the favourite and give her trainer his biggest win in his new training career.
Craig Wright, who puts the polish on Playcidium Mint, recently opened up a Perth stable and only saddled his first WA runner last month.
Prior to basing himself in Perth, Wright had worked for leading eastern state trainers including Jim Houlahan, Mick Kent, Colin Alderson and Greg Eurell.
It was his stint with Eurell that led him to Perth when that stable’s star Apache Cat headed to the WA capital in the summer of 2008.
Wright fell in love with Perth and decided it would be there that he would establish himself as a trainer.
Saturday’s group race win was the biggest success for Wright at just his fifth runner.
Playcidium Mint, who raced twice at two for another stable, is unbeaten for Wright.
“Really the credit goes to connections,” Wright said after the win. “They planned this race out right from the start. “
“They were very confident in the ability of this filly and they deserve the result they got.”
“Obviously we got the run of the race. The second horse (Black Felix) is just so game.”
Connections are confident bigger and better things are in store for Playcidium Mint. Next year’s Champion Fillies Stakes is an early goal for her next campaign.
“I think the best of her is going to be in the autumn. You should see a really nice, quality three-year-old filly then.”
“She’s got a bit of growing to do in front. I think there’s a bit of improvement there.”
At the post a mere separated Playcidium Mint ($11) and a gallant favourite Black Felix ($2.50 fav).
The $26 pop Veracious wound up in third place, a further length back.
Plycidium Mint is turning out a great moneyspinner for connections. The group winning filly was purchased for just $25,000 at last year’s Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.
She was offered at the auction by Alwyn Park, who were acting as agent for her breeder Keith Biggs.
The attractive bay filly is the third stakes winner for Danehill’s stakes winning sire son Foreplay – a resident of Victoria’s Woodside Park Stud.
She is one of three winners produced by the city winning Serheed mare Sercidium – making her a half sister to WA Oaks placegetter Celt Code.
Sercidium is a full sister to the five time stakes winning stayer Beau Heed – a winner of over half a million dollars in a 15 win career.
Playcidium Mint’s dam Sercidium is also a half sister to the twice Sydney winner and Spring Champion Stakes runner-up November Dreaming.
Further back it is the same family as WA bred stakes stars Coal Pak, Country Blazer and South of France III.
Winner: Playcidium Mint (Foreplay-Sercidium)
Race: WATC Sir Ernest Lee-Steere Classic G3 (1400m)
Sold for: $25,000
Sale: 2009 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale
Vendor: Alwyn Park (As Agent)
Buyer: Magic Millions as agent
Earnings: $94,350
Owner(s): Mrs JL Bartless, Mrs J Morris & Mrs DH Hahn
Trainer: Craig Wright (Ascot)
