Akoya Pearl Photo by Narrogin Race and Pace
Akoya Pearl took out the $11,000 3YO Westbred Great Southern Derby on Saturday night, October 11 at Narrogin for breeder, part-owner and trainer Nathan Turvey, giving connections their fifth win from just 10 starts.
Having just two starts as a two-year-old, it hasn’t been plain sailing for the Lather Up USA x Forever Pearl NZ filly, who had issues with cross-firing early in her career.
Speaking with Nathan Turvey, he was hesitant when he told the other owners that she needed time as a two-year-old, but their patience has paid off ten-fold, with the filly nearing $40,000 in stakes and an incredible $28.744 accrued in westbred bonuses so far.
Driven by Jocelyn Young, the pair began from barrier 8, second on the back line, which saw them weaving their way through the field to make their way to the breeze position, before Young pressed forward once again at the 1200m mark to take the front, kicking away in the run to the line to win by a 6.1m margin.
Akoya Pearl was bred by Turvey who raced the dam Forever Pearl NZ, who had just six starts for the stable for 4 wins and 1 placing, retiring after finishing in sixth place on May 31, 2019.
Sammy Suffarell gave WA stallion Goodtime Sammy his first winner in WA, but with a twist; Sammy Suffarell was bred in the East when the stallion still resided there.
Having just the two starts in Victoria in early 2024, where he finished in 8th and 9th placings, he was partly purchased by Garry Butler and Claire Cummins earlier this year, with his breeder still retaining a share, with the horse not being seen at the races for 547 days prior to his start here in the west.
After trialling at Melton on the 25th of March this year, he was brought over to WA and he made his WA debut a winning one, winning by a head in the opener at Narrogin on Saturday night ahead of short-priced favourite Something Certain.
Other winners on the night included seven-year-old I See Fire for Colin Reeves and Lauren Harper.
The gelding took out race two on the card after working his way to the front from barrier two, breaking a 10-start losing sequence.
Abbey Vidovich celebrated a driving double on the night after taking out race three on board the Lang Inwood trained Eye Better.
It was a race-to-race double for the in-form reinswoman, who partnered with Douseeme for trainer John Graham, with the pair unbeaten at all three attempts together.
Emily Suvaljko celebrated a similar feat, with a race-to-race driving double going her way, with Goggins taking out race six, giving trainer Lang Inwood a double on the night, straight into race seven with Hes Thunder for trainer Michael Young, his first win for the stable at just his fourth attempt.
Hes Thunder had finished second at his previous two starts, but the $1.85 favourite got the job done on Saturday night in the last after working his way three-wide with a lap and a half to go to the breeze, going on to win by 4.2m.
