Blockjorg has caused a major upset in the second of tonight’s Diamond Classic heats (2130m) at Gloucester Park, defeating the highly fancied Double Expresso.
The Ross Olivieri-trained Double Expresso was sent out a $1.04 favourite from barrier one off the back of her WA Oaks runner-up finish and, as expected, led comfortably.
The Colin Reeves-trained Blockjorg was able to get to the pegs first and find the back of Double Expresso, while Fifty Five Reborn settled in the breeze.
Chris Lewis upped the tempo with Double Expresso and carved second and third quarters of 28.5 off the back of a steady lead time of 37.5.
Madeleine Young was well poised at the 400m to pounce on Double Expresso and she wore down the boom filly in the last 50m to score by a head in a rate of 1.55.5.
Alta Louisa and Intheskyrocket also made up good ground late to finish third and fourth respectively.
It continued an outstanding 48 hours for Young, who scored a double at Pinjarra yesterday.
The first of the Diamond heats went more according to plan for short-price favourite Star Fromthepalace, pictured above.
The Peter Anderson-trained filly led from barrier one and never looked in any danger of being beaten.
Expertly rated by Aldo Cortopassi in front, the Follow The Stars filly scored by 3.9m to Weewah in slightly slower rate 1.59.0.
Cortopassi notched up the second leg of a double when To Fast To Serious scored in the TABtouch Replays Pace (2130m).
To Fast To Serious had just five starts since his Group 1 Westbred Classic win in June 2018 and produced a brilliant performance first-up tonight.
Meanwhile, Gardys Legacy looks well poised to score the biggest win of his career in Friday night’s Perth Plasterboard Centre 3YO Pearl Classic (2130m), where he’s drawn perfectly in barrier one.
Sukhovey Windman, second to Gardys Legacy in the heat last Tuesday, has drawn barrier five for the $50,000 event.
Tim Walker
