Westbury Park stallion A Lot (USA) had already laid a platform for Ascot before siring a winning double with Buster’s Free and Fast Flicker at Belmont on Wednesday.
His classic-bound 3yo Alotofbanter resumed from a winter spell at the Lark Hill trials on Tuesday morning and showed he was on back on track with a pleasing second in the second-fastest time (56.49s) of the 14 heats over 950m.
Alotofbanter (Photo / Western Racepix) jumped to the front and kept up a strong gallop after being shaded by Triple Jay (Street Boss) in the straight. The winner was the subject of a recent $1million offer from Hong Kong that was rejected by clients of Pearce Racing.
Trainer Simon Miller took Alotofbanter along quietly during an autumn 2yo campaign at Ascot that yielded a win over Zipaway on debut, a narrow loss to Ripcord in the LR Perth Stakes and a midfield finish in the G2 Karrakatta Plate.
“He didn’t have the skill-set and maturity to handle the Karrakatta,” Miller said back in April. “But he does have the engine and the raw ability to be a WA Guineas horse next season.”
The G2 WA Guineas (1600m) is worth $500,000 and is scheduled for November 25 at Ascot.
Alotofbanter (3g A Lot – Bantry Bay by Tale Of The Cat) was bred by Gary & Sharen Crispin and they sold him for $90,000 through the Alwyn Park draft at the 2022 Perth Magic Millions. His dam was a G3 SA Sires’ Produce Stakes winner in 2007 and the best of her seven winners to date has been Caulfield Stakes-winner All Banter (I’m All The Talk).
Busters Free (4g A Lot – Freefoot by Oratorio) won the first-leg of the A Lot double on Wednesday for trainer David Harrison and long-term stable clients Keith & Carol Holly. He was bred at Mungrup Stud and is the final foal of a mare related to Cool Business (LR Bolton Sprint) and Hot Shot Brother (G3 Scahill Stakes).
Fast Flicker (4m A Lot – Royal Anna by Royal Academy) claimed the second-leg for owner-breeder Les Andrews and trainer Tony Triscari. She had won an Esperance maiden on debut last year and was racing second-up after a 10 month spell.
Andrews owns Royal Anna and he raced her multiple city winner Premium Choice (I’m All The Talk) who had also started his career in Esperance. The mare’s first two winners – Blue Choisir and Dancing Anna – were both by Choisir and were both trained by Frank Maynard for a combined total of seven wins in the Bay Of Isles.
Westbury Park stallion My Admiration weighed in with My Affliction on the mammoth 11-race card at Belmont. He had been knocking on the door with three placings prior breaking through in the Furphy Maiden (1200m).
My Affliction (4g My Admiration – Thornly Beauty by Thorn Park) was bred by Jason Cheetham and sold through Dawson Stud to trainer Roy Rogers for $40,000 at the 2021 Perth Magic Millions. He’s a half-brother to Dark Assault (Statue of Liberty) who was placed in the G2 Karrakatta Plate (1200m) won by Ima Single Man (Gingerbread Man).
A Lot (Tapit) is standing for a $9,350 at Westbury Park and My Admiration (Encosta de Lago) is priced at $4,400. Both fees (inc GST).