Bunbury Races: Accelerometer's white-hot win

Mare Venetian Queen ended a two-year battle against her maiden status yesterday when she notched a breakthrough triumph at the Bunbury Turf Club.

The Brett Pope-trained five-year-old had gone close on several occasions leading up to the race, placing in 11 out of her 15 career starts.

Apprentice silk Chanelle O’Grady guided Venetian Queen (3.10f) to an all-the-way victory from gate three in the James Squire 150 Lashes Maiden (1000m), holding off the Mark Bairstow-trained Surfcat by three-quarters of a length.

Meanwhile, hoop Patrick Carbery and Ascot trainer Simon Miller combined for a double at the meeting.

The wins, notched with promising fillies Isan Express and Miss Bux, added to a successful week for the duo who together notched two places in Perth the previous day.

It was a barnstorming start to the meeting for the pair, who scored in the opening two races.

Carbery steered $6 chance Isan Express to an all-the-way victory in the first of the day – the Lion Maiden (1200m).

From gate seven the three-year-old held off Military Hero ($2.40f) by a short head.

In the following race Miss Bux (1.50f) was too good for her rivals in a comfortable one-and-a-half-length win.

Top jockey William Pike also rode a double at the meeting.

On board the Grant Williams-trained High Appeal, Pike had the gelding charge home from eighth at the turn on an outside line but was forced to share the spoils in a dead heat with $12 outsider Laura’s Sky in the Amelia Park Maiden (1200m).

In a nail-biting finish Neville Parnham-trained four-year-old Emerald Star ($9) was third by a short-head while Concussion, prepared by Vaughn Sigley, was fourth by a head.

Williams also scored in the following race white-hot favourite Accelerometer, who made a strong comeback to the track for Capel father and son training partnership Ross and Clint Price.

Accelerometer, who was impressive in his first preparation last season, was a stylish three-length winner in the small field of six.

Other winners on the day included Ihts Riveting ($6.50) for Mark Bairstow in the Legends Bar and Bistro Handicap (2019m) and Peter and Matthew Giadresco-trained stallion Riverbend Cowboy in the Flanagan’s Bar Handicap (1410m).

Apprentice Kevin Bohorun guided Simon Foster-trained four-year-old Fa’em to a two-length triumph in the Stella Artois Maiden (1690m).