The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Fully Lit led for much of the Group 3 $250,000 Cameron Handicap (1500m), while Bjorn Baker’s Perfumist made a strong late run to claim the Group 3 $250,000 Tibbie Stakes (1400m).
The victory in the Cameron Handicap secures Fully Lit a place in The Big Dance on Melbourne Cup Day, November 3. However, an alternative feature Randwick mile race might be considered before that engagement.
Fully Lit secured a second place in last year’s Group 1 Epsom Handicap behind the champion mare Autumn Glow and is carrying a favourable weight of 50kg for a subsequent attempt at the $1.5 million feature mile at Royal Randwick on October 3.
Stable representative Neil Paine specifically commended jockey Regan Bayliss for his role after Fully Lit ($5.50) fended off rivals in the final stages to win by a clear margin of one-and-a-quarter lengths over I’mintowin ($6.50). Mr Miller ($1.80 favourite) finished a further half-length back in third.
“When Regan walked out to ride the horse he was very confident and said he wanted to go to the front,” Paine said. “It was a great ride and Fully Lit is just a tough, little horse. He’s run second in an Epsom, he won a $2 million race (Inglis Millennium) and now he has come here and won a Cameron.
“He’s been a great horse for his owners, for Red Fox Racing, and for Gai and Adrian.”
Fully Lit, who finished third in the Cameron Handicap last year to Headley Grange, was described as being “on song today” by jockey Bayliss.
“That was a peak performance from the horse,” Bayliss stated. “He took complete control of the race and was too good.”
Earlier in the day, Perfumist ($3.60 favourite), expertly guided by Rachel King, surged clear of her competitors in the straight to win the Tibbie Stakes by two-and-a-half lengths from Mareth ($10). Polymnia ($5) secured third place, almost a length behind the runner-up.
“She deserved that,” King commented regarding Perfumist’s dominant victory.
“This preparation she is bigger, stronger and more mature. She has always shown promise and hopefully she can continue to improve.
“She has a good turn of foot and will get a lot of confidence out of that win. She is going super.”
While Baker was not present for Perfumist’s effortless win, his stable manager Luke Hilton indicated that the trainer has significant plans for the talented mare. These include the Group 3 Angst Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on Everest Day, October 17, followed by the Listed $3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Royal Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day, November 3.
“Perfumist was fantastic today,” Hilton remarked.
“Full credit to Bjorn, he’s done an amazing job. She hasn’t had the best first-up record but Bjorn did things differently this time, giving her an exhibition gallop and a couple of good gallops at home, and it has paid off.
“She is right on target for the Angst and the Big Dance.”
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