The $500,000, Group 2 WA Guineas provided the Daniel Morton trained King Of Light with yet another stage on which to display his superior ability as he claimed a fifth straight career win to keep his unbeaten record intact in thrilling fashion.
Just as it was in their last clash in the Fairetha Stakes two weeks ago, Heeza Phoenix ($6.50) set the target in the home straight and challenged King Of Light (the $1.75 favourite) to try to come and run him down, and, just as before, the chestnut responded to the task and arrived in time to snare his quality rival and win going away by 1.14 lengths.
Both of these runners are outstanding performers, although the connections of Heeza Phoenix could be forgiven for rueing the fact that they are racing in a crop which also produced King of Light.
The win was decisive in the end, as was jockey Willie Pike’s ride.
Knowing he was riding the best horse in the race helps the confidence, but Pike did appear push that point momentarily, more than he would have liked, shortly after improving King Of Light’s position and bringing him into contention early in the home straight after racing in midfield, some six lengths off the speed in the first half of the race.
As King Of Light began to really hit his straps towards the inside approaching the 200m, the smart chestnut had to take a tight gap between two runners without breaking stride. Any hesitation there and it could have brought the favourite’s chances undone, but Pike’s aggression was matched by his mount and King Of Light surged through and came out in daylight with the still hard-running Heeza Phoenix the only runner standing in his path to victory.
The chase from there was exhilarating ending with a victory achieved with authority.
“When he was rolling back towards the fence, I thought we are going to need some luck here,” admitted trainer Dan Morton, “but with Pikey on top you just sort of take the fact that he is going to find a way.
“The horse had obviously got a big motor, but he’s got a laid-back demeanour. He’s got a lot of upside. He’s just a beautiful horse to train.”
Willie Pike’s feedback was as complimentary of the horse.
“He is a star. Good horses find a way to win … and he is a good horse,” said Pike.
“I was very concerned on straightening. All I wanted to do was follow Chris Parnham (on Rock Fest). “I thought he was one of the key rivals to beat, but his horse just didn’t find when it needed to … and that left me in a very sticky situation.
“We had to think thin fir a couple of those gaps, but I just loved his attitude … it was yep, can do!”
