Western Australia Cup

O'DONNELL ASKED NICELY AND WON THE CUP

The inaugural running of the Western Australian Cup (3200m) could not have been scripted better.

In a driving, dogged finish consistent galloper, Ask Me Nicely (Shaun O’Donnell $6.50) outstayed a valiant Daneclicked (Jason Whiting, $31) to win by a head, in the first two mile race since the 2008 Perth Cup. Saxy Grace was third.

For trainer Fred Kersley the thrilling win erased the disappointment of his grey running second at his previous two starts in the Grandstand Cup (1500m) and the Pinjarra Cup (2300m).

Kersley has always had an abiding affection for Ask Me Nicely. “I admire versatile types and he has now had 80 races and still is sound as ever. This was a tactically hard race for jockeys and I thought Shaun cuddled him for as long as possible.”

O’Donnell raced his grey charge near the rear for most of the journey, moving into sixth on the turn before going after Daneclicked in the straight.

Daneclicked refused to surrender and O’Donnell was never confident of victory until the post. ‘I was happy with my position in running and I was able to keep an eye on Danny (Miller) on Kirov Boy.” Kirov Boy beat Ask Me Nicely in both the Pinjarra Cup and the ATA Handicap last December.

In fact O’Donnell at his sixth ride on Ask Me Nicely is the only other WA jockey, apart from Steven Parnham (six wins), to win on him. Ask Me Nicely also had a couple of wins in country Victoria before coming to WA.

Ask Me Nicely was a $37,500 purchase in NZ for Reg Webb who then invited others to participate in, what he describes, as his favourite horse.

His son-in-law, and a racing partner, Peter Kerr said there was a lot of pride in  winning the first Western Australian Cup.”In the end it was a real war of attrition and a tribute to our horse’s fitness, plus having one of the best WA jockeys aboard.”

Ask Me Nicely is by Ustinov and that sire‘s dam is Let’s Elope a Melbourne , Caulfield and Australia Cup winner.

Kersley said he was not sure what to do with his grey. “If we have another tilt at the Perth Cup (he was third in 2014) he should go out for a spell now. But then again he is an eight year old and it may pay to keep him going, while in form.”

Ironically, Reg Webb said the owners thought of retiring him at the start of this campaign after three ordinary runs.

Ask Me Nicely has now won nine times, with 22 places, and has won almost $431,000 in his 80 start career.

Perth Racing, and particularly Chief Handicapper and Manager of Thoroughbred Racing, David Hunter, deserve credit for this race.

Hunter told a meeting of the programming sub-committee, last May, that funding was available for the new Cup race and the rest is history.

The aim is to have this as a Listed Race in the near future. It was the real talking point of Derby Day.

From bouquets to brickbats:  less popular with rusted on PR members is the fact that during the presentation of the Cup race the band played on, and over, the connections’ speech.

The band has its place, as an attraction for the younger generation, but should not interfere with presentations.

Hoofnote:  Not only did the two experienced riders, Shaun O’Donnell and Jason Whiting slug out the finish of the WA Cup but they were also involved earlier in a keen duel in the third race, won by the Julie Mitchell trained Night Prowler (Troy Turner).

In the home straight O’Donnell on the $2.50 favourite Thunderclap Newman attempted to move out and give chase to the leaders. Whiting who was winding up the lightly raced Silver Plated, trained by Gavin Foster, was determined not to be pushed out, held his line and ran on well, from the rear, to run second.

Thunderclap Newman was thus ‘put back in his box,’ in a good tactical ride by Whiting, and finished fourth. He may even have baulked slightly at that stage he was denied an exit.