Ascot Racecourse was abuzz with excitement at the return of racing at the home of warm weather racing in WA, with an impressive crowd gathering for the season opener.
With Belmont hosting winter festivities, a fresh-looking Ascot was a leading Perth entertainment destination on Saturday with patrons doubling from year-on-year counts.
Ollie’s Bar, an area named for legend WA-born jockey Damien Oliver, was unveiled and hotly pursued by punters on a sublime spring afternoon.
It was also an opportunity for serious horseflesh to showcase their talents, with many of the budding spring stars emerging with bigger and bolder physiques.
Five-year-old Diamond Scene flew home from the clouds to snatch victory in the sixth event, with the rising gelding flagging Pinnacles carnival ambitions.
The son of So You Think had never raced over a journey as short as the weekend’s contest but took to it with aplomb to drop on fellow big race aspirant Rope Them In.
Later, Charino delivered a heartwarming success for smaller-scale trainer Brett Pope, claiming the day’s feature at just his second start.
The big black-booker from the event was the flashing West Star, who announced himself as a speedy sensation who will be hard to beat in any race he eyes up across the coming weeks and months.
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