Peck, starting first -up from an eighth month spell gave an impressive display to win the Listed Detonator Stakes over 1800m at Ascot on February 14.
Ridden by Ben Paterson, the Adam Durrant trained galloper finished too powerfully for Young Lionel to win by half a length with Wayside well beaten back in third place.
The race started in dramatic fashion when Global Flirt after jumping first decided he wanted to continue ‘jumping.’
Jockey Danny Miller had his hands full avoiding a catastrophe and did well to ease his problem mount out of the race. his display would have earned him applause from legendary bronco riders, the Skuthorp brothers, of a century ago.
Certainly Peck was inconvenienced at the start and raced next to last for most of the race and was absolute last on the home turn.
Durrant’s stable foreman, Jason Miller paid tribute to Paterson. “Ben did well to avoid Global Flirt then rode patiently throughout coming with a well timed run, down the outside, at the finish.” Miller said Peck usually raced well first up and that having an earlier trial had helped.
Miller said that Peck would be a real prospect for the Pinjarra and Bunbury Cups and had further improvement in him.
by John Elsegood
