Man Booker wins 2015 Sky Racing-W.A. Guineas Group 2 $500,000 at Ascot (WA) 3yo, 1600m.
Man Booker raced in eighth place, with cover, before improving (deep) from the 600m. He moved up quickly on straightening, got to a narrow lead at the 200m and kept fighting gamely to score a good win in a photo finish.
Spirit Bird began well and had a good run in fourth place. She moved up well coming to the home turn, challenged at the 200m and battled strongly for a close second, putting up a game effort.
The Cobbla was sixth, one off the rails, before moving up rounding the home turn. He went to third at the 200m and kept fighting well to hold the minor placing in photo.
The winner’s stablemate London Line was back in tenth place, was wide out approaching the home turn and battled well in the straight for (2 lengths) fourth.
Blackwood went back from her wide barrier (13), raced in last place in the 16-horse field to the home turn and made good late ground, in the middle of the track, for a very good (2.4 lengths) fifth. Of the others:
He's Our Rokkii was near last to the home turn and made ground in restricted room in the straight for (3.3 lengths) joint eighth while favourite Arcadia Dream went back from a difficult barrier (15) and was near last on the rails to the home turn. She was going well on turning for home but was blocked and then checked at the 200m and her tenth should be overlooked.
