First win for Perfect Play

By John Scanlon

Leading from pillar to post, juvenile Perfect Play opened his winning account at Carlisle on August 30.

The Siyouni colt, owned by Newsells Park Stud’s Ossie Ardiles Syndicate, stepped up from seven furlongs to a mile for a novice event which was contested by a field of eight. Sent into the lead from the outset by Jason Hart, Perfect Play travelled strongly in the early stages, pursued by Rievaulx Raver.

From the three furlong pole, a number of rivals appeared poised to challenge, but Perfect Play refused to be caught, showing admirable resolution in the closing stages. At the line, Perfect Play held Rievaulx Raver by a length and a quarter, with Farhhfromforgotten finishing three-quarters of a length back in third.

Perfect Play is out of the Giant’s Causeway mare, Giants Play. A Kempton maiden winner over a mile and a half at three, Giants Play was sent to the United States, where she won the Grade 2 New York Stakes at Belmont Park over a mile and a quarter as a four-year-old. Perfect Play is a half-brother to Deutsches St Leger winner, Ispolini, and Vivionn, who finished second in Doncaster’s Park Hill Stakes, both by Dubawi.

A late April foal with strong influences for stamina in his pedigree, Perfect Play should improve for time and distance and will be one to keep an eye on as a three-year-old.

With this game display, Perfect Play also became the latest horse trained by Johnston Racing to land a £20,000 Tattersalls October Book 1 Bonus, having been acquired by the yard for 90,000gns at last October’s sale.

Staff Area