Edwards sizzles on Speed ‘N’ Reef to claim Carnarvon Cup

Jockey Peta Edwards produced an almost perfect ride on board the Bob Bell-trained Speed ‘N’ Reef ($20) to take out the 2000m Tabtouch-Carnarvon Cup last Saturday.

After being back from midfield early behind the leading trio of Megafactory ($16), Tom Almighty ($3.10) and Boys Getaround Him ($18), Edwards eased Speed ‘N’ Reef out three wide approaching the 600m.

Nearing the home corner, Boys Getaround Him, under the big weight on 64kg, still held sway from Tom Almighty with Speed ‘N’ Reef and O’Reilly’s Crumpet ($16) looming as the dangers.

With a pull in the weights of 9kg over Boys Getaround Him, Speed ‘N’ Reef gained the upper hand soon after straightening, going on to score comfortably by 2 and 3/4 lengths from a gallant Boys Getaround Him.

Both Balmont Stunner ($19) and Me Hungi ($19) both ran on back from the midfield from the 400m to fill the minor placings, but were never going to play a part in the finish.

Favourite in the race — Beg To Differ ($2.90) put in a disappointing performance — finishing 11 and 3/4 from the winner.

The win by Edwards in the Cup was just the icing on the cake as she had won the first race on the eight-race program on the Glen Cortes-trained Sasse De Blishk ($7.50).

Sasse De Blishk defeated Handyman ($18) by a length with a further length and a quarter back to Glowing Rock ($11), in third place.

The next three races belonged to the Darryn Pateman/Kate Fitzgerald combination.

It commenced with Midnight Assassin ($7) taking out the 1200m Tabtouch Giddy Up Premium Maiden by 3/4 of a length from Just Dave ($7) and Dee Trump ($41).

Exexcel ($3.70) quickly added to the tally when the five-year-old mare was never headed in the 1000m Tabtouch Stream Racing Live Handicap.

Confidently ridden Exexcel scored by two lengths from Balrov ($21) with a further 2 and 3/4 lengths to Stride Out ($6) third.

Andreini ($3.80) proved the most impressive of the combinations winning treble, in the 1600m Tabtouch Race Replays Handicap.

Andreini scored by six lengths from stablemate Confusing ($15), with a further 3 and 1/4 lengths back to My Naughty Blonde ($9.50).

Two up-and-coming apprentices — Jessica Gray and Jade McNaught — were seen at their best in the 1600m Tabtouch Better Your Bet Handicap.

In a driving finish, the judge could not separate Portrait Lao ($4.40), ridden by Gray and Proud History ($21), with McNaught in the saddle.

Express Lies ($19) finished third, 4 3/4 lengths from the winning pair.

Jockey Peter Hall was seen at his best on board Net Profit ($4.20) in the 1200m Mt Augustus Tourist Park Sprint.

Coming from behind midfield at the 400m, Net Profit went on to score by a half-length from favourite Roger The Roman ($2.80), with Perazzi ($9.50) a further two lengths adrift in third place.

In the final race of a season, McNaught was again seen at her best on the Peter Daly-trained Planet Flower ($12) in the 1200m Tabtouch Handicap.

Midfield until the corner, Planet Flower came with a well-timed run to beat leading pair Northern Shadow ($51) by a length with a further 3/4 of a length back to Chico Bubbles ($19).

At the conclusion of the meeting, season awards were presented, with trainer of the year taken out by Graeme Hammarquist.

Jockey of the year was won by Peta Edwards, with horse of the year awarded to Portrait Lao.

Jade McNaught, who has only been riding for a relatively short time, took out the apprentice jockey of the award.

With the first meeting of the Geraldton season scheduled for October 4, the Geraldton Turf Club will conduct trials this Sunday morning.