WA raiders power to quinella

Western Australian raider Regal Power snared the $NZ5.4 million All-Star Mile at Caulfield yesterday as Perth owner Bob Peters took out the quinella, with the fast-finishing Superstorm grabbing second.

Star Kiwi mare Melody Belle was third, running on well for rider Opie Bosson after racing handy.

Winning jockey Willie Pike broke his duck in Melbourne and gave a salute to the imaginary crowd at Caulfield.

It was a 50-50 call whether Pike rode Regal Power or fellow Peters-owned and Grant and Alana Williams-trained WA stablemate Superstorm.

It turned out Pike got the coin toss right when Regal Power held off fast-finishing Superstorm by three-quarters of a length.

Pike now has the Melbourne monkey off his back after having 35 previous rides without any wins.

Godolphin filly Flit went hard up front and favourite Alligator Blood finished 10th after not getting the race run to suit and pulling up with a potential issue.

Even though there was no crowd at Caulfield due to the coronavirus lock-out, Pike celebrated hard.

Jockey Mark Zahra said of runner-up Superstorm: ‘‘He ran an enormous race. He’s a big, green raw bloke,’’ he told racenet.

Ryan Maloney said Alligator Blood pulled up scratchy in his action and never settled in the run.

Melody Belle didn’t have a stack of luck in third but ran well. ‘‘I got bunched up on turning in but when she got into the clear she ran home,’’ said Bosson.

At Rosehill, Funstar beat Kiwi star Probabeel in another thrilling battle between the two gun fillies in the $240,000 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m).

Funstar was taken to the front by jockey James McDonald as Probabeel settled last and was still trailing the field as Funstar was held together to lead into the straight.

Kerrin McEvoy took

Probabeel inside, but Funstar responded on the heavy track, kicking away over the final 75m for a 1.3 length victory. Third was another Kiwi, Quick Thinker, the best of the boys.