SATURDAY’S meeting at the Esperance Bay Turf Club commenced with the running of the Esperance Smash Repairs Handicap over 1400m. Six-year old Twice The Speed set the pace and led throughout for the in-form Nicole Hopwood. It was Twice The Speed’s second victory after 27 starts but she was running away from the opposition at the finish. Sarabella finished second and The Menace battled on for third.

Nine gallopers contested the Esperance Window Tinting Maiden over 1300m. Perignon Don was given a perfect ride by Shaun Meeres and pulled away to score by two lengths over Royal Wing. It was Royal Wing’s fourth consecutive minor placing at Esperance and a win surely won’t be far away. Early pacemaker Pure Fandango held third in a photo over Give It Time who looked a shade disappointing.

The third event was sponsored by MCM Protection and only five thoroughbreds competed over 1300m. Apprentice Talia Maor didn’t muck around, she restrained the favourite King Of The Stalls to settle just behind the speed and in the straight ‘let him rip’. He flashed down the outside to claim victory and as expected Ears Loppy and He’s Smokin’ filled the other minor placings. He’s Smokin’ earned a cheque of $850 for finishing third and with that cheque eclipsed the $200,000 stake money mark.

Eljays Restaurant sponsored Race Four, the first true staying race (1950m) of the season. Only a couple looked truly comfortable over the concluding stages, The Gift and Key’s Ace. The Gift looked the winner a long way out but with Key’s Ace lifting strongly The Gift scored in a tight finish. Cut And Dried worked home fairly from the tail of the field to pass the ‘stragglers’ and Danish Currency failed to flatter under the 59kg.

Race Five was the Star Transport Handicap over 1200m and an outsider prevailed over favourite Donargy. Locally trained six-year-old Summer Crossing for Ross Dixon ‘outplugged’ topweight Donargy in a titanic tussle to the line and scored by a head. Donargy, clearly held back by the 59kg was gallant in defeat and is a horse that is definitely capable of winning a few races at Kalgoorlie this coming season. Moss Street flashed down the outside to finish third for 3kg claiming apprentice Amy Sandiford.