Properantes Scores Upset in Peters Stakes

Mark Smith - Sunday November 19

The $21 outsider Properantes did the wrong thing by the man the race was named after when defeating the Bob Peters' owned Royal Star in the Group III RJ Peters Stakes (1500m) at Ascot on Saturday.

It was the first stakes win for the 6yo gelding since he captured the Raconteur Stakes as a 3-year-old back in March 2015.

Given an inspired ride by Peter Knuckey, Properantes defeated Royal Star (Redoute's Choice) by three-quarters of a length with the favourite Variation (War Chant) a half-length back in third.

The son of Danehill Express advances his record to 9 wins, 3 seconds and 5 thirds from 32 starts with earnings of $521,850.


"He was brilliantly ridden but I gave him a big chance today, winning trainer and part-owner Colin Wilson said.

"He's done really well since his last run and he is a beautiful horse."

Wilson said he was not tempted to run in next weeks $1 million Group 1 Railway Stakes.

"He's a Group Three horse and that's his limit, I gave up believing in fairies when I was four years old," he quipped.

"He has been the most honest horse, a very sound horse, all he had to do was to be ridden perfectly like Peter did today, it was a great thrill."

Wilson purchased the half a million-dollar earner for $20,000 out of the Mungrup Stud draft at the 2013 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.

He is the fourth named foal out of the unraced Marooned mare, Scala's Quest who is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Mr O'Malley (Vain Rancher).

Scala's Quest has a 2yo filly by Playing God who was purchased by Webster for $16,000 at this year's Perth Yearling Sale.

After producing a filly by Dick Turpin (IRE) last year, Scala's Quest foaled a filly by I'm All The Talk on October 13.

After proving popular for his first few years at stud, Danehill Express has fallen out of favour in recent years and covered just seven mares at Mungrup Stud last spring when his fee was advertised at $4,400.

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