Hall lands plum cup ride on star exhibit

Jay RooneyThe West Australian Dual Perth Cup-winning jockey Peter Hall has been booked to ride Star Exhibit in the Group 2 feature at Ascot tomorrow week. Hall, who won the Perth Cup on

Black Tom (2006) and Delicacy (2016), will reunite with Star Exhibit after riding him in his first three race starts in 2015. Star Exhibit, who won the Perth Cup (2400m) on New Year’s Eve in

2016, was one of only two rides in Hall’s weight range in the cup. The Adam Durrant-trained gelding will carry 55kg. Gatting, the only other contender above the 53kg minimum, will carry

59kg and be ridden by Damian Lane. “I’m pretty happy to pick up the ride,” Hall said. “It’s a privilege to ride for Bob Peters. “Star Exhibit is probably a bit off his best, but his form has

been around Galaxy Star and Material Man, so this will be a drop in class. “Being aimed at the cup, he should be at peak fitness.” Hall returns from a careless riding suspension on Perth

Cup day. He was sidelined for 20 days for causing interference when riding the Peters-owned Perfect Jewel in the Group 1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m). Star Exhibit completed his Perth Cup

preparation with a solid fifth to Galaxy Star in the Group 2 Ted Van Heemst Stakes (2100m) last Saturday. “His run wasn’t too bad last start,” Peters said. “He ran the second-fastest final

600 of the race.” Peters has also booked Clint Johnston-Porter to ride Royal Star and will confirm riders for his other cup contenders after tomorrow’s Listed ATA Stakes (2200m). He said

champion jockey William Pike wanted to test Action after not riding him this campaign. Pike chose to ride the WATC Derby winner over Mississippi Delta. Royal Star will also run in the ATA

and back up a week later in the cup. “They’re all on trial,” Peters said. “We’ll see how they go and make a decision on the cup.” Meanwhile, dual Listed winner Come Play With Me will return

at Pinjarra’s metropolitan-class meeting on January 12. “He’ll trial again at Lark Hill on Monday and probably kick off in the Mandurah Cup at Pinjarra,” Durrant said. Mikimoto, who won last

year’s Listed Burgess Queen Stakes (1400m), will also trial for Durrant on Monday. GET THE LATEST NEWS FROM THEWEST.COM.AU IN YOUR INBOX. Sign up for our emails