Graceful Girl A Movie Plot Seen Before

If racing aficionados felt a sense of déjà vu following the running of Saturday’s Listed Raconteur Stakes at Belmont, it’s because the winner seems primed to follow a most familiar script. A half-sister to Gr2 Western Australia Derby winner Respondent (Haradasun) and a full-sister to Gr3 Colonel Reeves Stakes winner State Solicitor, 3YO filly Graceful Girl (Nicconi-Avenido-Madero) jumped odds-on for the WA winter 1400m feature. Sooled along midfield until straightening, William Pike darted her back to the fence after initially looking to go wide, quickly threading her through the leaders to win going away. Yet to miss a drum after 7 starts, the 4-time winner will now be put away for some big spring targets, with thewest.com.au reporting that Bob Peters has pencilled in the Gr1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m), Gr1 Railway Stakes (1600m) and Gr1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m) – each worth $1 million. Peters is nothing if not patient, turning away the prospect of running her in the $100,000 Belmont Guineas in just under two weeks. “We are likely to turn the filly out without another race and give her extra time in a paddock before she begins her carnival preparation,” said Peters. “It would be better to give Graceful Girl a steady carnival lead-up so we’re not rushing to assess her potential.” The portents are for a denouement that seems all too familiar.