(Photo / Western Racepix)
Bob Peters shared a LR Bunbury Cup (2000m) in 2022 when True Attraction (More Than Ready) dead-heated with Paddy’s Shadow (Dane Shadow) and there were more anxious moments before Arcadia Park (NZ) (Ocean Park) won the Bunbury Cup outright for the leading owner-breeder on Saturday.
Arcadia Park (Photo / Western Racepix) sat midfield in the running line behind front-runner Fancy Red (Sessions) before Clint Johnston-Porter pulled the trigger at the 900m. The surprise move caught the others by surprise but it also left the cerise and white silks in front a long way from home.
“Any other horse and I probably wouldn’t have done something clever like that,” Johnston-Porter said after the 4yo gelding held out Silver Eye (Sessions) and Snazzler (Mahuta). “He’s an out-and-out stayer and I thought that was the only way we could beat them.
“He’s fit with a bit of grit and Michael (Grantham) does a terrific job training him to tough it out through the line. He will get 2400m on his ear and the Pinjarra Cup won’t be a problem.” The $150,000 LR Pinjarra Cup (2300m) is set down for Sunday, March 22.
Peters Investments increased its lead on the 2025-26 WA Breeders leaderboard when Arcadia Park notched his third Listed victory following last season’s Aquanita Stakes (2000m) and Belmont Classic (2200m).
He was bred in NZ using Champion Waikato Stud sire Ocean Park (Thorn Park) over Arcadia Dream (Domesday) who won the G2 WATC Derby (2400m) in 2016. She has been based across the Tasman since 2018 and her most recent deliveries are a 2yo filly, yearling colt and filly foal all by Ocean Park.
Arcadia Dream is a half-sister to Arcadia Queen (Pierro) who was a Group 1 winner of 2018 WATC Kingston Town Classic (1800m), 2020 MRC Caulfield Stakes (2000m) and 2020 VRC Mackinnon Stakes (2000m).
Peters Investments sold Arcadia Queen at the 2021 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale to Arrowfield Stud for $3.2 million. She was initially passed-in, however, the Hunter Valley heavyweight stumped up the extra cash 48 hours later on the Gold Coast.
“We valued her around that mark and she’s one of those foundation mares that you don’t get the opportunity to buy too often,” Arrowfield’s Paul Messara said. “To be able to get into the top-end of that family is fantastic. We stand Dundeel and he would be a perfect cross for Arcadia Queen.”
Arcadia Queen’s first foal by Dundeel is a colt born in August 2025.
