Oratorio at Cross purposes in Perth

Harvey Crossman’s Lima Syndicate welcomed Castle Retreat back to winning form this week and they have another promising type by Mungrup Stud champion Oratorio ready to make his debut at Ascot this Saturday.

Castle Retreat (3g Oratorio – Clarecastle by Tribu) pounced on short-priced favourite The Chorister in the Caitlin Forrest Tribute (1000m) on Wednesday.  He sprinted clear in the closing stages for connections to savour his first victory since a Belmont juvenile in July.

“Winning is the name of the game and he’s a nice horse,” trainer Paul Jordan said.  “The owners are happy and I think he’s got a future.”

Mogumber Park’s Fiona Lacey bred and sold Castle Retreat for $60,000 at the 2013 Perth Magic Millions.  He has paid that back and more with $134,000 in prizemoney and bonuses courtesy of Westspeed.

Jordan went back to Mogumber Park’s draft at this year’s Magic Millions and paid another $60,000 for his younger sister.  The Oratorio filly has been named Castle Queen.

Jordan sends out Oratorio first-timer Peter Perfect for the Lima Syndicate on Saturday.  He trounced a Belmont Park trial field on Monday and has been kept safe at $6 in pre-post markets for the Seacorp 2YO Plate (1000m).

Peter Perfect (2c Oratorio – Brocky’s Ace by Surtee) was bred by Ellie Giles at Korilya Stud and cost Crossman and co. $31,000 at the 2014 Perth Magic Millions.  His dam won the 2005 Initial Plate and her first foal Brocky’s Deal was an Ascot 2YO winner in April 2012 even though he was by staying sire Balestrini.

Oratorio (Aus) is the defending Sunspeed 2YO champion sire with four juvenile titles in the last six seasons.  He stands at Mungrup Stud for a $16,500 (inc gst) fee.