Racing: Classy Collie gelding Flash Paddy continues run of placings aboard champion hoop William Pike

Raquel Williams’ four-year-old Flash Paddy extended his run of placings on Sunday at the Bunbury Turf Club, running second to Secrecy in the Own The Dream — Registrations Now Open Maiden (1675m). Sitting eighth heading into the home turn, champion hoop William Pike was able to move the gelding into an outside position, and the four-year-old’s turn of hoof in the closing stages looked capable of running down his rivals. Unfortunately, the extra ground made up from Flash Paddy’s outside trip proved to be a telling factor, and he finished 0.9 lengths behind the eventual victor. The gelding has four placings from six career starts and is expected to snap his maiden status in coming weeks. Later in the afternoon, Boyanup mare Valley Of Queens greeted the judges in the Hahn Super Dry 3.5 Handicap (1675m) for trainer Michael Lane. Lane’s five-year-old scored by five lengths over Capel’s Comealilbitcloser, which marked the biggest victory of her 22-start career to date. Racing returns to Bunbury on Sunday, December 10.