Trade Fair, fresh from the fifth successive win of emerging staying star Fair Hunter on Saturday, had just two runners at the Belmont Park mid-week meeting yesterday (August 29).
Festival Star and Highway Trader were in the same race and went within 3/4-length of a quinella result.
Festival Star ($3.50) was bumped soon after the start, raced wide and ran on with a race best 35.11sec. final 600m to win the 1300m John Jones Memorial Handicap by a length from Lady Ladette ($12).
Highway Trader, the $3.40 favourite, was a further 3/4 length away in third place after commencing awkwardly and striking the barriers.
The win was a fitting result.
For Festival Star was bred by the leading bloodstock agent John Chalmers, who was responsible for bringing Trade Fair to WA.
She’s from the New Zealand-bred mare Twice, by Mellifont, a four-time winner.
Highway Trader, bred by Fiona Gerrard, is from the un-raced The Jogger mare, Road Home, who was also bred in New Zealand. Road Home is from the strong North American Black Type family of former sire Pre Emptive Strike.