Hoolahoops and Wild Fusion score impressive wins, trainer Cliff Green notches winning double

Albany trainer Liam O’Loughlin will return to metropolitan company with Wild Fusion after his thrilling win at Percy Spencer Racecourse on Saturday. Wild Fusion had three unplaced runs at Ascot to start his preparation before finishing third and fourth respectively in the Great Southern’s two major sprint races — the Fitzpatrick Plate and Mt Barker Sprint. However, the seven-year-old gelding returned to the winners’ stall for the first time in 441 days after victory by a half-head in the Wellington and Reeves Handicap (1500m). Apprentice Taj Dyson settled Wild Fusion in a terrific position midfield before angling to the middle of the track turning for home. Worth A Risk shot to the front in the straight but Wild Fusion dug deep in the final 100m to hit the lead in the shadows of the post. “We thought we would get an easy kill with no float trip while the weather is hot in Perth,” O’Loughlin said. “Things haven’t gone our way this prep, so good to get a win. “We will look to go back to town with confidence in three weeks. “Good to get a win for the young kid, I have been watching him and he can ride them out good for his first year in the ranks.” The Wagin-trained Hoolahoops won the Mark Blyth Jewellery Fashions On The Field Handicap (1500m) in dominant fashion for trainer Angela Smith and jockey Beaux Banovic-Edwards. After settling at the rear, Hoolahoops went around the entire field on the turn and let down superbly to storm to an impressive 3.2-length victory. “Very honest little mare who rarely finishes out of top five every race she runs in,” Smith said. “I thought she was very impressive coming from last at the top of the straight and running a sensational last 600m and giving a small group of owners their first winner.” The Cliff Green-trained War Class notched his fifth career victory after getting the head down on the line to pip Mr Mt Walker in a great finish to the ARC Retired Jockeys Celebration Day Handicap (1600m). War Class and Mr Mt Walker went stride-for-stride in the final stages but War Class prevailed by a short half-head. Recharger took out the final race to hand Green the second leg of a double, winning by just under a length for hoop Kyra Yuill. Straite And Narrow broke his maiden status for Steve Wolfe and the Dan and Ben Pearce-trained Wise Words was also a maiden winner on the day. Calbanesco caused a upset in race three for local trainer Leanne Howlett and Kristy Bennett, saluting at $36. Jockey Kate Witten was awaiting scans to learn the extent of a knee injury sustained when she was dislodged from Read The Riot Act prior to the running of race five. She forfeited the remainder of her rides at the meeting after the incident.