Ace Aliado's perfect six in Punters' Way Cup

 It was not so much the six-in-a-row that had Saimee gushing over the Towkay four-year-old, but more the way he has answered everything thrown at him with that trademark defiance.

“He just keeps going for it every time the bar is raised,” said Saimee. “After he got beat narrowly at his last win, I thought he might face his biggest test tonight, especially as he was drawn out.

 “But again he has stepped up to the plate and has passed the test with flying colours.

 “I was more worried about the draw, but I knew Gust would go forward and I could just follow across. The plan worked.

 “He dropped the bit and relaxed beautifully as he got a nice trail right behind. All credit to him when he kicked strongly in the home straight to hold off his challengers.

 “This is a serious horse and he can easily go places next year. I rate him very highly.”

Dragon World (Danny Beasley), who was second-up from a short spell, wound up late and looked like he could reel Ace Aliado in but shied in the dying stages to settle for second spot 1 ¼ lengths away. Smoking Joe (Matthew Kellady) ran an encouraging third at debut for Dr Yeoh Kheng Chye, another length away.

 Ace Aliado ($17) is raced by a joint partnership between ACE Stable and Midas Touch Stable and has now racked up stakes close to $240,000.

 Laxon was just as taken by his ward’s will to win and immediately hatched a Group race start for him.

 “I think he will get in at a nice light weight in the (Group 2) EW Barker Trophy on Gold Cup day (on November 8),” mused Laxon.

 “What I really like about this bloke is he is always taking the next step. He is definitely Class 1 material.”

 Laxon won the EW Barker Trophy, a handicap race over 1400m carrying purse of $350,000 last year, with Big Maverick, who captured the Group 1 Raffles Cup last Sunday.

 The five-time champion handler was also pleased with Waipapa’s (Robbie Fradd) fifth in the Punters’ Way Cup, putting him right on target for his main objective, the Singapore Gold Cup.