Sky Duke dispelled doubts about his capacity to run 1300m in a tenacious display, taking Friday’s $100,000 Boxing Day Dash at Pinjarra.
Having never contested a race over such a great journey in his 37-start career prior, the Playing God gelding had eased from $4.60 to $7.50 in the days leading up.
But with a propitious tailwind favouring front-runners, the six-year-old was specked back into $6 in the minutes beforehand.
However, the noted pacesetter was forced to sit outside the leader when Triple Jay was hustled up to hold the initiative in the early bounds.
Ramping the speed from the 600m, the two pacemakers scuttled away from the pack and opened up by three lengths over Boots Like Bruce ($17), who was struggling and provided Angel Undercover ($1.70f) and Wubin Gold ($3.80) with no flow into the race.
Upon straightening, Luke Campbell sent Sky Duke on from Triple Jay but was left clear in front with more than 200m to cover.
With a leering final furlong ahead and both Angel Undercover and Wubin Gold bearing down, Sky Duke fought manfully and gripped on in a determined display to salute by a neck.
Campbell, formerly apprenticed to winning trainer Neville Parnham, had partnered the six-year-old on three occasions previously for a placing each time.
“Christmas yesterday and some of the boys couldn’t ride 54kg, so I was very lucky to pick up the ride today,” Campbell said.
“He began really well and within the first couple of strides, I could see Steve (Parnham) inside me on Triple Jay wanting to be positive, so I was happy to just camp outside of him.
“He travelled really strongly throughout but when I let him go a little bit, geez, he just let down.
“He put Stevie’s horse away pretty easy, and he was pretty tough. He was suspect at the end of 1300m, but I was proud of his effort, and he’s done a good job.
“The track is playing a little bit on-pace today with the wind conditions and that definitely helped him, especially over the 1300m.”
The West Australian Hayden King 26 December 2025