A change of stable has worked the oracle for Pencarrow Stud bred galloper Bass Strait (Holy Roman Emperor x Crystalline) who won the Group 3 A$150,000 R.J. Peters Handicap (1500m) at Ascot Racecourse in Perth on Saturday.

Formerly trained in Victoria by David Hayes and Tom Dabernig, Bass Strait was transferred to Neville Parnham’s Perth stable in October and tasted success at Group 3 level at just his third start in Western Australia.

Purchased by Adrian Nicoll of BBA Ireland at the 2011 Karaka Premier Sale, Bass Strait had won three races in Victoria and was Group 3 placed in the David Jones Cup last year.

Having his second start for Parnham, Bass Strait proved too good for his rivals after enjoying a cosy trip with apprentice rider Chris Parnham aboard. The son of Holy Roman Emperor peeled out from the trail and burst to the front to win by half-a-length.

““It was a pretty good win,” commented Parnham. “He is a new acquisition to the stable and I thought his effort was pretty promising.

“He finished a length off Fiorente 12 months ago and he went on to win a Melbourne Cup so the form was going to be strong. We thought he could get into a race like the Railway and it has worked out.

“Chris put him in a beautiful spot and everything went to plan. He will run in the Railway Stakes on Saturday. We are pretty happy in our purchase in the fact that we now have a runner in a million dollar race.”

Saturday’s victory was Bass Strait’s fourth win from 25 starts and has accumulated A$297,230 in prizemoney. The son of Holy Roman Emperor is currently owned by Mr N D Parnham, Mrs C A Parnham, Mr M A Pilkington, Mr R C Pearson, Mr B E Williamson, Seymour Bloodstock, Mr P H Sheridan, Mr R A Cowcher, Mr M C R Oldham, Mr B E Hutcheson, Mr T G Nitschke & Mr M Pilkington.

Bred by Laurie Laxon, Sir Peter Vela and Philip Vela, Bass Strait is out of winning Zabeel mare Crystalline, a daughter of Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas winner Clear Rose (Deputy Governor). Bass Strait’s third dam is Group 3 winner Thosada Lady (Narman), also the dam of Listed winner and Group 1 runner-up Lamour (Deputy Governor).

Crystalline foaled a filly by Alamosa this month.