A perfect performance (From Gazette & Herald)

A perfect performance

Two-year-old winners in April from Mick Easterby's Sheriff Hutton yard are a pretty rare occurrence, but there was no doubting the potential of Word Perfect, who got her lines spot-on at Ripon last week.

Fulfilling the promise of her third-placed effort on her debut, the Diktat filly bounded home with a length-and-a-half to spare under Dale Gibson, wearing the colours of Jean Turpin, a long-time patron of the Eastery stable.

"She's a decent filly and will be aimed at the Hilary Needler Trophy at Beverley," said Easterby, referring to the Listed race on June 2, won last year by Attraction, who went on to win the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Word Perfect's victory, incidentally, paid a fitting tribute to her Newcastle conqueror, Tara Tara, who overcame trouble in running to score handsomely that day.

Trained by John Quinn, the clearly useful Tara Tara is expected to reappear next month in the Lily Agnes Stakes at Chester. One to remember.

Updated: 11:36 Wednesday, April 21, 2004