by Bren O'Brien and Paul Vettise
Ascot plays host to the final Australian Group 1 of 2018, with the Magic Millions Kingston Town Classic seemingly a battle between former WA galloper Trap for Fools {Poet's Voice {GB}) and the Bob Peters' trained pair Galaxy Star (Redoute's Choice) and Arcadia Queen (Pierro).
Trap for Fools, now trained in Victoria by Jarrod McLean, is coming off a Group 1 win in the Mackinnon S. at Flemington, while Galaxy Star is also a last-start Group 1 winner, in her case, an authoritative success in the G1 Railway S. at this track two weeks' ago.
The fact that neither of those horses are favourite speaks volumes for how impressive Arcadia Queen was in winning the G2 WA Guineas. In-form jockey William Pike had the chance to ride either Galaxy Star or Arcadia Queen and chose the latter who gets in with just 50kg under the weight-for-age conditions .
Trap For Fools will take his customary front running role from barrier 10, but Galaxy Star, a winner of 10 of her 13 starts, will likely have to go back from barrier 14 giving Arcadia Queen, who has drawn ideally in six, a decent head start.
The horses that filled the placings in the Railway, Material Man (Vital Equine {Ire}), the G2 Perth Cup winner, and Gatting (Hard Spun {USA}, last year's WA Derby winner, are also up high up in the market and are both drawn to get very good runs.
The Listed Sir Ernest Lee Steere Classic for the 3-year-olds is the other feature.
The Velvet King (Universal Ruler), fifth in the G2 WA Guineas last time out having won the Listed Fairetha S. at his previous start, is the top pick. The filly Shapita (Foxwedge), second in the Listed Placid Ark S. last time, is fancied to provide the main opposition along with Victorian raider Junipal (Reset), who had little luck in the Guineas.
There is also the Listed Automaster GA Towton Cup for the stayers, where Mississippi Delta (High Chaparral {Ire}) is favoured to continue her winning ways, and the Listed Ascend Sales Jungle Dawn Classic, where another of Peters' mares, Celebrity Dream (Thorn Park), heads the market.
G1 racing at Trentham
Rain-affected going at Trentham on Saturday will complicate the form puzzle for the G1 Captain Cook S., although it will have fans of the resuming Jon Snow (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) warming further to his chances.
Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman’s 5-year-old has an outstanding wet-track record with three of his four career wins in such conditions and he looms as a leading chance for top honours in the Rydges-sponsored feature.
Successful in the G1 Australian Derby on heavy ground, Jon Snow hasn’t raced since he was unplaced in the G1 Caulfield Cup after racing three wide without cover.
He was subsequently freshened and a trial win at Matamata toward the end of last month indicated he was ready to give a bold first-up account of himself in the hands of jockey Matt Cameron.
Runner-up in Jon Snow’s 1200 metre open heat was race rival Our Abbadean (NZ) (Lookin At Lucky {USA}), who competed creditably in all three legs of the Hawke’s Bay Triple Crown Group 1 series.
She closed off strongly when third in the Tarzino Trophy and for fifth in the Windsor Park Plate and also made late ground for fifth in the Livamol Classic.
Our Abbadean has placed on soft ground, but she would appreciate any underfoot improvement while the very much in-form Dark Princess (NZ) (Cape Blanco {IRE}) is right at home in the wet and as the winner of two of her last three starts is at the very top of her game.
She’s Poppy (NZ) (Alamosa {NZ}) is a black type winner over the trip with the only question mark over her is the quick back-up after finishing sixth in last Saturday’s Listed Wanganui Cup.
Danzdanzdance (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {IRE}) is a proven Group 1 performer, but the weather has put a serious dent in her chances.
Jon Snow’s stablemate Aretha (NZ) (Charm Spirit {IRE}) has looked good at the trials ahead of her debut in the G2 Anuka Smoker Wakefield Challenge S.
She has won both of her outings, the latest on a soft track at Matamata while Killin (Snitzel) has pleased trainer Stephen Marsh with his lead-up work and is another trial winner in the line-up.
Killin is looking to make his debut this weekend, pictured as a yearling
Jamie Richards’ trial winner Aotea Lad (NZ) (Savabeel) and the John Bary- prepared Cinzento (NZ) (Dalghar {FR}), who was second on debut, are others worthy of consideration in a tricky line-up.
Around the grounds
Doomben plays host to two Listed races on Saturday, with Steve Tregea's Prioritise (Rothesay) seemingly the one to beat in the Listed TAB Brisbane Hcp with Ben Currie's Kay Kay Boy (Kodiac {GB}) the key rival .
The Listed Makers Mark Just Now Quality for the fillies and mares sees in-form pair Stella Victoria (Foxwedge) and Femme Fireball (Pierro) clash, while Our Crown Mistress (Star Witness) heads north looking for black type.
Stella Victoria
Morphettville hosts the Listed Schweppes City of Marion S. with Darren Weir's Platinum Angel (Snitzel) predicted to atone for her last start defeat at Ballarat.
Pakenham plays host to Victoria's metropolitan meeting with the Listed Sportsbet Pakenham Cup the feature. Dal Harraild (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) has been narrowly beaten at Group level his last two and looks well-placed back in class, but he needs to overcome Ballarat Cup winner Kiwia (Reset).
