Cover image courtesy of Western Racepix
G1 Railway S. - the Peters' silks again?
Bob and Sandra Peters have dominated the G1 Railway S. at Ascot, one of Perth's most prestigious events, in recent times - horses in their well known cerise and white colours were successful in each of the last four years; Western Empire (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}), Inspirational Girl (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}), Regal Power (Pierro) and Galaxy Star (Redoute's Choice).
They have two acceptors on Saturday though one of those, Devoted (Xtravagant {NZ}), needs a bit of luck to gain a run as third emergency. Meanwhile, Treasured Star (Toronado {Ire}) is assured of a run and will be hard to beat off the back of her determined win in the G3 Asian Beau S. late last month.
Bob Peters and Adam Durrant accepting the trophy for Treasured Star's win in the G3 Asian Beau S. last month | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
Three of her rivals on Saturday were behind her that day, Startrade (Trade Fair {GB}) a game runner-up, while Alaskan God (Playing God) and Trix Of The Trade (Trade Fair {GB}) were both strong to the line.
Also likely to prove a strong form reference is the G2 Lee Steere Classic in which Karli's Karma (Deep Field) tried so hard. Notorious One (Animal Kingdom {USA}) was also good in that race, making up ground along the rails.
Or will it be a differing formline? Searchin' Roc's (Awesome Rock) backs up from a tough performance taking out last weekend's G3 R.J. Peters S., while Yonkers (USA) (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}) and Ironclad (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) bring solid eastern state form to the party.
Listed Ballarat Cup - Group 1 form to shine?
There is plenty of spring carnival form in this race including a couple of horses who boast decent performances at Group 1 level - the Chris Waller-trained Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) who was a somewhat unlucky G1 Empire Rose S. fifth prior to her dominant G2 Matriarch S. victory, while the Mike Moroney-trained Bankers Choice (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) was close up in the G1 Mackinnon S.
That looks great form for a race of this nature and not surprisingly those two horses are fighting out favouritism.
Atishu, who also accepted for The Gong at Kembla Grange, is one of the three Waller runners in the race and they will be the first three in the yard as numbers 1, 2 and 3. Sharing topweight is Desert Icon (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who won the G2 JRA Cup over this distance in late September, and the popular mare Polly Grey (NZ) (Azamour {Ire}) whose fans will be hoping the rain arrives.
Atishu (NZ) winning the G2 Matriarch S. at Flemington on November 5 | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Lindsay Park took home the trophy last year with Zayydani (NZ) (Savabeel) and are hoping to do the same this time around when they saddle Dark Dream (All American), who has been racing well at Country Cup level.
Meanwhile, fresh on the scene having had only one run each this time in is Grandslam (Myboycharlie {Ire}) who was in the thick of things in the VOBIS Gold Star.
Both Foxy Frida (Foxwedge) and Flash Aah (Lucas Cranach {Ger}) line up in their second Ballarat Cups, the former last year running an excellent fifth from a horror draw, while the latter was unplaced - but is in nice form having run well in last weekend's Listed Cranbourne Cup.
The Gong - racing for $1 million
A $1 million race being run for the fourth time, Kembla Grange’s The Gong has attracted runners from a variety of form lines - horses who have been contesting stakes races in Melbourne and Sydney.
The sole interstate-trained horse is the toppie - the popular and honest gelding Just Folk (Magnus), who is bursting for a win having been a game runner-up at each of his last three starts in good races - the Listed Seymour Cup, the G3 Craven Plate and the Listed Cup Day Plate.
Just Folk (red cap) defeating Ellsberg in the G2 Ajax S. at Randwick earlier this year, his most recent win | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Not in quite such good form is Kolding (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) but the triple Group 1 winner has been contesting stronger races - finding plenty of trouble when running in the G1 Cantala S. last time out.
Several runners have been taking their chance in other races of this ilk, including Promise Of Success (GB) (Dansili {GB}) who won The Invitation prior to ending up in the wrong part of the track in the G3 HKJC S. at Flemington, while Rustic Steel (Deep Field) took out the The Big Dance in which another of Saturday’s rivals, Surf Dancer (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), was fourth having worked hard on pace.
Hope In Your Heart (Dundeel {NZ}) tried hard when finishing a close-up fourth in The Golden Eagle, while Sky Lab (Real Impact {Jpn}) and Brutality (Shamus Award) both finished off nicely in The Hunter.
G2 WA Guineas - any future Perth stars amongst them?
Since being elevated to its current Group 2 status in 1981, the WA Guineas has proven to be a good hunting ground for quality performers - 19 of its winners in that time going on to further Group success including the Group 1 winners Ihtsahymn (Ihtiram {Ire}), Summer Beau (NZ) (Sky Filou {NZ}), Old Nick (Old Spice), Megatic (Danetime {Ire}), Playing God, Arcadia Queen (Pierro), Rare Flyer (Captain's Wings {USA}) and Importune (NZ).
It looks a classy lineup this year with plenty of winning form including the exciting unbeaten gelding Bustler (Playing God), who has so impressively been making his way through the classes - two weeks ago putting in a late dive to secure his first black-type victory in the Listed Fairetha S.
Bustler edges out a win in the Listed Fairetha S. on November 5 | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
Game in defeat in that race was All The King's Men (King's Troop), who has featured in the first two at each of his last five starts. Man Crush (Manhattan Rain) was out of the placings in the same race but did have to work hard, while Upper Limits (Exosphere) was strong to the line finishing third.
Meanwhile, the Stephen Miller-trained Saintorio (Oratorio) rises in class but just keeps racing well and the same can be said for the promising Demolish (Rich Enuff) - a big winner as an odds-on favourite at Class 1 level last time out.
Two nice fillies take on the boys - Amelia's Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}), who lost no fans when suffering the first defeat of her career in the Listed Burgess Queen S. last time out, while Linden Lady (No Nay Never {USA}) did a big job finishing off into a G3 Champions Fillies S. third having not long been out of maiden class.
Magic Millions Ballarat 2YO Classic - juveniles takes to the track
Six debutants take on seven horses who have already raced in this Magic Millions feature which boasts a winning purse of $250,000.
Of those to have already faced the starter, Gitalong (Zoustar) and Dubenenko (Russian Revolution) are the most experienced having each raced twice - the former a game fifth after working hard on pace in the Golden Gift, while the latter was good weaving through the field when fifth in the G3 Ottawa S.
That Flemington race provides another two runners for this - the unplaced Capulet (Extreme Choice), who did not have much luck and Tabata Set (Snitzel), who set up a good pace and eventually held on well for fourth. Meanwhile, Pure Paradise (Capitalist) has been freshened since finding the line well when second in the Listed Debutant S. at her first start.
Just the second runner for Widden Stud's Written By, Amantine is another Cranbourne jump-out winner; a $50,000 yearling from the family of the recent Golden Eagle winner I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel). La Petite Angele is also by a first-season sire, Darley's Harry Angel {Ire}), and she was a successful pinhook, having been purchased for $30,000 as a weanling and then resold for $130,000 as a yearling.
Amantine, pictured as a yearling, is from the family of Golden Eagle winner I Wish I Win (NZ) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Eureka Stud's Spirit Of Boom has three runners including the first starters Malaboom, a Warwick Farm trial-winning $80,000 purchase out of the Listed Blue Diamond Preview winner Malasun (Red Ransom {USA}), and Sassy Boom, a Flemington jump-out-winning $155,000 yearling from the family of the G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Mossfun (Mossman).
Listed Challenge S. - New Zealand's 2YOs
Seven juveniles chase black type at Pukekohe on Saturday and such is the openness of the race that five of those are quoted at single-figure odds.
The four who have raced have all displayed ability, including Luberon (NZ) (Embellish {NZ}), the first winner for her Cambridge Stud-based first-season sire when leading throughout at Ruakaka in late September. Another by a Cambridge Stud inmate is Balance Of Power (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}), the NZ$300,000 yearling whose Te Rapa debut third (after a slow start) caught the eye.
Luberon (NZ) on her way to the start before cruising to a debut victory at Ruakaka in September | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
As a NZ$600,000 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale graduate, Ethereal Star (Snitzel) is the most expensive horse in the race and she was good to the line when second at her Te Rapa debut a couple of weeks ago. Her dual-Group-3-winning dam Eleonora (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) is a granddaughter of Ethereal (NZ) (Rhythm {USA}).
Meanwhile, a $200,000 purchase at the same sale was Cyclonic King (Exceed And Excel), who was green but good at his first start. He is out of the Group 2-placed city winner Lady Krovanh (Dehere {USA}).
