Perth Preview – 20 April 2024
Sequels are always hard pressed to replicate the originals.
The 2006 Grand Final did it, but Cars 2 can’t hold a candle to the first movie, much in the same way that Jaws franchise deteriorated into tropical nonsense before finally swimming away from our screens.
Western Australian racing will be longing for The Quokka 2 to live up to the first installment some 12 months ago, with the main cast reprising their roles, along with some exciting 3-year-old stars injecting some spice into the script.
It’s not just about the $5 million feature, with the Group 2 Karrakatta Plate standing as the juvenile championship of Western Australia, alongside the consolation prize, The Joey.
In a bumper 10 race card, there’s plenty of winners to find, with some old favourites hopefully continuing to keep their impressive Autumn rolling.
Race 1: 0 Metro Win Handicap. 1600m.
Jumping pre-lunchtime in the opener, an excuse (if one was ever needed) to ingest about four flat whites on the way to the track. I’m not sure that Shaka Zulu is a star, but the gelding is going well without winning, and might be able to catch them napping. Finished second two starts ago at Pinjarra to Simple Logic (beating home the in-form defending), and was good at Geraldton last start behind Bleecker Street, Platinum Shot and Madame Magic. Gets to the mile for the first time, gets a good jockey booking in the form of Jarrad Noske, and if he can find a back to follow from a slightly awkward draw he can be finishing over them late. Both Fortune’s Luck and Arnie’s Boy come out of the same race a fortnight ago; the former was storming home over the top while the latter couldn’t quite go with her, but hit the line well. That’s potentially the most obvious form reference for this, and a win for either wouldn’t be a surprise. Gold Merits drops back in distance, but just seems to find winning an elusive concept, while Mack Mack can improve sharply if he jumps properly.
Selection: Shaka Zulu
Race 2: 1 Metro Win Handicap. 1600m.
At least the barrier tractor won’t have much to do early in the day. When he was burning around Broome 10 months ago, I didn’t in my wildest imagination expect to be putting Rogue’s Point in a preview column for a Saturday race on a major metropolitan meeting, but full credit to Simone Altieri and Anthony Barton, they have this horse flying. He’s uncomplicated, he’s fast and the rising 8-year-old is in career best form. Even from the second widest barrier, they’d be doing very well to keep him off the fence, and it’s the perfect race for a heartbreaking, free running frontrunner. Yarralea got the better of Fortune’s Luck a fortnight ago, on a day where Chris Parnham could do no wrong. She draws to sit on the fence behind Rogue’s Point, which means there’s a potential element of needing luck, but the right pilot is in the saddle to negate that. Justamiddy jumped at $3.40 last start in a Class 5, and was a shade flat. Now goes around at double figures, and the form has been franked through the likes of My Fury. If he improves he can outrun his starting price. Only Eyes For Him only has a maiden in his copybook so far, but he won it in nice fashion. Potentially the one with the most upside here.
Selection: Rogue’s Point
Race 3: RTG 66+ Handicap. 1400m.
Only the nine runners engaged, but there should be ample speed involved to make things interesting. We touched on Bleecker Street earlier in this piece, with the Darren McAuliffe-trained gelding heading back to town after a nice win up at Geraldton. His run in a Graduation two starts ago when third to Think Of God and Ultimate Command further solidifies his current trajectory, and it looks shrewd placement for him to keep the momentum going. Cerridwyn has form behind the likes of Wubin Gold, and gets the services of one of the finest jockeys the world over in Damian Lane. She’ll be closer to the rear of the field than the front, and will be hoping for a hot speed to bring her into the race. Above The Peg is a bit of a tease, finishing a length and a half off Laced Up Heels two starts ago, before making ground last week behind Oly’s Choice. I’m a shade surprised he’s favourite, but Blake Shinn should give him every chance. Gift Of The Heart and Knot Secret have both got better races than this on their CV.
Selection: Bleecker Street.
Race 4: RTG 66+ Handicap. 1800m.
Media Baron is an old marvel for David Harrison, and he looks like a sneaky hope getting out to 1800 metres. Benefits from the claim of Madi Derrick, should enjoy plenty of speed on, and his run in the Old Comrade Stakes to be beaten a tick over 1.5l is a big tick heading into this. At an each-way price, he appeals at start number 72. Odinaka comes in with form behind the likes of Tin Chooks, Lord Gannicus and A Lot Of Good Men. He does have a tendency to mix his form, but with a weight of 52 kilograms after Luke Campbell’s claim he should have every chance stepping up to the 1800-metre trip. Bondi’s Future has handled the transition from Geraldton to town with aplomb, and continues to be a fantastic money spinner for Adam Durrant and connections. I’m just keen to reserve judgement on the form through the likes of Paigey’s Turn when being asked to take $4. Sowar is snatching defeat from the jaws of victory at the moment, this time striking a race that looks to be right in his hitting zone. You couldn’t begrudge him it off the campaign so far.
Selection: Media Baron
Race 5: 1 Metro Win Handicap. 1000m.
Plenty of speed engaged here. Barney’s World was beaten fresh, crossing the line behind key rival Close Talker. Both were bloused by a remarkable run from the tail of the field by The Boss Lady, and at this grade that looks to be a key form reference. He might only have a Kalgoorlie maiden on his side of the ledger at present, but he’s very talented and he’s the one that should be coming at them late. Krysanova just about always gives herself a chance at the Ascot 1000-metre start with her racing pattern. She’ll keep the fence from barrier 2, and if everyone else backs off, they may have too much to do in order to run her down. Generosity has been the one drawing plenty of attention in early markets, off the back of a strong trial. She ran in a Champion Fillies’ Stakes over 1600 metres in the spring, and now comes into what will be an energy sapping five furlong scamper. Wouldn’t argue that she’s probably the best horse in the race, but I struggle to get enthused about $2.20 in this scenario. Close Talker was nabbed in an impossibly close photo last start, and the one that got her has gone elsewhere. Logically she’s right in the mix.
Selection: Barney’s World
Race 6: 3YO Plate. 1200m.
Such is the depth of the 3-year-old division in WA at the moment, that there could easily be a feature race made out of a field like this. Potentially not the time or the place, but how good would a sprint for the age group be on Derby day? Getting back on topic, Twain’s Angel has always presented as an above average animal, and she gets her chance to show us how good she is against a cracking field. Madi Derrick will surely look to be positive, and her dominant trial at the start of the month should have her forward enough to be right in this. The market hasn’t missed her, with the $2.60 on offer at the time of writing being closer to the bottom of the price I’d be eager to take. Rope Them In is another who has shown plenty of talent in previous preparations, and was also given a nice hit-out at the trials. His biggest issue is a bad barrier that probably forces him to go back. Pleasure Cruise will likely be looking for further than six furlongs, but his class can carry him a long way. The runner with fitness on his side is Playing Games, who was right in the mix last start in the race won by The Boss Lady alluded to earlier. She is another who could’ve done with a helping hand at the barriers.
Selection: Twain’s Angel
Race 7: Group 2 Karrakatta Plate. 1200m.
Call me a purist, a racing romantic, or a buffoon (plenty prefer the latter), but the Karrakatta Plate would be in the final five for my favourite race of the year. In 2024, 13 juveniles will stake their claim to being our best 2-year-old, with the Dan Morton-trained Bustling the one to beat off exposed form. With the fillies taking out successive editions (the last colt or gelding was Ex Sport Man in 2021), this looks to be a chance for the boys to strike back, with the son of Frosted a powerful winner of the Perth Stakes a fortnight ago. Blake Shinn won’t be keen on letting many get across him from barrier one, and so long as all goes to plan, Saturday can be his coronation as the best (juvenile) in the West. Siren Assault is the only horse to beat Bustling so far, and looks to be the leading hope of the girls. Her Gimcrack Stakes win was impressive, and you could make the case at $6 that she’s potentially the forgotten horse. Leonardo Da Hinchi served just 11 mares in his first season as a stallion, the result of one of those turning out to be Golden Kathleen. It would be a remarkable story from a breeding perspective if she could get it done here, and with William Pike in the saddle she should get every chance. Just not sure about the $4 on offer given she missed the start in the Gimcrack and could end up a long way back if she repeats the dose. Stablemate Earthstorm arguably has more appeal on an each-way basis, while Sir Dreamalot has been somewhat forgotten by the market after being beaten fair and square by Bustling in the Perth Stakes. At around $3.50 the place, there’s worse ways to approach this race. Ripper Farooq is fast, and is potentially the best of the outsiders.
Selection: Bustling
Race 8: The Quokka. 1200m.
Hold onto your (cowboy) hats, this is going to be a manic minute of thoroughbred racing. The band from 2023 is back together, the out-of-towner Overpass has crossed The Nullarbor, only this time he’s undefeated from two attempts as opposed to untested, having dominated in the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes. Then there’s the darling of Western Australia, Amelia’s Jewel, who might be gracing our turf for one last time, looking to exercise the demons of missing one of the closest finishes Ascot Racecourse has seen in a feature race this century. Can the Bjorn Baker-trained raider make it three from three in WA? I think so, but there’s a layer of complexity to this edition that wasn’t as present last year. Rewinding the tape 12 months sees Amelia’s Jewel as the rising 3-year-old star, but also clearly established as the best horse in the state. This time around, we have Oscar’s Fortune, who caused a mini boilover in the Group 3 Roma Cup, Ripcord, who himself caused a boilover beating Oscar’s Fortune in the Listed Placid Ark Stakes, Super Smink, Almighty Class and Petula all stepping up to take on the older horses. The quintet add a whole new dimension to this race, but ultimately I think the hopes of winning the race from the age division rest with Oscar’s Fortune and Ripcord, who look set to have an epic rivalry in feature sprints moving forward. Bella Nipotina was narrowly beaten in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes last start, which is generally elite form, but does she need it wet? King Of Sparta beat Malkovich in the Group 2 Expressway Stakes last start, but is he going to be an “Ascot horse’? With questions over the quality of some of the travellers, I’m sticking with the devil I know, and backing Overpass to continue his unblemished Western record.
Selection: Overpass
Race 9: The Joey. 1200m.
Some consolation for the locals who missed out on a Quokka run, and given it’s a $200,000 race and none of the major sprinters are here, it’s a pretty good alternative. We’ve seen some of the better side of Gemma’s Son in recent runs, and he could hop his way into a further cheque for trainer Embroja Lee Altieri. He’s reunited with Shaun McGruddy, who got the job done with him in The Bluff Knoll (defeating Oscar’s Fortune), and his two subsequent starts have seen him in the mix against a not insignificant number of The Quokka cast. There will be a few that won’t be idling, so even from barrier eight there should be a back to follow, and while you can get a positive return out of an each-way bet he looks a logical way to approach the race. Laced Up Heels must have been on the shortlist for slotholders in the big one, but the cards didn’t fall into place and she now lines up as favourite here. She was game carrying 60 kilograms to win a ratings race last start, and is much better suited under the weight for age scale of the race. Aztec Ruler drops back in trip to run here, having claimed the Listed Bunbury Stakes at his last outing over 1400 metres. He’s probably the biggest beneficiary of a hot speed to be set by the likes of Mood Swings and Phanta. There’s been a lot of talk about the imminent return of Western Empire, who returns to the care of Grant and Alana Williams. He’s been trialling the house down, and it would be a mammoth training effort for a horse that’s always been a miler to win fresh over six furlongs. If Red Can Man could bounce back to his best form, running the race itself may just be a formality, but he’s looked flat this campaign and would need to reverse that trend swiftly.
Selection: Gemma’s Son
Race 10: RTG 66+ Handicap. 1100m.
Finishing a mammoth program with one final injection of speed on the way out to a Fremantle Western Derby win (please). Snow Prince has matured nicely through the Autumn, and he looks to be finding his groove as a sprinter. The son of Safeguard got the job done against Sonoftheboss (subsequent winner) last start, and prior to that was a dominant winner in this grade. Has to carry weight, but the claim of Keshaw Dhurun helps, and he’s found the perfect race to sit in the breeze or a pair off them, and be too strong late. The Boss Lady was a victory that just about had to be seen to be believed last start, weaving through traffic after hopelessly blowing the start to snatch victory in the final stride. She’s got a nice future ahead of her, but a slow start from barrier two will make Damian Lane’s life that shade more difficult. Norich is a frequent flier in this column at the moment, and in a field of ten he once again presents as a genuine each way hope. Pot Shot is just one thing, raw speed, and William Pike will surely have the pedal down from a long way out to make the field chase.
Selection: Snow Prince
Best Bet: Bustling
Double: Rogue’s Point
Follow Jesse on Twitter: @RealJesseDart
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