Darren McAuliffe justifiably sits in the top bracket of WA trainers.

Troy Turner’s confidence in Own The Queen is sky high and he expects the filly will handle a rise in distance in the Natasha Stakes (2200m) at Ascot on Saturday.

Trainer Luke Fernie is confident he can add to his Magic Millions haul when he saddles up Stormchaser and Big Shots at Pinjarra on Saturday.

Be Optimistic will bid to claim a feature race hat-trick ahead of her grand final mission at Ascot on New Year’s Day.

There is no knock on Numerian since he arrived in Perth, but Rob Archibald says the eight-year-old will need to be at his top to win the Group 2 Ted Van Heemst Stakes (2100m) at Ascot on Saturday.