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This Saturday will see the second running of Perth's richest race, The Quokka.
For more racing and sports previews, visit the Ladbrokes Blog.
Run under weight for age conditions, the 1200m slot race carries a total prize pool of $5m and as expected, a quality field is set to assemble.
Last year's winner, Overpass has returned to defend his crown and the pride of WA, Amelia's Jewel will attempt to turn the tables after an agonisingly close defeat last year.
An array of interstate visitors have arrived and there's no shortage of local talent either.
We've cast our eyes over each induvial runner and here are thoughts. (Prices current at time of publication)
1. Overpass (6)
Price: $4.40
After taking out the inaugural running of The Quokka, Overpass returns to defend his crown.
The Bjorn Baker trained gelding took up the running and produced a strong kick in the straight to hold off the challengers and getting the upper hand over race favourite Amelia's Jewel in a photo finish.
The son of Vancouver then headed to Brisbane where he turned out a terrific performance to finish second in the Doomben 10000 before heading to the paddock.
He returned to Perth in December where he claimed his first Group One victory in the Winterbottom Stakes and he resumes here.
A winner of two from two at this track, he's really gone to a new level over the past year and Josh Parr has formed a wonderful affinity with the five year old.
He's drawn beautifully in barrier six, he gets in so well under the WFA conditions and he'll be hard to run down.
2. King Of Sparta (4)
Price: $7.00
King Of Sparta resumes from a short break.
The I Am Invincible gelding was last seen in the Group 2 Expressway Stakes where he proved too strong.
Whilst he's yet to salute in a Group One event he has continued to perform well at that level and he certainly knows how to win a high prizemoney event.
A winner of eight races, he has saluted on Magic Millions Day for three successive years. He boasts a very impressive first up record and excels over 1200m.
Blake Shinn will do the steering for team Snowden and he's set to receive the gun run from gate four.
3. Malkovich (2)
Price: $27.00
The second of the Bjorn Baker / Darby syndication runners is Malkovich.
The six year old son of Choisir has been racing well and comes off a terrific effort in the Group 3 Star Kingdom Stakes.
He took up his customary roll in the lead after flying the gates and looked to have the race in his keeping but was just run down in the last couple of strides.
Prior to that he contested the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes but just found the 1300m a touch too far.
It's been almost a year to the day since his last win but he's always thereabouts and he comes here race fit.
Yet to win past 1100m, the 1200m is the obvious query but he gets the advantage of barrier two and will be in it for a long way.
4. Triple Missile (7)
Price: $91.00
Triple Missile has just had the one run for team Williams and he will have taken plenty of benefit from it.
Kicking off his campaign is the Roma Cup he settled back at the tail and did strike a little bit of interference on the home turn but finished off nicely.
The well travelled son of Smart Missile has always shown good ability, winning his first three race starts before placing at Stakes level.
He soon found himself in Melbourne where he has performed well against quality opposition.
At his last run before heading to the paddock he contested the Winterbottom Stakes but was lucky to have stayed on his feet as he was severely hampered at the 800m mark and as a result, pulled up with abrasions to his heel and a lost plate.
He does hold a very good second up record but will need to produce his best.
5. Waitak (10)
Price: $27.00
One of the most interesting runners in this race is Waitak.
The Kiwi visitor recently added a Group 1 victory to his CV with a win in the Railway Stakes and his overall record reads well, with several stakes placings.
This isn't his first trip to Australia as he did make the journey to Queensland for last year's winter carnival but failed to figure in the finish in four appearances, including the Queensland Derby.
Whilst he has contested staying features, he is two from three over this trip.
Prepared by Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott at Matamata, I'm sure they wouldn't have travelled all this way it they didn't feel he was a genuine chance.
6. Saloon Bar (1)
Price: $201.00
Saloon Bar has been racing well and comes off a terrific last start effort where he powered home from the back to just miss in a bob of heads.
The four year old has built a tidy record and is always thereabouts but this is a sharp rise in class.
He does have a great record over the track and distance and gets the advantage of the inside draw but under WFA conditions, he looks tested.
7. Bella Nipotina (13)
Price: $6.50
Bella Nipotina comes off a terrific run in the TJ Smith Stakes where she was beaten only a neck.
The Group 1 winning mare has continued to perform well at the elite level and produced a huge run to finish third in this race last year.
Craig Williams has made the trip across to stick with her and she'll be right there fighting out the finish.
If it were a soft or heavy track, I'd be declaring her but even so, she is more than capable on a firm surface.
She does have the wide gate but is very versatile and has the class to overcome it
8. Amelia's Jewel (12)
Price: $3.70
WA's favourite mare, Amelia's Jewel will look to atone for her narrow defeat last year, where she lunged right on the line but the photo finish revealed she'd gone down by the barest of margins.
Since then, she's only had the four race starts including wins in the Group 2 Let's Elope Stakes and Stocks Stakes.
The daughter of Siyouni was very good when resuming here a fortnight ago in the Group Three Roma Cup.
After settling in the second half of the field she charged home late to finish a close second behind Oscar's Fortune and I thought it was the ideal lead up run for this race.
She will have taken plenty of benefit from the outing and she'll relish the slight rise in trip.
From ten appearances here at her home track, she's recorded seven wins and three second placings and she gets the services of Damian Lane.
9. Ripcord (5)
Price: $26.00
The three year old son of Written By, Ripcord boasts an impressive record, having only finished out of the placings on one occasion.
Seven of his nine starts have been at stakes level and who could forget his exhilarating win in the Placid Ark where he unleashed a brilliant turn of foot to come from the tail and nail Oscar's Fortune right on the line.
Following that he then contested the Winterbottom where he finished off strongly to claim third behind Overpass.
He resumed in the Group 3 Roma Cup where he got back and finished off well to claim third.
The visors come off here, the blinkers go on and with a hot tempo assured, he'll be powering home late.
10. Oscar's Fortune (3)
Price: $5.00
Another of WA's star three year olds is Oscar's Fortune.
The Rich Enuff gelding comes here in top order after saluting in the Group 3 Roma Cup where he beat home Amelia's Jewel and Ripcord.
Yet to finish out of the top two in eight raceday appearances, he's highly talented and has a Group 1 placing next to his name as he finished runner up to Overpass in the Winterbottom Stakes back in December.
Willy Pike has partnered him to all bar one of his starts, he stays in the saddle and he's drawn beautifully in gate three.
11. Wild Belle (11)
Price: $34.00
Wild Belle lines up here full of confidence after making it back to back wins.
The four year old Pride Of Dubai mare resumed after almost a year off the scene with a nice effort to finish a length from the winner in the Summer Scorcher before going to take out the Listed Miss Andretti Stakes and the Rock Magic Stakes.
Her record reads well, having won five from ten but this will be her toughest test to date and from the wide draw she'll need plenty of luck.
12. Almighty Class (8)
Price: $51.00
Only lightly raced Almighty Class is the improver in the race and whilst he's only recorded the one win he's only been beaten the barest of margins at his past two outings.
His only run at stakes level was in the Listed Belgravia Plate last campaign where he went down narrowly to Super Smink.
He's certainly talented and a horse on the rise but I'm not sure he's up to this class at this point of his career.
13. Super Smink (14)
Price: $31.00
The Ladbrokes Quokka slot runner is Super Smink and she resumes here off two encouraging trials.
The Super One filly is yet to miss a top three placing from nine starts and she remains unbeaten in three runs over the 1200m trip.
She put the writing on the wall early, taking out the two year old WA Magic Millions Classic and just her second race start before going down by an eyelash in the Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes at her following outing.
A two time Group winner, having taken out the Karrakatta Plate and WA Sires' Produce Stakes she's a class filly and she's certainly not out of her depth here.
The wide alley is a concern but she does possess a brilliant turn of foot and with plenty of speed expected, she may get back and be allowed to charge home late.
Chris Parnham knows her well, he will again do the steering and she'll be sporting the blinkers for the first time.
14. Petula (9)
Price: $61.00
Petula is the second of two runners for Simon Miller.
The Nicconi filly has been racing well, putting together back to back wins in February before a solid effort to finish third in the Rock Magic Stakes at her most recent outing.
With four weeks since that run, she's been kept up to the mark with a 950m trial.
She is a stakes winner and the form around her is solid but it's hard to see her getting the better of some of these.
15. Comfort Me (1st Em)
Price: $101.00
Comfort Me is the first of four emergencies.
The seven year old comes off an average first up run in the Roma Cup where he failed to beat a runner home but was found to be lame post race.
He's been a grand galloper for his stable, a seven time winner, he's been stakes placed on numerous occasions including twice runner up in the Group 1 Railway Stakes but he's yet to salute over 1200m, so I can't see him figuring here.
16. Red Can Man (2nd Em)
Price: $101.00
Red Can Man is a winner of nine races and his earlier form would have certainly seen him competitive in a race like this, however he's been disappointing in both runs this campaign.
Up to 1200m, he's likely to improve but I think he'd be better suited in something easier.
17. Hot Zed (3rd Em)
Price: $101.00
Hot Zed hasn't had the best of luck in recent runs but even if everything were to go right for him, I think he'd be tested here.
The six year old has saluted on eleven occasions and most recently the Group 3 Colonel Reeves Stakes back in November but he's yet to figure in the finish in six subsequent runs.
18. Gemma's Son (4th)
Price: $81.00
Gemma's Son is racing well and the Snippetson gelding has continued to perform well through his forty-four start career.
Beaten 3.3 lengths at his most recent run in the Roma Cup where he was given every chance, I can't see him testing these.
