Black-type racing continues this Saturday in Perth as the Group 2 Karrakatta Plate headlines the nine-race program at Ascot.
Ladbrokes have run the rule over each contest and our best bets can be found below.
Race 1 – 2:23pm AEDT – Westspeed Platinum Autumn Series Heat 1 (1000m)
All four of Requisition’s wins have come over this distance in the past, and the son of Trade Fair does rate highly to add to that record on Saturday.
The six-year-old was the clear winner at Pinjarra three runs back in a Class 5 where he overcame an awkward draw to bolt in and win by a length.
Since then, he’s gone on to find the placings in back-to-back runs over this track and trip and has drawn to get the gun run just behind the speed from barrier 3.
With Brad Rawiller engaged for the first time, he should take a power of beating.
Race 2 – 2:59pm AEDT – Schweppes Handicap (1100m)
Hell’s Belle won her maiden at Bunbury first-up last month and has making been around the mark in her journey through the grades.
The filly by Magnus overcame an awkward start to finish four lengths off Saturday’s rival Iseered Iseered over this track and trip last time out, while she also showed plenty in the late stages the start prior over further.
She struggled to finish off in both of those starts, but with 3.5kg off her back, she should be right in the finish again.
Race 3 – 3:39pm AEDT – Byron Bay Premium Lager Handicap (1400m)
Nobel Laurence gapped his rivals by three lengths last month over this same track and trip thanks to a brilliant ride from Lucy Warwick.
Jason Pateman’s lightly-raced three-year-old will carry a kg extra for his troubles on Saturday, but he does rate a major player coming off a three-week freshen-up.
His two wins over the 1400m have both come by comfortable margins, and providing he can find space down the straight, his turn of foot should do the talking late.
Race 4 – 4:18pm AEDT – Amelia Park Lamb Handicap (1200m)
Amelia’s Contraire loves racing at Ascot where she’s won three times previously.
The mare by Hinchinbrook bolted in to win by half-a-length over further at this venue two runs back, before going on to find the placings at Bunbury last time out in a much tougher assignment.
Getting back to 1200m looks ideal for her at this stage of her prep, and barrier 9 should allow William Pike to get back and run on.
Race 5 – 4:54pm AEDT – Amelia Park Lodge Handicap (1100m)
No surprise to find Clairvoyance at very short odds ahead of her return to the races on Saturday.
Darren McAuliffe’s lightly-raced filly was simply sensational last winter winning all four of her starts, three of which came by two lengths or more.
All reports suggest she’s in great order ahead of her first-up assignment, and there’s no question she’s capable of putting this small field to bed nice and early from a forward position.
Race 6 – 5:30pm AEDT – Amelia Park Beef Handicap (1500m)
Bruce Almighty was the clear winner two runs back over the same track and trip where he beat home Wild Fusion by two lengths.
He looked well on his way to a double last time out in a similar race coming in less than half a length behind the fast-finishing Pletto.
That may have been the hit-out he needed between starts as he now gets back out to the 1500m for the second time in his career.
The son of Playing God won narrowly over this track and trip back in February, and a repeat performance seems likely based on recent form.
Race 7 – 6:05pm AEDT – Amelia Park Wines Handicap (1800m)
Big Bada Boom returns from a freshen-up looking to extend his amazing unbeaten streak to six.
The son of Hinchinbrook held on to narrowly win over this track and trip back in February before a vet examination revealed minor abrasions post-race.
All reports suggest he’s pulled up fine, and with 1.5kg off his back, he should be fighting out the finish again with very little speed on offer.
Race 8 – 6:40pm AEDT – Group 2 Amelia Park-Karrakatta Plate (1200m)
This is a fascinating edition of the Karrakatta Plate with plenty of early speed on offer.
The favourite Pat’s Got Sass is only lightly-raced, but she does look up to it based on what we saw from her second-up in the Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes.
The filly by Patronize hugged the rail before chipping away in the late stages to run only 1.5L third behind the winner Hoi An. She’s drawn to get a similar run in transit here under Jason Whiting and should be doing her best work late again.
He’s Gold loves racing at Ascot and was the clear winner over this track and trip two runs back.
He fought home bravely to make it a double last time out over shorter, a run that warrants the step back up to 1200m again.
Ex Sport Man can run a race at odds.
He was too far back last time out in the Perth Stakes, but he did give a good sight running on for sixth. If Shaun McGruddy can park him closer to the speed this time around from the inside draw, he’ll be tough to hold out.
Race 9 – 7:15pm AEDT – Crown Perth Handicap (1400m)
Jericho Missile burned punters big time during the spring, but he seems to have returned in nice order finishing runner-up in both runs this time in work.
The son of Smart Missile overcame an awkward barrier last time out to run two-lengths second to Excellent Dream over shorter, a performance he can only build on now back out to 1400m.
He’s rock-hard fit for two runs back from a spell and tends to save his best racing for Ascot.