3 minute read

A big Easter weekend continues with the WA Oaks the feature on a terrific day of racing in the west.

The Easter weekend brings plenty of action racing in WA as we close in on the second running of The Quokka in just a few weeks time.

Before that though, it's the 3YO's that take centre stage with the Melvista Stakes for the boys on Good Friday and the WA Oaks at Group 3 level for the girls on Saturday.

It's hard to go past OWN THE QUEEN in the Oaks and the early market reflects that ($2.10*), but in a way it's surprising she isn't shorter.

The crunch may come close to start time, but the daughter of Awesome Rock has been superb in the lead ups, giving her rivals a head start off a slow tempo most recently in the Natasha Stakes and winning comfortably.

Own The Queen was giving her rivals weight last start when winning and now meets them all better at the weights.

I'm not going out on a limb by saying she's the one to beat in the Oaks, but the current price about her is a little too big.

While I do like Own The Queen in the Oaks, she is not my Best Bet on the card.

That comes up in Race 2 with the Neville Parnham-trained ULTIMATE COMMAND.

The five-year-old led everywhere bar the winning post last week over 1200m and is on the 7 day turnaround.

This race does look easier than what she contested last time out, and she won a similar race to this impressively at Bunbury two starts back.

While she is expected to regress off the last start peak figure - as she has done on the quick back up previously - she still has the numbers to be winning this. 

Happy to back in the rapidly improving horse in the last with SPECTACULAR PARK for Takehide Ikenushi and Peters Investments.

He was a dominant debut winner at Pinjarra when jumping an odds-on chance and he was very strong through the line, with the sectional times backing up what the visuals showed.

Up to 1400m now looks ideal and the fact he now gets thrown in the deep end is exciting.

He looks a promising horse moving forward and if he can replicate what he did last time out, he can be getting the job done again.

I won't touch too much on the Melvista due to it being on Friday - but LORD VAMPI is a case for Best Bet of the weekend in Perth.

The Best From The West

Best Bet: Race 2 Number 1 ULTIMATE COMMAND @ $2.40*

Next Best: Race 9 Number 14 SPECTACULAR PARK @ $4.60*

Friday Fill Up:  Race 7 Number 1 LORD VAMPI @ $5.50*

*Prices correct as of 12:30pm, March 28.