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Perth's richest race, The Quokka will headline a massive ten race program at Ascot this Saturday
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With $5m up for grabs, a full field will line up to contest this year's edition of the 1200m feature.
Last year's winner Overpass is back to defend his crown, whilst the darling of WA racing, Amelia's Jewel is set to turn to the tables after going agonisingly close last year.
There's no shortage of local talent and with the likes of Bella Nipotina, King of Sparta, and the Kiwi visitor Waitak having all made their way across, we're set for a terrific day of racing.
The rail will be out 3m for the entire circuit and the track is currently rated a good 4.
Our Ladbrokes preview can be found below.
RACE 1 - 1:19PM: TABtouch - WESTSPEED PLATINUM HANDICAP NMW (1600 METRES)
Fortune's Luck comes off a very encouraging performance over the 1500m here last start.
After settling back second last she was brought the outside at the top of the straight and charged home to finish second, beaten only a neck.
The start prior was basically a non event, as she was held up behind a wall of horses for the majority of the straight and never found clear running.
The Safegaurd mare looks ideally placed here and the way she found the line last time suggests she'll relish getting out to the mile.
Clint Johnson-Porter knows her well and will again do the steering for Adam Durrant.
1 unit – FORTUNE'S LUCK
RACE 2 - 1:54PM: SCHWEPPES HANDICAP 1MW (1600 METRES)
Yarralea is racing in terrific form and comes off a deserved last start victory.
Two starts back the Oratorio mare fought strongly but just found one better on the day but last time, everything went to plan and she proved too strong over the 1500m.
This doesn't look any tougher, the rise to the mile looks ideal and from the inside drawn she's set to enjoy a cosy run.
Chris Parnham has partnered her at her last four outings and he stays in the saddle for his father Neville.
1 unit – YARRALEA
RACE 3 - 2:29PM: AMELIA PARK LAMB HANDICAP RTG66+ (1400 METRES)
Count The Sessions wasn't beaten far when resuming here over 1200m and he will have taken plenty of benefit from the run.
Off the wide gate the son of Sessions was taken back and finished off nicely, doing his best work late.
The rise to 1400 will suit and he has been placed in four of six second up appearances.
He does race particularly well over this track and distance and has drawn to get the right run for Craig Williams, who goes onboard for Holly Taylor.
1 unit – COUNT THE SESSIONS
RACE 4 - 3:06PM: AMELIA PARK BEEF HANDICAP RTG66+ (1800 METRES)
Paigey's Turn is racing well and drops back in trip after stepping out over 2200m last start.
The daughter of Choisir did perform well on that occasion, held up in the early part of the straight she picked up nicely in restricted room over the final stages but I think she'll appreciate coming back in distance.
Beaten only a neck at her previous outing behind Bondi's Fortune, she meets him much better at the weights and gets the advantage of the inside draw.
She presents here hard fit and with just 54kgs on her back, I think she'll be right in this.
1 unit E/W- PAIGEY'S TURN
RACE 5 - 3:46PM: V & V WALSH HANDICAP 1MW (1000 METRES)
Generosity makes her return.
Only lightly raced, the filly has performed well in all seven of her raceday appearances and she brings strong form lines into this race.
Stakes placed at her two most recent runs before heading the paddock, she's certainly got the class and she'll find this easier than what she'd been contesting.
She comes off a very impressive trial win where she cruised up past them under a hold to take out he heat comfortably.
Josh Parr takes the mount and whilst she does have to carry the 58kgs, it is only 1000m so I don't think it'll worry her at all.
2 units – GENEROSITY
RACE 6 - 4:24PM: FURPHY HANDICAP 3YO (1200 METRES)
Twain's Angel resumes off a good break.
The Toronado filly just had the two runs in her first preparation and was a commanding winner on both occasions.
Prepared by Sean and Jake Casey, she looks to have come back in top order having produced two very pleasing trial wins.
A highly talented filly, this looks an ideal race for her to kick off her campaign.
Madi Derrick has been onboard for both raceday appearances along with her recent trials, she retains the mount and will take 1.5kgs off.
1 unit – TWAIN'S ANGEL
RACE 7 - 5:03PM: AMELIA PARK - KARRAKATTA PLATE 2YO SW GROUP 2 (1200 METRES)
Bustling comes off a victory in the Listed Perth Stakes.
A son of Frosted, he impressed in his debut run where he settled just off the leader and showed a great acceleration to kick away and score by over two lengths.
He'll enjoy getting back to 1200m and from the inside draw is set to receive all the favours under Blake Shinn.
1 unit – BUSTLING
RACE 8 - 5:45PM: THE KIA QUOKKA WFA (1200 METRES)
WA's favourite mare, Amelia's Jewel will look to atone for her narrow defeat in last year's edition of The Quokka, 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.
She of course, saluted when resuming in the Group Two Let's Elope Stakes before taking out the Stocks Stakes over Princess Jenni and she was lucky to stay on her feet when contesting the Golden Eagle.
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 off 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.
1 unit – AMELIA'S JEWEL
RACE 9 - 6:25PM: THE DRUMMOND GOLF JOEY WFA (1200 METRES)
Phanta resumes.
He aptly named six year old kicked off his previous campaign in good style, making it back to back stakes wins before a couple of solid placings at that same level.
Boasting a terrific first up record he comes here off a very pleasing 950m trial, where he was strong through the line without being pressured.
From eight goes over the 1200m trip, he's recorded three wins and has been the runner up on four other occasions, so he certainly ticks plenty of boxes.
Brad Parnham has built a great association with the gelding, he'll partner him once again and from barrier four he's set to receive all the favours.
1 unit – PHANTA
RACE 10 - 7:00PM: TABtouch - HAVE YOU GOT HE TOUCH HANDICAP RTG66+ (1100 METRES)
The Boss Lady comes off a brilliant first up run here two weeks ago.
Over the 1000m she blew the start and as a result ended up four lengths off the second last horse but charged through late to get up in the final bound.
A daughter of Street Boss, she put the writing on the wall in her first preparation, saluting in three of her first five starts and she's returned in top order.
The slight rise in trip will certainly suit and Damian Lane goes aboard for his father Michael.
2 units – THE BOSS LADY
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