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Trainer Stephen Miller is confident quality gelding Variation has the fitness to get the job done and return to the winner’s list in the Listed Old Comrade Stakes (1600m). The $100,000 race forms part of Miller’s dual-pronged attack on two of Saturday’s Ascot features with Bubaroochy set to tackle the Group 2 Karrakatta Plate (1200m). …

Trainer David Hayes is confident he has former West Australian sprinter Vega Magic primed to make a successful return to racing in the Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday. The Lope De Vega gelding hasn’t been seen since he finished last in the Everest on a heavy Randwick track in October, …

Although much of trainer David Harrison’s focus this week will be on Jericho Missile in the Group 2 Karrakatta Plate (1200m), he scored a nerve-settling win with another two-year-old Silkinize in the D’Orsogna Maiden (1100m) at Ascot this afternoon. Silkinize settled outside race leader Joyrize in running, before eventually proving too strong in the closing …

KARRAKATTA PLATE OVERVIEW The first winner of the juvenile race, staged in 1900 when it was run over 1000m, was Willie. The Karrakatta Plate has held Group 2 status from 1979-84 and since 1999.  Between 1985-to-1998 it was run as a Group 1 The race was not held in 1901, 1993 and 1997, while the …

To win the Karrakatta Plate would be a thrill for any trainer. To grab bragging honours in Perth’s richest and most prestigious race for two-year-olds is one to covet. But for Karen Kersley it would mean so much more than just the rich prize purse on offer or any sense of egotism. It would hopefully …

As one Azzopardi leaves another is ready to come back in. While Joe Azzopardi left Perth on Monday to fulfil a riding contract in Singapore, his younger sister, Chloe, is returning to the saddle. In 2014 Azzopardi took a break from racing after she suffered the scourge of many jockeys-the battle against increasing weight. What …

Dan Morton has turned to interstate rider Joe Bowditch to partner Beethoven in the Group 2 Karrakatta Plate (1200m) at Ascot on Saturday. Bowditch, fresh from riding Viddora in the Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai on the weekend, takes over from the injured Clint Johnston-Porter. The young hoop has failed to gain a medical clearance …

Dark Choice continued a remarkable run for owner Bob Peters, co-trainers Grant and Alana Williams and jockey Chris Parnham with an outstanding win in the $250,000 Group 3 WA Oaks (2400m) at Ascot on Saturday. Dark Choice, who gave Peters, Perth’s leading owner-breeder his 10th WA Oaks success, defeated Ping Me Another by a half-length …

Trainer Kieran McDonagh believes there is one course of action for Cockney Crew in the Listed Melvista Stakes (2200m) at Ascot on Saturday, just let him run. Going to the front and bowling along was what Cockney Crew adopted with devastating effect at Bunbury two starts back when he won by six lengths. The Maschino …

Chris Willis is not shying away from one of the biggest challenges in WA racing, upsetting the might of Bob Peters’ powerful ‘cerise and white’ army in the WA Oaks (2400m) on Saturday. Peters, Perth’s leading owner-breeder, has had a stranglehold on the WA Oaks in recent times, winning the race on a remarkable nine …