Perth’s racing scene lit up over the weekend with a dominant performance that crowned a new local star. The WA Oaks meeting delivered major milestones, red-hot stables, and plenty of buzz ahead of the upcoming WA Derby. From an unstoppable filly to breakout wins by jockeys and trainers, the day had it all. Here’s a full wrap-up of the action from an unforgettable afternoon at Ascot.
WIN OF THE DAY
Perth has a new racing queen!
Machine Gun Gracie gave further proof of her star qualities with a stunning WA Oaks victory, demolishing her rivals in similar fashion to the Natasha Stakes (2200m) from two weeks ago. She led, handed up to Funchal mid race, regained the lead after straightening and then kicked clear to win by 3 ¼ lengths. She’s easily accounted for the girls this campaign and looks impregnable to beat up on the boys in the WA Derby (2400m) in a fortnight. She will be at short odds and only bad luck will see her getting beaten.
JOCKEY
Shaun O’Donnell and Machine Gun Gracie: a perfect partnership.
A milestone win for Luke Campbell, his final as an apprentice after outriding his claim on Nobelity. Once he landed the pacy mare in front she was never going to get beaten, much to the delight of canny punters who backed her in.
William Pike doing William Pike things on a Saturday. He maintained his good form with the babies, combining with Snitzalatte, won his second Old Comrade Stakes aboard Watch Me Rock and partnered West Star to a resounding first-up success.
TRAINER
She had a good one last year, but maybe an even better one 12-months on. Justine Erkelens, who won the WA Oaks with Own The Queen, did it again with exciting Maschino filly, Machine Gun Gracie.
Snitzalatte, it’s been the perfect start. She’s two from two and can’t have done much more. The Karrakatta Plate (1200m) is next, and she goes there chock-full of confidence after a comprehensive second win. She keeps up the good form of late of Adam Durrant.
A on-two-finish in the Listed Old Comrade Stakes for Grant & Alana Williams. Odds on favourite Watch Me Rock gets the job done over Fluro Neuro-but only just-a half-head margin separating the stablemates.
A fairy easy watch for favourite backers with Sail Session getting the job done at $1.40 in the Listed Melvista Stakes (2200m). He had to be urged along by Lucy Fiore but had enough in hand to hold out Maxwhooshtapin and post his third straight win and second feature by a half-head. It was trainer Dan Morton’s third win in four years following Another Chino (2023) and Alaskan God (2022).
Dual license holder Renee Forrest hasn’t given up on getting back in the saddle, but she’s doing great things as a trainer, landing her first Saturday win, courtesy of evergreen mare, Nobelity.
HORSES TO FOLLOW
West Star, a classy return from a high quality three-year-old, aptly named if he progresses along the path that trainer Simon Miller thinks he will. Quokka slot holders reach out because the son of Playing God will be a worthy addition to the $5 million race in three weeks.
Statewide, for Neville Parnham, found the line strongly for third behind Snitzalatte.
Misty Bazeley’s convinced Maxwhooshtapin is a stayer. She’ll put that theory to the test in the WA Derby. He was taking some ground off Sail Session in the Melvista.
BEATEN FAVOURITES
Our Rocky Bay, Objectify and Stylish Lord.
WHAT HAPPENED?
A post-race vet examination noted Play Fair returned lame in the off fore.
