Read the latest racing updates and information out of Western Australia for their race meetings on Saturday, March 20th, 2022.
1- If there was massive hype over Amelia’s Jewel after her victory on debut in the Supremacy Stakes a fortnight back, then it’s gone to another level following the Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes. Brilliant, outstanding, amazing, ultra-impressive, jaw-dropping, they were just some of the superlatives directed at the filly after she showed her versatility by coming from behind the field and putting them away to win by 2 ½ lengths. How will rivals turn it around in the Karrakatta Plate? Only bad luck will beat her.
2-A fair effort from Simon Miller to land two of the three feature races on the card. He has one hand on the Karrakatta Plate trophy after Amelia’s Jewel’s heroics in the Gimcrack Stakes, his fifth success in the race before Son Of A God claimed an elusive stakes win in the Listed Grandstand Cup by leading from barrier to post.
3-Luke Fernie has a pretty good handle on his babies this season. The heavily backed Left The Building, first up after a third in last November’s Crystal Slipper, proved too powerful when running on from midfield to win the Listed Perth Stakes (1100m). He looms as Fernie’s big hope in the Karrakatta Plate after Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic winner Sheeza Belter transferred to Sydney.
4-Tracey Brown/Mike Santich/Denim Pack.
Good guys do win! Denim Pack returned to the winner’s list for the first time in 521 days with a barnstorming finish. He looked unlikely half way down the straight, but sprouted wings over the last 100 metres to grab a popular victory. The horse must have some ticker. There were doubts he would ever step onto the race track, he suffered multiple injuries, and was retired, but through trainer Mike Santich and his partner, Tracey Brown’s, perseverance, persistence and love, the eight-year-old still has a zest for racing.
5-Ted Martinovich is no stranger to WA Derby success, preparing Joindre to win the 3YO classic in 1986, and 36 years later he could be on a similar path with Pale Rider. The Rommel gelding, second up this campaign, stamped his claims with a strong win from the back half of the field, attacking the line powerfully over 1800m.
6-In the absence of William Pike the battle for the jockey’s premiership between Clint Johnston-Porter and Chris Parnham will be an intrigue sidelight to the season. It’s been a seesaw battle in recent weeks, but after booting home Stella Fair, State Attorney and Left The Building, Johnston-Porter is back in front of Parnham by two wins.
7-Purchased for $155,000 as a yearling, Metallon almost didn’t make it to the races after a colic attack, but the Oratorio gelding has bounced back superbly and shapes as a promising type for trainer Todd Harvey. The three-year-old sprinter has only been beaten once in four outings and is two from two since returning this campaign.
