WA Blackbookers Horses To Follow

Looking for WA horses to follow each Saturday? We pick out the best blackbookers each week from the metropolitan meeting in Western Australia.

From winners of feature races to unlucky loses and first up gallopers outrunning expectations, we select three or four horses each week to add to your blackbook from Perth’s Saturday racing.

Here are some horses to put in your blackbook:

HORSES TO FOLLOW FROM ASCOT APRIL 27

Track Rating: Good 4
Most of the winners did come from handy to the speed, though it was not impossible to make ground nearer the fence.

Blackbookers 📓
Zephyra

Race 9 RTG66+ BM74 (1600m) ZEPHYRA 📓
The name ZEPHYRA has now popped up twice in two recent reviews from Ascot Racecourse. Zephyra was given a lovely trail first-up before Jordan Turner found his path blocked into the straight. He managed to angle the mare into the clear by switching off heels inside the furlong. Zephyra charged home to just miss Desennea and ran third. Settled on the back of that horse second-up in a race that was just evenly run in front. Turner had nothing taking him into the race as the winner Allez Allez skipped away soon after straightening with Zephyra getting home out wider. The field ran a fast last 600m making it nearly impossible for Zephyra to figure into the placings.

HORSES TO FOLLOW FROM ASCOT APRIL 20

Track Rating: Good 4
The track played well with the rail out 3 metres.

Blackbookers 📓
Playing Games

R6 3yo BM64+ (1200m) PLAYING GAMES 📓
We found an each-way price about when trainer Meryl Hayley sent her filly around second-up at Ascot. It was always going to be a tall order to hold out the smart Twain’s Angel who got in under the minimum weight. Playing Games found herself shuffled back to near the fence as the pressure came on when racing first-up. Thought she was okay in getting home for third in a three-way photo which included subsequent winner The Boss Lady. Playing Games was out okay second-up with Ladqar Ramoly pushing on from their wide gate to find the front. The pair ran along at a fast tempo with Twain’s Angel following them into the straight. That horse put paid to them with Playing Games easily accounting for the rest.

HORSES TO FOLLOW FROM ASCOT APRIL 13

Track Rating: Good 4
Leaders and on-pace runners found were up against it as the winners all swooped from either off the pace or further back with the rail in the true position.

Blackbookers 📓
Becalotti

Race 9 1MW BM70 (1200m) BECALOTTI 📓
Perennial #WABlackbookers horse BECALOTTI found herself up against it coming into the last at Ascot Racecourse. The mare was racing first-up while showing good form with a trial win under her belt. There had been no horse win from racing on the pace all day which is where Becalotti settled after spearing forward from her outside alley. They went along quickly out in front with Becalotti racing clear shortly after straightening. Becalotti seemingly had the race shot to bits before shortening stride approaching the 50m. She was claimed late by Sonoftheboss while holding Triple Jay to the line and Becalotti will be further improved for the run.

HORSES TO FOLLOW FROM ASCOT APRIL 6

Track Rating: Good 4
Track played evenly with the rail out seven metres.

Blackbookers 📓
Cross Statement

Race 9 RTG66+ BM70 (1200m) CROSS STATEMENT 📓
Race favourite Malkar Pindari justified her short quote with a sweeping run down the middle of the track to score first-up at Ascot Racecourse. The race was set up for her as the leader CROSS STATEMENT set a fast tempo out in front. The market had also warmed to Cross Statement following his second-up win during the midweeks at Belmont. He led the way for Madi Derrick in a race with depth to deny all others before the well-timed run of Malkar Pindari. We can follow both runners through into their campaigns with Cross Statement bursting to win one in town of a similar grade.

HORSES TO FOLLOW FROM ASCOT MARCH 30

Track Rating: Good 4
Most horses won from off the pace and closer to the fence with the rail out 5m.

Blackbookers 📓
Hemlock Stone

Race 9 BM69 (1400m) HEMLOCK STONE 📓
The even tempo in the last at Ascot Racecourse did not help HEMLOCK STONE who was strung-up the fence from worse than midfield for much of the race. Clint Johnston-Porter tried desperately to gain runs on the four-year-old while the winner Exceltrain was able to break the race open after settling outside the leader. Porter had to take hold of Hemlock Stone on several occasions into the straight before the horse burst through a gap late. Hemlock Stone had put in a late dive to gain second placing from the fast-finishing Blazing Tycoon. The effort from Hemlock Stone follows two wins at the midweeks since his return to racing in a signal that the horses’ best is yet to come.

HORSES TO FOLLOW FROM ASCOT MARCH 23

Track Rating: Good 4
Ascot Park Racecourse afforded all horses their chance with the rail out 4m.

Blackbookers 📓
Desennea

Race 4 RTG66+ BM76 (1400m) DESENNEA 📓
Karnup trainer Jordan Rolfe sent DESENNEA to Ascot Racecourse where the gelding resumed over 1400m. Desennea had been unbeaten while fresh going into this run and found his match in a muddling run race. The winner was set alight midrace to finally inject some speed into the race to help suit Desennea who was parked around midfield the fence. Desennea found a run through into the straight to get second in a bunched finish behind Hesket. Desennea is still only lightly raced and will not have taken any harm from the run as Rolfe will be aiming to get him out to a trip again this prep.

HORSES TO FOLLOW FROM ASCOT MARCH 16

Track Rating: Good 4
All horses found their chance at Ascot Racecourse with the rail in the true position.

Blackbookers 📓
Wubin Gold
Alaskan

Race 7 1MW BM70 WUBIN GOLD 📓
The Colin Webster trained filly WUBIN GOLD showed an impressive turn of foot when beating the older horses at Ascot Park. She settled back off an even speed under Troy Turner before letting down with her run up the middle of the track. Troy Turner only had to keep the filly going under hands and heels riding as she came away to score a comfortable win. Wubin Gold ran a fast last 600m without being under any real pressure at any stage. We’d expect that she would come through the run in good order and Wubin Gold appears lightly rated to ability at the benchmarks.

Race 8 L BM80 CG (1800m) ALASKAN 📓
The three-year-old boys all seem to be having trouble settling in the run during their races. ALASKAN was another who raced strongly on the bridle throughout in a fast run 1800m at Ascot. Steven Parnham did find three-wide cover initially on the back of A Lot Of Good Men with Alaskan inclined to do more. Parnham lost that cover as A Lot Of Good Men was able to slot-in mid race which prompted Parnham to slide forward onto the back of Iceburgs. That horse too found a way closer to the rail shortly afterwards which left Alaskan without cover while racing up on the strong tempo. The winner Lord Vampi was afforded the sheer ride of the day from Lucy Fiore. That pair had raced past with momentum into the straight with Alaskan coming again under Parnham in a gutsy display to run second.

HORSES TO FOLLOW FROM BUNBURY MARCH 9

Track Rating: Good 4
Clear advantage to be on-speed and closer to the rail.

Blackbookers 📓
Salt Lake Shake

Race 2 3yo BM64 (1000m) SALT LAKE SHAKE 📓
SALT LAKE SHAKE returned from a spell after winning his maiden with a close second placing behind Tycoon Harry at Belmont. Simon Miller then had a throw at the stumps in the 3yo Magic Millions at Pinjarra over the 1200m distance. Salt Lake Shake was beaten around four lengths from the winner in a credible performance while perhaps not being suited over the further trip. Came back to 1000m where he led for a long way before being claimed once again by Tycoon Harry. There was a clear on-speed bias towards his favour; however, Salt Lake Shake was beaten by a horse who holds a clear margin over him in the benchmark ratings. Salt Lake Shake held the rest of the field comfortably and there should be a win for him somewhere around the corner.

HORSES TO FOLLOW FROM ASCOT MARCH 2

Track Rating: Good 4
On or near the speed was the place to be at Ascot with the rail out 9 metres.

Blackbookers 📓
Miss Skyhigh

Race 8 LSW BM60 3F (1800m) MISS SKYHIGH 📓
The fillies ran along to set the race up for one from the back such as MISS SKYHIGH who settled nicely under Clint Johnston-Porter. It was a day where horses needed to be up closer to the speed and Miss Skyhigh was attempting to break that pattern in the Thousand Guineas. The winner Own The Queen was impressive in breaking the race open after getting a good run from just off the pace. She over did things early and was still racing a little greenly up the straight. Miss Skyhigh just did a lot more things right from a staying perspective, and she will be one to follow as her races get further out in distance.

HORSES TO FOLLOW FROM ASCOT FEBRUARY 24

Track Rating: Good 4
All horses seemed to find their chance at Ascot racecourse with the rail out 6m on Saturday.

Blackbookers 📓
Cheeky Charlotte

Race 4 3yo 0-65 (1200m) CHEEKY CHARLOTTE 📓
Relative newcomer to racing CHEEKY CHARLOTTE had won her maiden on debut before scoring a sizzling win in a Class One at Belmont over 1200m. Luke Fernie sent the filly to town on the back of those two wins where Cheeky Charlotte jumped away awkwardly. Jade McNaught was still able to make use of the inside draw with Cheeky Charlotte driving to the front. They led clearly at a fast pace throughout before giving a kick into the straight. The winner Angel Undercover was most impressive while having the race run to suit. Cheeky Charlotte was entitled to knock-up much earlier than she did. The filly still managed to hold third placing in a four-way go for the minors. Cheeky Charlotte only knows one way, and her showing of speed will keep her in a lot of races.

HORSES TO FOLLOW FROM PINJARRA FEBRUARY 17

Track Rating: Good 4
There was plenty of pace on in most of the races on Millions Day at Pinjarra Racecourse. This obviously suited horses coming from off the pace and closer towards the middle part of the track.

Blackbookers 📓
Defending

Race 3 1MW 0-72 (1200m) DEFENDING 📓
Pearce Racing attempted to resume DEFENDING at Ascot Racecourse back in January. Freshness seemed to get the better of their gelding as he reared and lost the rider as the gates opened. Defending subsequently trialed and looked good against quality opposition prior to being sent back to the races for another go. The Pearce stable removed his Nose Roll in favour of a Browband to help keep the horse’s head down at the start. Defending was fairly away in a fast-run race at Acot which was dominated by the leader in Indie Ruler. Defending ran home well along the inside before peaking on his run inside the last 50 or so metres. Jumped okay and settled back in the field second-up at Pinjarra. Travelled well into the run under Luke Campbell who just had nowhere to go into the straight. This was a complete forgive run which will see Defending stripping fitter for two runs back and we may get a price about his next run.

READ: NSW, VIC & QLD BLACKBOOKERS