The Perth Racing fans are hoping COVID-19 doesn’t shut down Saturday’s feature race meet at Ascot Racecourse and should things go ahead it will be the gun Grant & Alana Williams-trained filly Tuscan Queen jumping favourite in the WA Oaks 2020.
The fate of the weekend’s racing at tracks including Ascot lie in the COVID-19 test result of jockey Mark Zahra. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
With Racing Victoria suspending racing until at least Friday due to leading Melbourne jockey Mark Zahra awaiting his COVID-19 test results, the flow on affect could also impact the racing in Perth for WA Oaks Day.
Leading Perth training duo Grant & Alana Williams along with premier WA hoop William Pike were in Melbourne dominating the $5 million The All-Star Mile results earlier in the month and could in turn be forced to self-isolate should any positive tests return from jockeys present at that Caulfield meet.
The team are hoping that doesn’t happen however as they prepare to saddle-up star Fastnet Rock filly Tuscan Queen in the Group 3 $250,000 City Of Belmont WA Oaks (2400m).
The WA Oaks field attracted a dozen young fillies that could be eyeing a run in the Group 1 $1 million Australian Oaks (2400m) in Sydney on April 11 should the Coronavirus pandemic not shut down Australian racing beforehand.
Drawn gate eight with the ‘Wizard of the West’ Pike booked for the ride all going well, Tuscan Queen boasts a 50% winning strike rate heading into the Oaks having won four of her eight starts to date.
Group 1 performed against the older horses when seventh in the Kingston Town Classic last November, the filly had a mediocre start to her summer – autumn campaign before returning to winning form third-up last start.
On March 14 at the Ascot track she enjoyed getting up in distance and was impressive overcoming barrier 13 of 13 to salute in the Listed Natasha Stakes (2200m) by over two lengths.
Going up to the mile and a half then on Saturday should suit and Tuscan Queen sits top of the WA Oaks odds at Ladbrokes.com.au paying a short $1.45.
Just one other filly is under double-figures for the win and that is Cambist on the distant second line of betting at $9.
The Robyn Lockwood-trained Gingerbread Man filly is yet to win over further than 1200m but has been on the steady improve this prep including her eye-catching fourth in the Natasha Stakes.
The other best in WA Oaks betting chasing an upset result on the weekend include the previously in-form Naughty By Nature ($12) looking to atone for her ninth in the Natasha Stakes and Steve Wolfe’s well-bred daughter of Playing God Mood Goddess ($13) who was third in the same key lead-up.
Click here for the latest WA Oaks 2020 betting odds courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.
2020 WA Oaks Field
| # | Form (Last 10) | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | H. Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11217×491 | TUSCAN QUEEN | Grant & Alana Williams | William Pike | 8 | 55.5kg | 80 |
| 2 | 2435221552 | PAMBELLA | Neville Parnham | Steven Parnham | 4 | 55.5kg | 66 |
| 3 | 341×1239 | NAUGHTY BY NATURE | Jason Miller | Clint Johnston-Porter | 7 | 55.5kg | 65 |
| 4 | 3124551×07 | MY FAIR BALENTINE | Daniel O’Connor | Brad Parnham | 6 | 55.5kg | 63 |
| 5 | 35x170x224 | CAMBIST | Robyn Lockwood | Ms Kyra Yuill | 5 | 55.5kg | 66 |
| 6 | 46x31x1273 | MOOD GODDESS | Steve Wolfe | Shaun McGruddy | 2 | 55.5kg | 64 |
| 7 | 5414701 | SECRET PEARL | Sharon Miller | Alan Kennedy | 12 | 55.5kg | 60 |
| 8 | 3101 | MISS DOMINICAN | Fred Kersley | Peter Hall | 9 | 55.5kg | 61 |
| 9 | 75116 | GLAMOUR PACKED | Colin Webster | Jordan Turner | 11 | 55.5kg | 61 |
| 10 | 07613×2368 | SAMANTHA’S TWITCH | Daniel Morton | Jarrad Noske | 1 | 55.5kg | 59 |
| 11 | 27313 | SHOWADDYWADDY | Daniel Morton | Chris Parnham | 3 | 55.5kg | 58 |
| 12 | 7081445 | SAFE TO MAKEUP | Trevor Andrews | Jason Whiting | 10 | 55.5kg | 58 |
