Runner by Runner: The Quokka

Posted on April 13, 2023April 13, 2023 | Posted by Scott Embry

1. Kementari (58.5kg)

Trainer: James Cummings
Jockey: Damien Oliver
Barrier 5

No stranger to racing in Western Australia. Won the 2020 AJ Scahill Stakes under Chris Parnham as a 6-year-old before returning last year for the Gold Rush. Attacks the Quokka first-up off the back of two trials at Randwick: in the first he finished 1.9L behind Shades of Rose over a 742m scamper and then a fortnight later over 1045m finished a head off stablemate and subsequent Arrowfield 3-year-old Sprint winner Aft Cabin. The last time he raced over 1200m at WFA was in The Everest and he only finished 3L off winner Giga Kick and actually split Overpass and Shades Of Rose. In The Everest he went around $51, Overpass $41 and Shades Of Rose $34. At this stage of his life his best seems to be fresh and the last time Damien Oliver rode him was when he won the Gilgai Stakes in October 2021.

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2. Overpass (58.5kg)

Trainer: Bjorn Baker
Jockey: Joshua Parr
Barrier: 8

Had a huge 2-year-old season in 2021 when winning three in a row at Orange, Warwick Farm and Gosford. Only got better as a 3-year-old when winning the 2022 Group 2 Expressway Stakes at WFA over 1200m beating Forbidden Love and Anamoe at Rosehill before finishing second to Lost and Running in the Southern Cross Stakes at Randwick before going on to win the Inglis Sprint at Flemington at Set Weights and Penalties with 59.5kg. First-up last preparation in September he contested The Shorts (1100m Group 2 SWP) and split Nature Strip and Lost and Running. Bjorn Baker gave him two trials leading into the Shorts and has given him two trials leading into The Quokka.

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3. Trix Of The Trade (58.5kg)

Trainer: Colin Webster
Jockey: Troy Turner
Barrier: 4

One of the most intriguing runners in The Quokka. Winner of 9 from 14. Group One winner. Undefeated first-up. Blinkers on first time. First-up last campaign he sat three and four deep the trip over 1400m with 61kg and got the job done before heading to the Asian Beau and Railway Stakes. His last run of the preparation was in the Northerly Stakes where he conceded 8.5kg to Amelia’s Jewel and finished 2.25L behind her. Loved his trial at Lark Hill and the fact that he was a confirmed starter in The Quokka months ago. Mr Webster and his team are incredibly good at getting their horses ready to go first-up and this is a free swing at a $4 Million Race for them and owner/breeders Bill & Patricia Robinson.

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4. Uncommon James (58.5kg)

Trainer: Steven O’Dea & Matthew Hoysted
Jockey: Ben Thompson
Barrier: 13

Is the new kid on the block and has skyrocketed in the ratings in a short period of time. Since returning to racing as a 3 year old gelding at Eagle Farm in June 2022 he won a BM78 (effectively a 66+ in WA) and an Open 3 Year Old 1100m SWP at Doomben. It wasn’t until August 2022 when he travelled to Caulfield and justified his short quote in the Regal Roller Stakes (Listed 1200m) that people really started to stand up and take notice. He has had three runs in 2023, finishing second to Lofty Strike in the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes at Sandown before truly announcing himself when winning the Group One Oakleigh Plate. He finished 1L in front of Asfoora that day and then finished three quarters of a length in front of her again in The Galaxy when second to Mariamia at Group One level. He’s a winner but he also takes on WFA for the first time.

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5. Massimo (58.5kg)

Trainer: Chris & Michael Gangemi
Jockey: Clint Johnston-Porter
Barrier: 3

The final horse to make his way into the inaugural running of the Quokka. He has been a wonderful acquisition for Gangemi Racing since he joined the stable back in 2021. He has had fifteen runs under the Gangemi Racing banner and has won two Lee Steere Stakes (Group 2 WFA 1400) as well as finishing in the money at six other Black Type features. Brilliant advertisement for racing ownership/syndication/enjoyment but at 1200m they’re simply too sharp for him. He went around a 40-1 pop in the Roma Cup and he will go around on the plus side of 100-1 in the Quokka. He could give a few of these a scare at 7 furlongs, but not at 6.

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6. Red Can Man (58.5kg)

Trainer: Steve Wolfe
Jockey: Shaun McGruddy
Barrier: 11

Has always been a victim of timing throughout his career and will eventually retire with a tale of ‘what could have been’ stories. Remarkable (different adjective for poor connections) to think that as a m109 rater he has only actually won a Listed Fairetha Stakes, Listed H.G Bolton Stakes and a Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes. He has finished runner up at Group 2 Level and runner up at Group 3 Level on five separate occasions! He could easily have had many more trophies in the cabinet if it wasn’t for running into the likes of Elite Street, Inspirational Girl, This’ll Testya and now Amelia’s Jewel. He has raced at WFA at 13 of his last 23 outings. He’s as genuine as they come, he just runs into one or two better than him wherever he goes. He looks an unfortunate chance of leading up the three deep train.

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7. Resortman (58.5kg)

Trainer: Michael Lane
Jockey: Brad Rawiller
Barrier 7

Had to put in a blinding run in the Roma Cup at his return to racing to market himself as a potential Quokka Representative and did exactly that when charging home into third behind Amelia’s Jewel and Red Can Man. Morton Racing have had to scramble over the last few months to find a horse for their slot after stable stars Elite Street and Kissonallforcheeks became heartbreakingly unavailable for selection. While Amelia’s Jewel clocked all the fastest sections in the Roma Cup, Resortman was the second fastest L1000, 800, 600, 400 & 200 and produced the fastest individual 600 – 400 as Rawiller asked him to accelerate into the corner to start making his run. Last preparation he went to the Railway at this 8^th run of the preparation rather than to the Winterbottom. Much more suitable preparation here and he’s a Handicap, Set Weights and Penalties and WFA winner.

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8. Hot Zed (58.5kg)

Trainer: Lou Luciani
Jockey: Chris Parnham
Barrier: 2

Perennially under-rated, under-estimated and forgotten by punters. He goes about his business without any fuss and has no glitz, glam or fandom – just a great race horse. He doesn’t have the same feature race credentials as many of the top liners in the Quokka as ‘only’ the winner of a Listed Carbine Club, Listed Scenic Blast Stakes and a Listed Pinjarra Classic but the last two times he has raced at WFA he finished 4^th in the Winterbottom Stakes behind Paulele, Kissonallforcheeks and This’ll Testya and then a luckless sixth in the inaugural Gold Rush. Considering the top 3 from the 2022 Winterbottom Stakes are not in Quokka calculations he probably looms as a value adding selection to Trifectas and First Fours. He’ll go better than a 100-1 pop.

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9. Western Knight (58.5kg)

Trainer: Adam Durrant
Jockey: William Pike
Barrier: 10

This is a genuine Hail Mary from Bob Peters. Western Knight is a progressive 4-year-old with plenty of wins ahead of him but he would get 57.5kg in the 66+ 1400 at Saturday’s Quokka/Karrakatta/Joey meeting and instead he’s carrying 58.5 at WFA at only start number seven as a m73 rater. This race contains 12 gallopers with a handicap rating over m100 and while I think he is the kind of animal who will improve the more he races and when he faces better quality (speedier) opposition he is well and truly fighting outside his weight division in the Quokka. Would have been an $8–10 chance in the Joey and could have been an odds on pop in the 66+. Not for me.

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10. Bella Nipotina (56.5kg)

Trainer: Ciaron Maher & Dave Eustace
Jockey: Ben Melham
Barrier: 6

At her best she is a weapon, with a CV that includes: two Group 3 victories (Quezette Stakes, How Now Stakes), one Group 2 (Sapphire Stakes) and a Group One victory in the 2022 Manikato Stakes when romping in to an almost 5L victory, albeit on a bottomless Heavy8 surface.  Her first-up run at Flemington over 1000m when third behind Coolangatta and subsequent TJ Smith Stakes winner I Wish I Win in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes was brilliant, her second-up run in the Newmarket was an uncharacteristic shocker and then she bounced back to form in the William Reid when finishing second to Imperatriz. She’s a top line mare and may even sneak a Soft5 out of Ascot come Saturday. She’s dangerous from barrier 6.

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11. Shades Of Rose (56.5kg)

Trainer: Bjorn Baker
Jockey: Rachel King
Barrier: 1

Prolific winner who up until September 2022 had only contested ratings races as Bjorn Baker slowly but surely took her through her grades. To that point she had won a maiden, a C1, a 3 year Old BM64 (~ 3yo 0MW in WA), a BM72 (~60+ Graduation), a BM78 (~66+) and a BM88 (~72+). She has been ‘ahead of the handicapper’ throughout her career with big margin victories and when finally tested in the Group 2 Fillies & Mares Sheraco Stakes over 1200m at Rosehill she lead throughout under Rachel King and scrambled in. She has had three starts at Group One level since then and is yet to finish within 3L of the winner. First-up this campaign in The Galaxy she finished 2.9L behind Uncommon James and 2.1L behind Asfoora. Needs to bounce back to her best. Expecting she’ll be ridden for speed in The Quokka.

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12. Asfoora (56.5kg)

Trainer: Henry Dwyer
Jockey: Mitchell Aitken
Barrier: 12

Another relative newcomer to this level of racing. Winner of a Colac maiden in December 2021 before winning a lowly BM58 (~46+) at Stawell 20 days later. Her unassuming form didn’t deter punters when she made her way to town winning in a 3 year old BM70 at Caulfield to remain undefeated on Australia Day 2021. She set tongues wagging first-up at Sandown in September 2022 with a 3.75L 1000m win in a BM78. Henry Dwyer really started to test the waters with her in October 2022 and she measured up brilliantly with back to back wins in the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint and Group 3 Begonia Belle Stakes. Two runs in 2023 have seen her run third behind Uncommon James in the Oakleigh Plate and fourth in The Galaxy and now, just like Uncommon James, she steps into WFA company for the very first time. One of Asfoora, Red Can Man or Uncommon James is destined to cover a lot of additional ground out wide.

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13. Bustler (56.5kg)

Trainer: Neville Parnham
Jockey: Steven Parnham
Barrier: 9

Has now met fellow 3-year-old Amelia’s Jewel three times (WA Guineas, Northerly Stakes and Roma Cup) and she has beaten him fair and square on all three occasions. He went around a $14 chance in the Roma Cup at 1100m and put in a big performance from the back of the field to finish off hard into sixth. Has to turn the tables on Amelia’s Jewel, Red Can Man and Resortman from the Roma Cup let alone the Interstate Raiders. He will finish his career at Group Level – there’s little doubt about that and if this was 1400m he’d be half his quote. Ideally drawn to park midfield with cover and if he’s following the right one, he can grab a fair few late.

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14. Amelia’s Jewel (54.5kg)

Trainer: Simon Miller
Jockey Patrick Carbery
Barrier: 14

The Jewel of Western Australian racing who returned in the Roma Cup at Weight For Age over 1100m and gave them windburn. She showed sufficient tactical speed to hold out one out and two back following Red Can Man into the race. She ran home in the fastest L1000, 800, 600, 400 & 200 of the race and reaffirmed her position at the top of betting. She is an excitement machine who brings people to the races and will fly the flag for Tabtouch in the Quokka and then for Western Australia in the Eastern States and potentially Australia at Royal Ascot in time to come. She’s the real deal but barrier 14 of 14 is a serious obstacle to overcome.

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SELECTION: BELLA NIPOTINA

The Final 2023 Quokka Barrier Draw has thrown up a real curve ball with pre-post favourite Amelia’s Jewel to jump from barrier 14 of 14. Pre-Barrier Draw watching the replay of the Roma Cup it was near impossible to justify any of the local horses turning the tables on her. Post-Barrier Draw many of the locals are right back in the mix. As for the Interstate Raiders, Bella Nipotina is unlikely to see the Soft6/Soft7 surface she would prefer but she’s a high class mare who can match motors with the best in Australia on her day. From the draw she will be parked midfield behind what looks a spirited speed battle with horses like Red Can Man, Uncommon James and Asfoora desperate for positions from tough draws and a mare like Shades of Rose likely to charge through along the inside in an attempt to lead. Huge respect for the filly and while the heart says Amelia’s Jewel the head says eachway gets me.

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