Horse Racing

This Saturday Perth’s premier racecourse at Ascot will be home to the 123^rd running of the time-honoured $500,000 Group 1 WATC Derby (2400m).

Fifteen top three-year-old gallopers will contest the 2010 Schweppes WATC Derby including two runners from the stables of local trainer Neville Parnham.

Parnham has his Blackfriars colt God Has Spoken jumping from barrier three beside stablemate Bridgestone in gate four.

Pentire colt Bridgestone is currently paying $4.60 through IASbet for his first win over a distance greater than 1800m, while last year’s Group 1 Kingston Town Stakes runner-up God Has Spoken is at $6.

The hot favourite heading into the WATC Derby is the Wally Mitchell-trained Brother Mak. Son of boom sire Zabeel, Brother Mak has enjoyed great success this autumn including his impressive last start win in the Listed Melvista Stakes (2200m).

Starting from barrier seven on Saturday, Brother Mak is paying $3.70 for a win with IASbet.

The Fred Kersley-trained Zentrate who ran a close second to Brother Mak in the Melvista Stakes is also backing up with a run in the WATC Derby. At generous odds of $12, Zentrate will jump from barrier six on Saturday with Daniel Staeck aboard.

Other runners to watch include last Saturday’s talented Group 3 WA Oaks winner Impressive Jeuney (barrier 10), and the David Hayes-trained Victorian raider Chartreux drawn ideally on the rails in barrier one.

Sydney’s Randwick racecourse is also set to host a terrific day’s racing headlined by the $400,000 Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) and featuring three other Group 1 races.

The Ascot meeting on Saturday boasts a great eight-event card with the 2010 WATC Derby running as race seven.

For more of the latest news on the 2010 Western Australian Derby click on the race name.

2010 Schweppes WATC Derby Final Field & Barrier Draw