To wear the No. 1 saddlecloth in the 2011 WA St Leger field of 12 is the Trevor Andrews-trained Veracious, the Systematic four-year-old seeking their second straight stakes success following a win in the JRA Trophy (2200m) a fortnight ago.

The JRA Trophy triumph saw Veracious earn a ballot free ride into the $400,000 Group 2 Perth Cup (2400m) on New Year’s Eve, the horse currently rated a $21 chance in the futures Perth Cup odds at Luxbet.

The other most notable 2011 Perth Cup-bound galloper looking to secure their start in the lucrative New Year’s Eve staying showdown is Miss Tipsy Topsy.

A $14 chance in the Perth Cup markets, Stan Bates’ four-year-old Spinning World mare ran 11^th in the JRA Trophy last start, a disappointing result that was found to be because of a lower left lung infection she was suffering from.

All reports are that Miss Tipsy Topsy has returned to full health and is ready for a strong showing on Saturday which will confirm her Perth Cup campaign.

Other promising WA St Leger acceptors include last-start winners Roman Knows seeking their fourth straight turf triumph, Pintada Prince who won over 1800 meters at the track on November 26 and the Tony Noonan-trained Victorian raider Ladysea.

Fusaichi Pegasus mare Ladysea is likely to open one of the Luxbet favourites for Saturday as she comes who off a win in a mile handicap at Ascot by an easy two lengths last start on December 7 carrying 58kg from barrier 13 of 14.

She has drawn much nicer in gate six for Saturday and drops back to 56kg with Shaun Meeres in the saddle.

The WA St Leger has produced many top gallopers and can provide Luxbet punters with an excellent Perth Cup betting guide.

Last year’s winner Ranger went on to run a disappointing 11^th in the Perth Cup on January 1, but is the current $5.50 to take out the honours on December 31.

Ranger’s trainer Grant Williams will look to go back-to-back in the St Leger on Saturday with two chances in Moonlight Bay, last seen running ninth in the Listed Jungle Dawn Classic (1400m), and fellow Catbird mare Forever Special drawn in gates two and seven respectively.

See below for the full 2011 Perth Ice Works WA St Leger field, barriers and jockeys.

Now is the time to back your Perth Cup favourites at Luxbet before the weekend’s race results sees markets firm.

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2011 WA St Leger Field & Barriers

Ascot Race 5 – 17/12/2011

Fuddle Dee Duddle will race in the Inglis Premier in February, won by Masthead (pictured) in 2011

A daughter of American-bred sire Red Ransom from Beautiful Crown mare Bella Inez, Fuddle Dee Duddle was purchased for $240,000 at this year’s Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale by notable Western Australian breeders Ron Sayers and Eddie Rigg.

Prepared by Alfred Cove trainer Lindsey Smith, Fuddle Dee Duddle has raced two times to date earning $42,500 in prize money.

Running an eye-catching second on debut in the Westspeed 2YO Plate (1000m) at Ascot on October 22, Fuddle Dee Duddle broke her maiden status last start on November 5 winning the Buildex Climaseal 5 Plate (1100m).

Smith is now making plans for an ambitious Melbourne Autumn Carnival campaign next year with the filly.

Her first Victorian assignment is scheduled as the $250,000 Inglis Premier (1200m) at Mornignton on February 15, a race the Lee Freedman-trained Masthead won this year before their game third to Peter Snowden’s superstar colt Sepoy in the Blue Diamond Stakes.

If all goes well and Fuddle Dee Duddle performs up to par, Smith will take her all the way to the $1 million Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), one of Australia’s richest races for two-year-olds, at Caulfield Racecourse on Saturday, 25 February, 2012.

“The owners paid a lot for her so we thought we’d give her a chance in the race,” Smith said.

“I don’t think she’s far away from them (the Victorian horses).

“I think she’s a good horse.

“We’ll try to get her on a flight in the next few weeks with some of those horses over here from Melbourne going back home.”

While in Victoria, Fuddle Dee Duddle will reside at the Mornington-based stables of Tony Noonan.

“She’ll stay at Tony Noonan’s because the Mornington-trained horses seem to have an advantage on their track,” Smith explained.

“If she goes super good, the owners will make a decision if she stays on (for the Blue Diamond Stakes) or not.”

Fuddle Dee Duddle is a half-sister to the Peter Moody-trained Starcraft filly Hallowell Belle, who is owned by WA-based connections.

Hallowell Belle ran third in this year’s Blue Diamond Prelude before her second to Sepoy in the main event.

The 2012 Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes nominations of yearlings were taken in July with a total of 1279 entered.

First declarations for the feature are due today, Tuesday November 22, narrowing down the list of hopefuls heading towards the million dollar showdown.

Stay tuned to Races.com.au for all the latest 2012 Blue Diamond Stakes nomination and field updates.

While the Melbourne Autumn Carnival is still a while away, there is plenty of great summer racing action taking place in Perth and Sydney over the next few weeks.

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The bonny Testa Rossa mare justified not only her $2.20 Luxbet price but connections decision to bring her out of retirement earlier this year.

Ortensia won the 2009 Winterbottom Stakes when still a Group 2  event for former trainer Tony Noonan and now repeated in the 2011 Winterbottom Stakes in similar fashion.
In the 2010 Group I The Galaxy (1100m) at Randwick she pass the post first but was  disqualified after a positive swab was unearthed.

Owner Alister Fraser decided to give Ortensia another shot at the highest level when shelving stud plans at the start of the year.

The six-year-old mare was in Scone and connections decided local trainer Paul Messara would get the horse.

Teaming up with champion jockey Craig Williams,  who earlier won the WA Guineas on King Saul Luxbet price $4.40, Ortensia, with her usual big finishing burst,  defeated Rarefied Luxbet $5 with Grand Nirvana Luxbet $5 third.

“She’s always been a Group 1 mare in our eyes,” Williams said.
“She was  awesome.

“She used the gate, they ran a tactical race up front and I had the horse that had the great acceleration at the end.

“I’ve got such a great relationship with her.
“Only one girl I’ve got a  better relationship with, that’s my wife.

“It a great thrill to get that Group 1 back again.”

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Varenna Miss is the 2011 Betfair Stakes betting market mover

Programmed as Caulfield Race 6 and due to jump at 2:40pm (EDT) on Saturday, the 2011 Betfair Stakes field features 14 classy gallopers.

Love Conquers All leads the Caulfield Race 6 odds at Luxbet paying $4.80, out from $4.40, and is set to get the rails run after drawing barrier one.

Due to be ridden by Hall of Famer Darren Beadman, the Group 1 performing son of Mossman comes off a third to Neeson in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on October 1 and is equal 57.5kg topweight with fellow Sydney raiders Pinwheel and Albert The Fat.

Right at the other end of the Betfair Stakes field punters will find the current second favourite, #14 Varenna Miss who is the market mover here.

Drawn ideally in gate five with Dwayne Dunn engaged, Tony Noonan’s consistent Redoute’s Choice mare Varenna Miss is the one of only two mares engaged in the race along with Hurtle Myrtle ($15 Luxbet) and is the 54.5kg light weight of the field.

After opening at a quote of $9, Varenna Miss has been well backed and is now at a quote of $6 to improve on her last-start fifth in the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on October 2 and win on Saturday.

There are four other 2011 Betfair Stakes runners at single-figure odds with:

• #2 Pinwheel ($6.50 out to $8 Luxbet) – has eased in the markets after drawing awkwardly in barrier 12, Peter Snowden’s Lonhro six-year-old should appreciate drop back in class after their 13^th to Toorak Toff in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at this track and distance last start

• #3 Albert The Fat ($13 into $9 Luxbet) – seen lots of support having come up with a nice gate seven start, seemps to have found their form since joining Chris Waller’s stables and look ready to peak at this distance

• #6 Launay ($9 Luxbet) – another from Snowden’s stables, steady in the market as distance is ideal, they have three wins over the 1400m from five attempts and race first-up after a lengthy five and a half month break, fair first-up record (5-1-2-1)

• #13 Speediness ($10 into $9.50) – right gate in three, consistent form over lightly-raced career to date, distance should suit and looks genuine place chance

Other longer-priced Betfair Stakes hopes on Saturday that could be worth a look in for the exotics include Budriguez ($12) who has work to do from gate 13, defending champion Rothera ($21) also wide in barrier 14, Hurtle Myrtle ($15) who beat home Love Conquers All when second in the Premiere Stakes first-up and Phelan Ready ($13) who should get a gun run from barrier six.

The full 2011 Betfair Stakes field, barriers and weights can be found below.

Stay tuned to Races.com.au to view the best Caulfield Cup Day race and betting previews, as well as coverage on race day.

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2011 Betfair Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw

Caulfield Race 6 – 15/10/2011

Each year Freedman racing give out the award to the jockey who produced the worst ride on one of their horses in the previous 12 months – and this year’s winner was Craig Williams.

A gracious yet embarrassed Williams accepted the ‘award’ from Anthony and Lee Freedman yesterday for his ride on Retsina in March.

Retsina was having her first start on the day that Williams produced some of his worst work.

The highly rated Redoute’s Choice filly finished fourth behind Golden Archer in the listed Ice Cream Stakes at Flemngton, however Williams was slammed for his ride, as the filly did not get into clear running room until well into the straight and when she started charging home the race was all but over.

“It was a very open year with a lot of contenders. But we felt that in the context of the race, it was a filly we had a high opinion of having her first start in a stakes race, that Craig deserved this year’s pineapple,” said newly christened head trainer Anthony Freedman.

“Nash Rawiller was leading at one stage for his ride on Smokin’ Joey in the AAMI Vase, but he got a reprieve after the horse proved to be disappointing. In fairness, a rider can wiped from the whiteboard if the horse doesn’t measure up to expectations.”

Despite claiming ‘the pineapple’ for his ride on the filly in her first start, Williams was not sacked by the Freedman’s, and got to ride the horse in her next race start, where she finished down the track behind Altar and Pane in the Glass. The filly has not been seen at the races since.

Williams now joins an exalted list of ‘pineapple’ winners which includes: Danny Nikolic, Aaron Spiteri, Mark Pegus, Vlad Duric and Noel Callow.

Williams will be looking to put the embarrassment of the ‘pineapple’ behind him when he heads to Caulfield on Saturday with a great card of rides.

Among Williams’ best chances are Testascana for Peter Moody in the Legacy Handicap, Time Matters in the PB Lawrence and Brazilian Pulse in the Cockram.

In other jockey news Victorian hoop Jake Noonan has been told that his comeback from a serious fall has been put on indefinite hold.

Jake Noonan was due to ride for his father Tony at Mornington, however chief steward Terry Bailey said he had been advised by RVL’s chief medical consultant that Noonan did not have medical clearance to resume riding.

Tony Noonan said his son had received clearance from his personal doctor, who has been treating him since the fall in May. Noonan snr also took exception to the fact that Jake had been allowed to ride in the trials earlier in the week.

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Hugh Bowman will now return to Australia after another successful stint in the UK

Bowman said that his best moments in his most recent stint in England was riding Halicarnassus to victory in the Old Newtown Cup at Haydock. In two trips to England (the last one being in 2007) Bowman has now ridden a total of 40 winners.

“It really works well for me coming over here for a couple of months because I am not missing much back home,” Bowman said.

Bowman also claimed that he would consider a permanent move to England if he could land a gig with one of the leading trainers.

“The prize money over here is a real concern and financially I’m better off staying at home,” he said.

“But if I was offered a retained job at a big stable where I would be guaranteed to be financially secure, I would certainly look very carefully at doing that.

“I’m hoping to come back next year. Mick (Channon) is keen to have me back and I might aim to get here around the time of the Oaks or the Derby so I can work my way into Royal Ascot a bit more as it was a bit rushed this year.”

Bowman left the UK on a high after finishing second in the Shergar Cup individual standings. Bowman was riding for the rest of the world team, which narrowly went down to the victorious Irish.

In other jockey news, Jake Noonan is set to return to the track three months after suffering a sickening fall at Flemington.

The Noonan crash was one of the worst seen on an Aussie track in some time, with fellow jockey Daniel Schmidt admitting that at the time he thought Noonan was dead.

However three months after suffering bleeding on the brain, the courageous young hoop will be back in the saddle at tomorrow’s Mornington meeting.

“I have no memory of riding in the race, let alone the fall,” Noonan said.

“The only memory of the day I have is riding Rusticated to victory earlier. So I’ve got nothing to be put off by. Mentally I’ve coped pretty well.

Noonan said he has seen the fall since recovering.

“I’ve seen it. It would have been a pretty frightening moment particularly for Dad (Trainer Tony Noonan). The way the fall looked, you would not want that to happen to anyone.”

However Noonan said that he was fully recovered and couldn’t wait to get back in the saddle.

“I just can’t wait to get back, it’s in the blood now,” he said.

“I was bitten by it at a young age and when you go from doing it every day of your life to suddenly three months away from it, it’s tough. It’s a feeling you can’t get from anything else. It’s just the adrenalin rush.”

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One of two headline races at Belmont Park on Saturday along with the Beaufine Stakes, this year’s $80,000 Listed Belmont Classic (2200m) attracted a final field of 14 three-year-olds.

In a wide open market where four contenders are at single figure odds to win, a longer-priced Belmont Classic hopeful is the strong-willed Stompin ($17).

Drawn well in barrier two with heavyweight hoop Peter Hall to ride, Stompin seeks their second career win in nine starts on Saturday.

Purchased for $14,000 as a yearling, Stompin has been a frustrating asset for connections with a record of inconsistency that Wolfe is hoping to correct over the coming seasons.

They were a flop on debut finishing dead last when beaten 13 lengths by All Friared Up in a Westspeed Nursery Handicap (1200m) at Belmont on July 10.

Four months in the paddock followed and Stompin returned with a new-found focus.

After a good second over 1300 metres at Mt Barker, Stompin broke their maiden status next start with an impressive four length victory in the Magic Million Sales Maiden (1300m) in January of this year.

Since then they have started another five times, their best finish being a brave third to The Other Harv when stepped up to 1650m for the first time last month.

Stompin’s final lead-up to their black-type debut in the Belmont Classic tomorrow was the Dayana Plate (2000m) at Belmont on June 9 where they finished three and a half lengths away seventh to Black Moment.

Still, Wolfe is keeping his chin up and expects to see plenty of improvement tomorrow.

“He does a few things wrong this horse but if he puts his best foot forward he’ll go well,” Hall said.

“Thankfully he drew well and if he can settle he’ll run a big race.”

Favourites in the Belmont Classic betting markets are Elvstroem filly The Other Harv ($4) in the far outside barrier, outstanding Belmont Oaks winner Miss Tipsy Topsy ($4.20), in-form Blackfriars gelding Black Moment ($4.60) and the Tony Noonan-trained Group performer Ladysea ($6.50).

The $80,000 Listed Belmont Oaks (2000m) attracted a strong final field this year with 14 starters and two emergencies accepted for the three-year-old fillies’ showdown running at Belmont.

Despite suffering a blow with a wide barrier 12 draw, the Trevor Andrews-trained Pearl Of Love filly Sweet Serenity is still the short-priced favourite to score her maiden stakes win.

Having had nine career starts to date for a hat-trick of wins and as many minor placings, the promising Sweet Serenity stepped up to Listed company for the first time last start on June 25 at Belmont.

Facing an open field for her debut run over the mile, Sweet Serenity ran a beautiful race when finishing just a length away fourth behind winner and Strickland Stakes hopeful The Underworld in the Listed Belmont Guineas (1600m).

For her brave last-to-fourth run in the Guineas Sweet Serenity was ridden by apprentice Kyra Yuill, also aboard for the fillies’ other two most recent runs.

Pike, however, is set to replace Yuill for the Oaks, the Group 1 performing hoop reuniting with Sweet Serenity having been aboard for her two first-up runs this season including a win over 1000m at Belmont on May 7.

“She’s a difficult filly to ride – she doesn’t have a lot of gate speed and always needs luck,” Andrews admitted.

“I think she was a bit unlucky (in the Belmont Guineas) but I certainly wouldn’t condemn Kyra’s ride.”

Having shown good form with the increase in distance and a blistering turn of foot to make up so much ground in the Guineas, connections are now confident that against her own company Sweet Serenity will be hard to beat over 2000m in the Belmont Oaks this weekend.

“The way she races, she looks like she’ll get 2000 (metres) but you can never be over-confident,” Andrews said.

“She settles well and runs on well and I’m looking forward to it.”

Only two other fillies are currently at single-figure odds to upset Sweet Serenity in her Belmont Oaks bid, with Fred Kersley’s Blackfriars filly and Belmont Guineas fifth placegetter Svara to have the rails run from gate one and the Tony Noonan-trained Victoria raider Ladysea with work to do from barrier 10.

The 2011 Belmont Guineas accompanies the $125,000 Group 3 Strickland Stakes (2000m) as the two feature races running at Belmont this Saturday.

Pike also has a strong hand in the Strickland Stakes, partnering with Chris Gangemi’s highly-promising High Chaparral three-year-old The Underworld.

2011 Belmont Oaks Final Field & Barrier Draw

Varenna Miss is out to break a 12-year drought for last-start winners in the Tattersall's Tiara

Redoute’s Choice four-year-old Varenna Miss claimed a massive upset when she stormed home to defeat the likes of fellow Tatt’s Tiara hopeful Zingaling (third) and subsequent Stradbroke winner Sincero (11^th) in the Group 2 QTC Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm on June 4.

Despite firming into the clear favourite to back up and become the first QTC Cup winner in history to win the $1 million Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m), Varenna Miss was not accepted for Queensland’s richest sprint.

Noonan and connections chose instead to focus solely on this Saturday’s $500,000 Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm where Varenna Miss will face a quality field of fellow fillies and mares.

Not having raced since her QTC Cup success, Varenna Miss has had a far less testing preparation than odds-on Tatt’s Tiara favourite Beaded ($2) and as such is the $6 second elect in the markets.

With the Stradbroke hoodoo avoided, however, Varenna Miss now has a new historical drought to overcome.

It has been 12 years since a last-start winner took out the Tattersall’s Tiara, previously known as the Winter Stakes.

Varenna Miss, then, is not the only runner out to break the drought with three other last-start winners engaged for the race in Hurtle Myrtle (G.2 Dane Ripper Stakes, Eagle Farm, June 4), Steps In Time (Listed Daybreak Lover Stakes, Eagle Farm, June 4) and Born To Rock (Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic, Ipswich, June 18).

The most recent Winter Stakes winner to have backed up from a last-start victory was Razor Blade when the event held only Group 3 status back in 1998.

Although history says no to Varenna Miss, the man in charge of her Winter Carnival preparation in place of a holidaying Noonan, Mick Robins says she has the form and fitness to defy the odds with an upset Tatt’s Tiara win tomorrow.

“She’s done everything right and I couldn’t wish for her to be any better,” he said.

“She’s done extra well, you couldn’t wish her to be any better.

“You couldn’t be any happier with the condition of the horse.”

“She probably has to, but I reckon she’s improved a bit after her win in the QTC Cup.”

Jockey Dwayne Dunn, aboard for the QTC Cup success, will again partner with Varenna Miss tomorrow and despite her less-than-ideal barrier 13 draw there is an air of confidence in her camp.

“She drew 18 and came into 15 the other day (for the QTC Cup win) and she’s a big-striding mare, so I think she’s better off out from the fence,” Robins said.

Still, Robins is also well aware of the quality of the Peter Snowden-trained Beaded and the danger she presents.

“We, probably like everybody else, are just hoping that the racing’s taken a bit out of Beaded,” he said.

“If it was a handicap, we’d probably be getting a fair bit of weight from her, but being weight-for-age, we meet her at level weights.

“Whatever way you look at the race Beaded has to be the one to beat.

“She’s a freak the way she can put in every time.

“I’m just hoping maybe the Stradbroke has taken a little out of her.

“It might be wishful thinking looking at her record.”

Zero Rock is one of three single-figure chances in this Saturday's Tattersall's Tiara

The daughter of Danzero has been in impressive form this preparation, Zero Rock producing three placings from her four Brisbane Winter Carnival starts.

She will attempt to win her maiden Group 1 in the $500,000 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m), formerly the Winter Stakes, this weekend and Wood believes she has shown the right type of form for the fillies and mares feature.

“I’m thrilled with the way she’s been going but it could have been better with any luck with barriers,” he said.

In an early blow for this year’s Stradbroke Handicap third-placegetter, Zero Rock has again drawn out wide coming up with gate 10 of 15 for her Winter Stakes bid.

After running a credible sixth beaten four lengths by Robert Heathcote’s galloper Buffering first-up in the Group 2 Victory Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm on April 30, Zero Rock has gone on to record two seconds and a third all at Group level and all from barrier 10 or wider.

Following the Victory Stakes, Zero Rock lined up in barrier 15 of 16 for the Group 3 Glenlogan Park Stakes (1350m) where after racing wide throughout and carrying a hefty 57.5kg, she managed to come with under half a length of winner Kanzan at Doomben on May 21.

Next start she finished a brave second to fellow Tattersall’s Tiara hopeful Hurtle Myrtle in the Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 4, Zero Rock jumping from barrier 10.

Last start she enjoyed her biggest run to date coming within two lengths of gun three-year-old and winner Sincero and runner-up Beaded in the $1 million Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) having been forced to race wide throughout yet again.

“She (Zero Rock) should have won one and maybe even all three of them (her last three starts) had she drawn a better barrier,” Wood said.

Ridden by Tim Clark in the Stradbroke, on Saturday Zero Rock will re-partner with regular rider Chris Munce who was committed for the mount on Love Conquers All in the Stradbroke.

Despite rating Zero Rock as one of the only Tattersall’s Tiara acceptors capable of giving short-priced favourite Beaded a run for her money, Wood knows that the wider draw has dented his mare’s chances.

“It’s going to be a hard race and it would be good to have everything in her favour when they are so evenly matched,” he said.

Zero Rock is one of only three Tattersall’s Tiara contenders at single-figure odds to win paying $7.50.

Peter Snowden’s top-class mare Beaded is the deserved favourite while QTC Cup winner Varenna Miss is at $9, and it is these two that Wood tips as the ones to beat on Saturday.

“Beaded and the horse of Tony Noonan’s (Varenna Miss) goes all right too,” he said.

“But there’s about five or six chances.”

Tuesday morning saw Zero Rock have her final bit of work before tackling the Tiara title, and while fellow hopeful Yosei was the eye-catching worker at Eagle Farm, Wood chose not to use the course proper.

“She’s got her routine and I like to stick to it, she gets cranky otherwise,” he explained.

“Her work was very good.

“She just needs a bit of luck in running (on Saturday).”