An excellent eight-race programme will light up the Ascot track this Saturday for AJ Scahill Stakes Day, the latest Perth Summer Carnival meeting, with the first black-type feature of the day being the $100,000 Listed W.A. St Leger (2100m).
A staying race for three and four-year-old horses, the 2010 W.A. St Leger has drawn a small but competitive final field of eight gallopers lead by the Grant Williams-trained Ranger.
Drawn well in barrier three for Saturday, Testa Rossa four-year-old Ranger has been in career best form this preparation and is coming off an eye catching fifth in the Group 1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m) from last Saturday.
Another Testa Rossa four-year-old lining up in the W.A. St Leger this year is the Michael Grant-trained Mighty Rossa, the Gold Cup third placegetter due to jump from barrier four but may struggle with the 57kg they are allocated.
One of the Races.com.au top picks from the 2010 W.A. St Leger field is Joe Byrne’s star Flying Spur three-year-old Hoegaarden drawn on the rails in barrier one, an ideal lightweight chance carrying just 54kg.
Hoegaarden broke their maiden status back on October 30 claiming victory in the Listed Fairetha Stakes (1400m) and has continued to perform consistently well at stakes level finishing third in the Group 2 WA Guineas (1600m) and then a gallant second to Playing God in the Listed Aquanita Stakes (1800m) last start.
Other notable W.A. St Leger hopefuls include More Than Ready three-year-old Joesready coming off a third place finish in the Aquanita Stakes and super consistent Danzero gelding Amelias Dancer coming three straight wins around Perth.
A number of the W.A. St Leger runners have been nominated for the 2011 Perth Cup on New Year’s Day including Ranger and Hoegaarden, and a win on Saturday will go a long way in proving their potential as a Perth Cup favourite.
The 2010 W.A. St Leger is scheduled as Race 4 on the Ascot card for Saturday, due to jump at 3:05pm (local WA time).
Our preferred online bookmaker Luxbet will have the hottest betting markets on all the Perth races this weekend and with odds set to open shortly, now is the time to join thousands of other winning punters by opening your Luxbet account!
2010 W.A. St Leger Final Field, Barriers & Weights
| # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RANGER | Grant Williams | William Pike | 3 | 57 |
| 2 | MIGHTY ROSSA | Michael Grant | Daniel Staeck | 4 | 57 |
| 3 | AMELIAS DANCER | Lou Luciani | Jason Whiting | 7 | 57 |
| 4 | SIR MONTGOMERY | Greg Carige | Kyra Yuill (a) | 5 | 57 |
| 5 | LIGHT THE SKIES | Damian Winn | Jessica Hill | 2 | 57 |
| 6 | HOEGAARDEN | Joe Byrne | Jarrad Noske (a) | 1 | 54 |
| 7 | JOESREADY | Hec McLaren | Damian Lane (a) | 8 | 54 |
| 8 | SINGLE WARRIOR | Tony Noonan | Jason Brown | 6 | 54 |
