Godolphin’s last start $1 million The Hunter winner Vilana is chasing another big pay day heading east for the inaugural Group 3 $1.5 million The Gold Rush (1400m) this weekend in WA.

The Hunter winner Vilana is favourite to win Perth’s $1.5 million The Gold Rush on Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart.

Perth Racing has been boosted by the brand new The Gold Rush race in 2022 and markets on the opening edition at Ladbrokes.com.au are firmly led by the in-form James Cummings-trained Vilana at $4.40.

This season’s Silver Eagle – The Hunter winning Hallowed Crown four-year-old came up trumps with barrier one in the capacity The Gold Rush final field with Ben Melham coming aboard for the ride.

Cummings and the powerhouse Godolphin stable are also represented by Kementari ($9) in barrier 11 with Jamie Kah aboard the evergreen eight-year-old who was last seen running a close third in the $3 million Winners Stakes (1300m) at 20/1 back on October 29.

Occupying the second line of The Gold Rush betting looking to keep the trophy at home in Perth is the now Dan Morton-trained Kissonallforcheeks ($4.60).

Chris Parnham rides the classy Written Tycoon mare from a favourable barrier seven draw on the back of her very close second fresh in the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m).

Formerly with Nick Ryan in Victoria for the spring, the Winterbottom was the talented five-year-old’s first run back with Morton and she went down the barest of margins at a price hampered by a wide barrier 13 of 16 draw.

She has an outstanding second-up record (5:4-1-0), is a genuine Ascot track specialist (17:7-5-2) and will relish getting out over her preferred 1400m distance (9:5-1-0).

The only other runner under double-figures in The Gold Rush odds is the early market mover Elite Street heavily supported early in from $12 to $9.

Also prepared locally by Ascot horseman Morton, the Street Boss six-year-old chases his first win over further than six furlongs and is the fit horse in the race.

After winning the Group 3 Northam Stakes – Roma Cup double back in May, he was good first-up when fourth in the Group 3 Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m) with 59.5kg.

Last start he ran better than midfield when sixth in the Winterbottom Stakes, only two lengths beaten by the winner Paulele with improvement to come.

Mitchell Pateman’s recent Colonel Reeves Stakes winning mare This’ll Testya meanwhile was brave when third up in grade for the Winterbottom Stakes and backs-up in The Gold Rush as a $14 shot in betting from a wide gate (16).

The Gold Rush 2022 runs as Ascot Race 9 at 4:57pm (AWST) local time with full markets thanks to Ladbrokes.com.au available here.

2022 The Gold Rush Final Field & Barrier Draw

Table Credit: Racing Australia.