Simon Miller’s smart filly Amelia’s Jewel is dominant favourite to take out the inaugural edition of the 2023 The Quokka slot-race in WA this weekend.

Bella Nipotina represents Ladbrokes in Saturday’s 2023 The Quokka race field in WA. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Perth Racing hosts a bumper weekend of racing with a host of new buy-in events across three racing odes headlined by the thoroughbreds facing off in the weight-for-age $4 million The Quokka (1200m).

Fourteen slot-holders are represented by fourteen of the countries best sprinting talent with the latest The Quokka odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au led by three-year-old Amelia’s Jewel in barrier nine for jockey Patrick Carbery.

The bonny bay was huge last prep winning the Group 2 WA Guineas (1600m) over the boys before beating home the older horses in the Group 1 Northerly Stakes (1800m).

She kicked off this campaign with an equally impressive first-up domination in the Group 3 Roma Cup (1100m) here at Ascot where Amelia’s Jewel defeated a number of her The Quokka rivals with ease.

Following the confirmation of the official The Quokka field the favourite has firmed right into $2.60.

The danger occupying the second line of The Quokka betting at $3.80 and racing for Seacorp – Hallowell Stud is the Steven O’Dea-trained Uncommon James.

The flying Queenslander has been huge this prep with connections opting to bypass the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes in favour of his trip west for this event.

He was excellent winning the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) on Blue Diamond Day before being narrowly denied back-to-back elite levels finishing runner-up in Sydney’s Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) last time out.

Uncommon James jumps one on the outside of Amelia’s Jewel starting from gate 10 with Ben Thompson to ride.

The third elect at current The Quokka odds of $7 is the classy Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Group 1 winning mare Bella Nipotina racing for Ladbrokes.com.au.

She is drawn a treat with barrier six for her hoop Ben Melham with the Pride Of Dubai five-year-old chasing her first victory since a powerhouse 4.75 length romp home in last October’s Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m).

This time in she has enjoyed two Group 1 placings from three starts with a third fresh behind stablemate Coolangatta in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lighting (1000m) and a last start second to Imperatriz in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m).

Following closely to round out the current single-figure The Quokka horses at $8 is the Henry Dwyer-trained Asfoora.

The consistent four-year-old mare is after a career-best success here on the back of a brave Oakleigh Plate second and fourth in The Galaxy last time out bringing in some strong form lines from interstate.

The first four are dominant in the markets with a notable gap to the rest of the field.

The next best at 20/1 include the Godolphin-raced eight-year-old Kementari dubbed ‘Special K’, Bjorn Baker’s four-year-old fresh horse Overpass racing first-up after being scratched from the TJ Smith due to a Heavy-rated track, and Colin Webster’s local Group 1 Railway Stakes champ Trix Of The Trade.

Click here for the latest The Quokka 2023 betting markets courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.

2023 The Quokka Final Field & Barrier Draw

Table Credit: Racing Australia.