Perth’s richest race runs for the second time on Saturday with Ascot Racecourse coming alive for the $5 million The Quokka 2024, betting tips and best bets for which are detailed below.

Amelia’s Jewel heads betting on The Quokka 2024 in Perth on Saturday. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

A crack line-up of local and interstate sprinters takes to WA’s top track looking to claim the $2 million first prize in the weight-for-age contest including last year’s winner Overpass defending his title first-up.

The best in The Quokka betting is Amelia’s Jewel with Simon Miller’s Group 1 winning mare looking to atone for her second as the beaten favourite in the inaugural running.

There is also money coming in The Quokka odds for last year’s third placed mare Bella Nipotina for Ciaron Maher and the ultra-consistent Roma Cup winner last time out Oscar’s Fortune.

So, will Overpass go back-to-back or can another horse add their name to The Quokka winners’ list when Ascot Race 8 jumps on Saturday?

The Favourite: #8 Amelia’s Jewel ($3.90 at time of publish) – BET NOW

No doubting the class of Miller’s mare, but it is hard to take her after she continues to be beat at short odds. Fresh she went down in the Roma Cup (1100m) here running a half-length second to Oscar’s Fortune. She improves on that getting to 1200m, loves Ascot (10:7-3-0), is a dual champ at the track / trip, has a strong second-up record (4:2-2-0), and is out to atone now. Those are the pros. Cons? She hasn’t won a race since last September and has not won in Perth since last year’s Roma Cup. Has a wide draw and needs to really get back to her best to win. Each Way.

To Win: #10 Oscar’s Fortune ($5 at time of publish) – BET NOW

He is firming fast and getting into shorter territory now, but still think Oscar’s Fortune is the value in this year’s The Quokka. Dion Luciani’s Rich Enuff three-year-old is going great guns and just doesn’t know how to run a bad race. He has won five of his eight starts to date and placed second in the other three giving him a perfect top two record. Ascot is his pet track (5:3-2-0) and he has the confidence of a last start Roma Cup win over Amelia’s Jewel. He is second-up now and unbeaten two runs in, but is yet to win over further than 1100m. That said, his two 1200m starts have been competitive and include a Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes second to Overpass last summer. Improving and a more mature runner now. Ace gate three draw and the state’s top hoop Willie Pike in the saddle. Win.

Best Roughie: #13 Super Smink ($31 at time of publish) – BET NOW

Plenty of livewire roughies in The Quokka field that aren’t incapable of a top three run at odds including Super Smink racing for Ladbrokes.com.au. This underrated Super One filly from the local stables of Dan Morton has a really nice strike rate at the track (8:3-3-2) and resumes at her preferred distance being unbeaten at 1200m with a trio of wins to date. She is two-from-two at the track and trip including her Group 2 Karrakatta Plate win here last April over the boys by over two lengths. Third to Zipaway in the Group 3 WA Guineas in the summer, that form franked with the winner racing third next-up in the Group 1 Northerly and also performing well in Melbourne this prep. Her latest saw her go down a nostril flare over a mile here in mid-December. Has two good trials from March bringing her on and, over 1200m fresh, even from her wide alley (14) presents a forgotten danger. Place.

*All odds quoted are provided by Ladbrokes.com.au, correct at time of publish, and subject to change.