Just four days after the TABtouch-WA Pacing Cup, attention has now turned towards the WA Derby and WA Oaks in the autumn with some of the key three-year-olds to step out this week.
Bettors Delight colt Howard Hughes kept his unbeaten record in Perth intact with a comfortable 4.8m win in the Hygain Recuperate Pace (2185m) at Pinjarra.
The Greg and Skye Bond-trained pacer showed a dazzling burst of speed in the home straight to run down race leader Tyron Terranova.
Prior to the race, co-trainer Skye Bond told TABradio Howard Hughes was “relatively inexperienced” but hoped to have the colt ready for the WA Derby later this year.
Earlier in the day, consistent filly Blockjorg produced a game performance first-up to take out the Fiber Fresh Feeds Equine Stakes 3YO Fillies Pace (2185m), her first career win in nine starts.
The Hes Watching filly, who was placed in the Group 1 Diamond Classic last year, led all the way in 1.59.9 and held off Run For Mercy over the concluding stages.
Meanwhile, tonight sees a small but select field set to do battle in the Etch Coatings 3YO Pace (2130m).
Valentines Brook (barrier one), Awaiting Instructions (two), Gardys Legacy (five) and Alta Engen (six) are all last start winners and will be looking to push their claims for feature races.
Matthew Scott trains Awaiting Instructions and said he was confident the gelding could make it four wins in a row against a high quality field.
“He’s a pretty exciting type of horse,” he told TABradio.
“He obviously went to Busselton to teach him a little bit.
“A couple of races we had him in were falling over and the owner Mr Blee, being a country guy down in Manjimup, was pretty keen to run him down there.
“This is a really good race for a Tuesday night.
“Half of these horses could end up in a Derby without anyone being shocked.
“Whether we lead or not, it depends on how much speed Valentines Brook shows.”
Elsewhere, Friday night’s three-year-old event is poised to be one of the highlights at Gloucester Park.
Double Expresso, Jaspervellabeach, Tiffany Rose, Manning and Howard Hughes are among the 13 nominations for the event.
Tim Walker