Saturday preview: six things to keep an eye on

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

G1 Northerly S. - locals vs visitors

Not since Stratum Star's success for the Darren Weir stable in 2016 has this Group 1 1800-metre event, one which was until two years ago named after Kingston Town (Bletchingly), been won by an interstate visitor.

Five eastern state horses take on the locals this weekend with one of those, the Mitchell Freedman trained Attrition (Churchill {Ire}) vying for favouritism on the back of his good spring carnival form in Melbourne and Sydney; a gritty G2 Hill S. victory followed by a somewhat unlucky fourth in the Five Diamonds.

Also well-fancied is the local Storyville (Overshare) whose age/gender (3-year-old filly) has a good recent record in this race as does her stable with Grant and Alana Williams winning it three times as a partnership and once with Grant on his own.

William Pike was aboard two of their winners and takes the ride on Storyville who has impressed taking out the G3 Champion Fillies S. and the G2 Western Australian Guineas at her last two outings.

Gallery: Some of the well-fancied runners in the G1 Northerly S. at Ascot

The couple also saddle up Casino Seventeen (Casino Prince) who is one of the six runners to have also lined up in the 2023 running of this race. Also having a second crack are Zipaway (Playing God) who was right in the thick of things when third behind the late Dom To Shoot (Shooting To Win) and Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) and his stablemate Bustler (Playing God) who was a close up fourth.

Marocchino (Maschino), River Rubicon (Rubick), Mojo Rhythm (Playing God) were out of the placings but none of them disgraced.

Democracy Manifest (Flying Artie), Light Infantry Man (Fr) (Fast Company {Ire}) and Super Smink (Super One) are all well-fancied at single-figure odds.

All three contested the G1 Railway S., Super Smink strong to the line finishing third whilst Democracy Manifest and Light Infantry Man did not have the best of luck in the run home.

Gallery: Three runners for the Northerly S. who also contested the G1 Railway S.

Bustler who covered ground in the Railway, Mojo Rhythm who was a solid sixth, Currimundi and Zipaway are all by Playing God who won this race in 2010 and 2011.

He is one of a number of high-quality gallopers with this race on their resume, others including the visitors Family Of Man, Vo Rogue (Ivor Prince {USA}) and Better Loosen Up (Loosen Up {USA}).

As well as the terrific local gallopers Summer Beau (NZ) (Sky Filou {NZ}), Old Comrade (Old Spice) and, two years ago, Amelia's Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}).

G1 Mufhasa Classic - La Crique expected to conquer again

This 1600-metre weight-for-age contest looks another nice race for the high-class, in-form mare La Crique (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) who is favourite to add a third Group 1 to her already impressive record.

Venturing to Brisbane to win a $500,000 event at Eagle Farm in June, the 6-year-old was strong to the line taking out the G2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders S. at just her second run back from a break.

A nine-time winner who has been out of the first five only once during her 22-start career, La Crique is already a dual Group 1 winner at the mile and is clearly the one they all have to beat.

Amongst her main rivals are El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking) who is back in trip after taking out the G3 Balmerino S. over 2000 metres, One Bold Cat (NZ) (The Bold One {NZ}) who boasts a good fresh record; first-up last time in winning the G1 Arrowfield Stud Plate over this same distance, Town Cryer (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) who can also pull out a good fresh run and Pearl Of Alsace (NZ) (Tavistock) who was only just beaten in a Group 2 1600-metres race last time out. She is approaching retirement, racing in foal to Proisir.

Gallery: Some of La Crique's (NZ) main rivals in the G1 Mufhasa Classic at Trentham

Last year won by Desert Lightning (NZ) (Pride Of Dubai) who won the G3 Sandown S. in September for the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman stable, this race was formerly known as the Captain Cook S.

It is a race with plenty of outstanding gallopers on its honour roll, won by the likes of Rough Habit (NZ) (Roughcast {USA}), Tit For Taat (NZ) (Faltaat {USA}) and Mufhasa (NZ) (Pentire {GB}) after whom the race is now named.

Ellerslie's Group 3 races - the Concorde and the Bonecrusher

There are two Group 3 races taking place at Ellerslie on Saturday, the Concorde S. for the sprinters and the Bonecrusher S. for the 3-year-olds.

Contested over 1200 metres, the Concorde sees in the in-form Crocetti (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}) starting a short-priced favourite on the back of his close up fourth fresh in similar company. His overall record is an excellent one; eight wins from 11 starts including last year's G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas.

Crocetti has only six rivals but there is depth to the form of his rivals with dangers including Bonny Lass (NZ) (Super Easy {NZ}) who recorded a soft win in a recent Taupo trial, Sacred Satono (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) who has shown improvement at each run this time in and Babylon Berlin (All Too Hard) who was one of several 7-year-old stakes-winning mares across Australasia over the spring.

She attempts to become the fourth horse to win this race on two occasions, taking it out (when it was run in January) in 2022.

There is also a short-priced favourite in the 1400-metre Bonecrusher S. with Whiskey 'N Roses (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}) catching the eye with a fast-finishing second over the sane trip in Group 2 company at Te Aroha last time out.

Two other runners opened at single-figure odds, Sethito (NZ), a Super Seth daughter of the dual Group 1 winner Suavito (NZ) (Thorn Park) impressing with his recent maiden win and Prosegur (NZ) (Proisir) who has looked good winning two of her first three starts.

The Ballarat Cup - always a popular event

On offer for this Listed 2200-metre contest is $500,000. First run in 1939, it was granted black-type status as soon as the pattern system was introduced in the late 1970s.

Several Group 1 horses have won the race, namely Bold John (John Games {GB}), Lady Mogambo (Woodruffe {GB}), Frozen Section (NZ) (Arctic Explorer {GB}), Gay Filou (NZ) (Le Filou {Fr}), Savage (NZ) (Ruthless {GB}), Kip (NZ) (Forty Winks {Fr}), Playful Princess (Gay Sovereign {GB}) and The Offer (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}).

Four horses have won the Ballarat Cup on two occasions, a feat being chased on Saturday by Bankers Choice (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) who recorded an easy win over Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) two years ago.

Meanwhile Young Werther (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) seeks to go one better than he did when carrying 0.5kg more last year, not having the best of luck in running. Third last year was Just Folk (Magnus) whose trainer Gavin Bedggood saddles up Earlswood (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) whose form is better than his price suggests.

Despite a wide gate, Poison Chalice (NZ) (Savabeel) has opened up favourite having been a brave G3 Eclipse S. second last weekend. Sirileo Miss (Pride Of Dubai) also ran well in that race and she was third in this race behind Bankers Choice.

Berkeley Square (Territories {Ire}) and Muramasa (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Air Assault (Justify {USA}) keep racing well whilst Globe (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) is a chance to make it two country cups in a row having impressively taken out the Listed Cranbourne Cup two weeks ago. It's A Wild Night (NZ) (Vanbrugh) was strongly fancied in that race but did not have a great deal of luck.

Gallery: Some of the runners in the Listed Ballarat Cup

Eagle Farm - a trio of stakes races

Racing is heating up over the Brisbane summer and Eagle Farm hosts three stakes races on Saturday; the Listed Just Now S. over 1300 metres for fillies and mares, the Listed Tails S. over 1500 metres and the Listed Bribie H. for the speedsters over 1000 metres.

The fifth race on the card, the Just Now named in honour of the Queensland (Eureka Stud)-bred G1 AJC Oaks winner, sees Cigar Flick (Churchill {Ire}) open at a very tight quote on the back of her unlucky fast-finishing fifth in the G3 How Now S. at Flemington last month.

Danny's St Darci (All Too Hard) was also sound in that race and consistent in the lead-up whilst the main local chances look to be Trifling (Better Than Ready) who has trialled well in preparation for her return and the lightly raced and promising Socrazyinlove (I Am Invincible).

I Am Artie (Artie Schiller {USA}) has well and truly earned a crack at stakes level, the Paul Jenkins-trained 5-year-old racing in flying form winning six of his seven starts since August.

James Orman has been aboard for all but one of those wins and he certainly knows how to win this race, taking out the last three runnings on Acquitted (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Skyman (GB) (Mukhadram {GB}) and Kukeracha (NZ) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}).

The eighth race of the day, the Bribie, has been taken out two years in a row by the Tony Gollan stable with All That Pizzazz (Spirit Of Boom) and Sneaky Five (Fastnet Rock). This time around he has half the field representing him as well as one of the emergencies.

Zarastro (I Am Invincible) and Golden Boom (Spirit Of Boom) look to be his two main chances, the former resuming off a smart trial victory at Doomben whilst the latter was close up fresh with an excellent overall record.

Gallery: Tony Gollans' two main chances in the Listed Bribie H.

Another Gollan runner of interest is Cannonball (Capitalist) who debuts for the stable. Previously under the care of Peter and Paul Snowden, he has raced just twice since a trip to last year's Royal Ascot meeting but certainly has the ability to feature here.

As does the Group 1 comeback galloper Rothfire (Rothesay) and the promising Shalaa's Moment (Shalaa {Ire}), winner of half of his first 14 starts.

The Juveniles - five races across Australasia

There is no black-type action for them on Saturday but the cards at Ballarat, Eagle Farm, Ascot, Morphettville and Trentham all kick off with races for the 2-year-olds.

An 1100-metre VOBIS event kicks off Ballarat Cup Day with three of the acceptors having raced before including the impressive Bendigo winner Hello Romeo (NZ) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}).

Highstrung (NZ) (Admire Mars {Jpn}) and Neverenoughlego (Ole Kirk) are jump-out winners for first-season sires and also successful in that regard is Aleppo Pine (Blue Point {Ire}) who won a Flemington heat.

Highstrung is the race's most expensive purchase, secured for NZ$180,000 by Busuttin Young Racing and Group 1 Bloodstock at the New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale. At the opposite end of the scale, also by a young stallion, is the $800 Inglis Digital purchase Stars Aligned (Lucky Vega {Ire}).

A trial winner since his debut second in early November, the $800,000 Magic Millions graduate Lockyer (I Am Invincible) is favourite at Eagle Farm, in Race 1, where one his main dangers is his stablemate Formula Rossa (Spirit Of Boom) was in the thick of things at her first start at the Sunshine Coast.

First-season sire Cool Aza Beel (NZ) is represented by Cool Archie who ran well at debut whilst four of the 11 runners are by Lyndhurst Stud's speedster Better Than Ready.

Three of the eight Ascot 2-year-old runners have already faced the starter though none of those featured in the placings. Castle Road (Safeguard) and Do I Feel Lucky (Dirty Work) have trialled well for their young sires.

Tiz Worthy (Hanseatic) is odds-on in the Adelaide race having been so desperately unlucky when debuting with a Bendigo third as favourite in mid-November. The most strongly fancied of the first starters is Norse Warrior (Royal Meeting {Ire}), a recent Pakenham jump-out winner.

There are two winners amongst the two raced horses contesting the Trentham race and one of those, Too Sweet (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) has opened up as an odds-on favourite. Overcoming trouble in running when saluting at the same track in late October, she has been kept up to the mark with a trial victory at Foxton.