Provincial gallopers get their chance at $100,000 glory in Provincial Championship Series Final at Belmont

West Australian

15-05-2025

One provincial class galloper will have their day in the sun this Saturday when a capacity 16-horse field take the $100,000 Racing WA Provincial Championship Series Final (1400m) at Belmont
Eight heat winners are among the line-up, with Narrogin qualifier winner Platinum Shot leading the TABtouch market at $3.70.
On March 30, the mare began brilliantly before taking cover just off the pace and threading a way through once straightening.
Under Tash Faithfull, the four-year-old romped clear for a comfortable two-and-a-half length success and defeated Like No Other ($31) and Speed Bubble ($19).
Two subsequent starts have reaped runner-up performances, the last of which was a half-length defeat to Madame Magic at Ascot two weeks ago.
Treble Maker ($3.80) took her Kalgoorlie qualifier on May 3 when handled by apprentice Ava Catarino.
She sat third from last and travelled strongly into the contest before working clear into the straight and storming home to gather up Sure Thing - who had stolen a march – to win by a length.
Secret Attire ($14), the winner's Peter Fernie stablemate, was held in third place.
It brought up back-to-back wins for Treble Maker in successive weeks and she will now be taken over by senior rider Lucy Fiore.
Camera Action ($5) is the latest qualifier for the series, going under as a $1.90 favourite at Northam as recently as Sunday.
Near the back and wide, Brad Parnham pulled the mare to the outside upon cornering and the four-year-old quickened into the lead.
However, Manhattan Strip burst through the pack and proved too good over the late stages, scoring by more than half a length.
In-form apprentice Brayden Gaerth takes the reins on Camera Action but must overcome gate 17, which will become 16 should Ton Of Grunt ($17) fail to gain a start.
Psycho Sista ($9.50) began on roller-skates at Pinjarra two weeks ago when flying to the front before being challenged by Uukhai.
Notwithstanding her fighting effort, Psycho Sista was overcome by both Uukhai and winner Six Shooter to be beaten a length and a half.
It was her first run since late last year and encouraged supporters that she will have the speed to make light work of gate 12.
Although he only ran eighth in his Mount Barker heat back on February 9 and is the first emergency, Vomo Island ($10) has enhanced his reputation with a last-start win and placings at two of his three other subsequent runs.
Shaun McGruddy replaces apprentice Rosie Mahony but will have his work cut out from barrier 18.
Belta Of A Song ($16) was further behind Six Shooter in the Bunbury event, marking her first race appearance since winning three straight events late in 2024. She finished one position ahead of Ton Of Grunt to secure her place in the field.
Looks ($21), like Platinum Shot and co, also ventured to Narrogin and scored his qualifier on April 10.
There, he sat behind The Coolakin King and proved too strong over the concluding part, striking away to score by a length.
He since ran last of eight at Ascot on May 3 in the race that featured Platinum Shot.
Uncle Gerard ($23) was fifth to Six Shooter, while Top Of The Pops ($26) was fourth to Looks before running second at York.
First Law ($26) brings far-flung form, landing the prize at Esperance. On March 2, he was shuffled all the way back to near last rounding the turn before starting an ambitious run from the tail.
He sustained a long and strong finishing burst to come over the top and win, running away to prevail by three quarters of a length.
Placings at Albany following that were heartening but struggled against a tough line-up last week when ninth to Supernatural at Ascot.
Top Fun ($26) was fifth to Platinum Shot before a third and fourth at Kalgoorlie, while Snazzler was a last-start eighth to Six Shooter.
The three market outsiders have the distinction of contesting multiple heats, with Defiant Diorite ($31) third to Looks and fourth to Treble Maker.
Like No Other ($31) was second to Platinum Shot and his sixth to Six Shooter was split by a seventh at Ascot.
Pro Is Here ($71) was ninth in the Mount Barker heat, fourth in the Albany edition, and fifth at Northam behind Manhattan Strip on the weekend.
+ Gee Heza Sport, a late nomination for Saturday's $35,000 TABtouch Narrogin Cup (2662m), is sure to have a stranglehold over the betting for the Listed feature after chief danger Penny Black drew the second row.
Gee Heza Sport, who was second in The Nullarbor and third in the Fremantle Cup, has proven himself up to the best pacers in WA and should force forward from his high draw (six) to pursue the front.
Longreach Bay (gate five) is blessed with tremendous gate speed and is sure to rush forward to obtain a key position.
Whilst that could mean Gee Heza Sport is left in the breeze at least initially, Penny Black (barrier nine) is sure to want to get close to the action.
One of the toughest horses in training, Penny Black is rated far superior to Gee Heza Sport (120 vs 102) and was destined to draw worse than her arch-rival.
She found the front mid-race last week and ground out victory in the WASBA Breeders' Stakes over her female counterparts.
Feeling Aces (gate one) is the only horse to reappear from last year's cup, pushing Pinny Tiger to a head margin after sitting on the leader's back.
+ Impressive heat winner Ruby Lovera is expected to be hard to beat in the Group 3 $50,000 Westral 3yo Fillies Diamond Classic (2130m) at Gloucester Park on Friday.
From gate two, she reunites with regular reinsman Gary Hall Jr, who has returned from an Exmouth holiday to drive the youngster.
Trent Wheeler partnered the daughter of Sweet Lou when winning her heat, coming from the back to score.
Ruby Lou (gate 11) will follow her out and caught the eye when flashing into third behind Reinette (seven) and Ruby Lovera's stablemate Poppyonthebeach (nine) in another heat.
Delulu (eight) galloped as the $1.40 favourite in Ruby Lovera's qualifier but still performed stoically, finishing fourth.