3 minute read

Star filly Blackwood gets her chance to confirm herself at the top of the 3YO tree when set to contest the Group 3 W.A. Champion Fillies Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

A dominant winner of the Burgess Queen Stakes last start, the daughter of Blackfriars returned a new career peak and is clearly heading in the right direction.

Unbeaten in her first four starts, Blackwood tasted her first defeat in the Belgravia Stakes when hitting the line strongly behind Perfect Reflection.

The latter was absent in the Burgess Queen, however the step up to the mile looks to swing the race firmly back in Blackwood's favour.

During her maiden preparation she exploded when tried beyond 1400m and gives the impression she will keep improving as she gets out over further.

The current favourite for the WA Guineas, Blackwood is the highest rated 3YO in Perth and remains open to further improvement moving forward.

No knock on Perfect Reflection, but the fact she has to make the rise from 1200 to a mile off close to a four week break is simply low percentage.

Added in the fact she has drawn wide we are more than happy to take her on.

Drawn favourably on the inside Blackwood looks to receive all the favours and is likely to settle just off the speed.

Currently marked the $2.30 favourite appears short enough, however if priced aggressively we have marked odds-on.

The Grant Williams trained Mississippian returned a new career peak at this track last start and looks very hard to beat in the final event.

A winner of three of his five starts since joining the Grant Williams stable this season, the son of Oratorio continues to raise the bar.

While his racing pattern is low percentage, he looks to get the speed on upfront and should prove very hard to hold out late.

Currently installed a 5-2 chance appears a more than worthy gamble as if priced on predictive ratings we have him marked closer to 6-4.

The Wizard has placed in seven of 10 attempts aboard the four-year-old and this season is striking at 42 per cent with the Williams stable.

The old adage "winners keep winning" should hopefully leave us in good stead following the get-out stakes.

BET OF THE DAY (1): Race 5 #1 Blackwood @ $2.30

BET OF THE DAY (2): Race 8 #10 Mississippian @ $3.50