rue Chance (Simone Altieri) bounds past its competitors to win the Esperance Real Estate Handicap (1975m) on Saturday. Photos: Greg Symes.
The Esperance Bay Turf Club will hold a High Tea hosted by Lauren’s Larder as part of its Ladies Race Day festivities tomorrow afternoon.
The day will also feature free entry for the females and the hotly contested Fashions on the Field to be held between races two and three, where more than $2000 worth of prizes will be up for grabs.
With the Ladies Day party in full swing off the track the female jockeys will be favoured to dominate on the track.
The Ladies conquered last Saturday’s meeting riding the entire card, including doubles to Simone Altieri and Tash Faithfull.
Casey Hunter, Kyra Yuill and Kristy Bennett rounded out the victors for last week’s Australia Day program.
Altieri looks well placed for more success uniting with Port Kennedy trainer Anthony Barton aboard Rouges Point, Choixway and Universal Playboy.
In a possible guide to the last race of the day, the Eljays Bar and Restaurant Handicap over 1200 metres at 5.11pm, Altieri has chosen to ride Universal Playboy instead of last week’s Maiden winner Demetrious, which will be ridden by Mollie Clark.
Leading provincial rider Faithfull will once again join up for the meeting with Helen Harding aboard Manganui, Driftalot, Cocoon Bay, Crunchy Nut, Everlasting Spirit and Marybee.
Yuill has had four winners from 13 starts at the Esperance Bay track this season and has a strong book of rides including Aweemaway, Boozeroo and Favious.
West Coast Warrior, a runner-up at its last three starts at the EBTC with Lisa Staples onboard, will be looking to go one better in race six the Cleanaway Handicap over 1600 metres at 4.33pm.
Staples is generally not too far away from the winner’s stall at the EBTC and will combine again with the Gary Burger-trained five-year-old So You Think Gelding.
However, the boys could spoil the girls’ party on Saturday as Zephen Johnston-Porter, Brandon Louis, John Kissick and Scott Gittos all have rides at the meeting.
Looking for his first winner at the Esperance Bay track this season after returning to the saddle earlier this year after a sixteen week injury-enforced layoff, Johnston-Porter will partner up with this season’s leading trainer Josh Brown aboard Sugared Up in the opening event at 1.22pm, the Esperance Retravision Maiden over 1600 metres.
Brown and Johnston-Porter will also combine forces in the last event of the day with a two time winner this season, Royal Accolade.
The well-travelled jockey Kissick returns to the WA jockey ranks after a short stint in NSW, riding Sure Thing for David Smith in race three and Kick A Goal Son for Paul Tapper in race four.
