Feature racing in the West continues on Sunday with the Fitzpatrick Plate the main event at Albany.
The $125,000 feature headlines a competitive card of racing with big fields engaged across the afternoon.
You can catch all the racing and analysis from Albany live and free on 7Plus and Racing WA.
Race 1: CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF JIMMY LEMMON MAIDEN (1000m)
BUSY FINGERS (4) went to Bunbury on debut and was well fancied there on the back of a couple of handy trials coming in. He settled well back and never really got into the race, finishing 4.5L back. Now draws better in an easier race and he looks set to shed the maiden tag. SAILORALONG (2) resumed from a break today without a trial and has switched to the Woollett barn. He was good on debut over this track and trip in February and that effort before taking on stronger company when right in the market. Has some ability and has found a suitable race on resumption. G'DAY BLOKE (1) is ready to peak now third-up after closing off well from a mile back last time out. Form out of that race has been good and he's sure to be finishing off strongly once more. BOX A LOT (6) makes her debut today and has shown some ability at the trials. Can feature with the aid of an inside barrier.
Race 2: CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF RAY OLIVER MAIDEN (1230m)
SETAGAYA (10) had trialled well leading into her debut and jumped an $8.50 chance at Bunbury in a stronger maiden. The form out of that has been solid and she should be better for the maiden effort. Nicely placed and can get the job done this time. I LOVE LUCY A LOT (7) should be hitting peak fitness now third-up after going under as the $2.15 favourite at this track and trip most recently. Connections have booked their strike jockey McGruddy this time around and she's like to have come on with the latest effort. Can be up on the speed again and prove tough to run down. CHEST OUT SWAGGER (2) has performed at a higher level for most of his career and jumped favourite in the same race Setagaya comes through. He fell out of contention badly there, but gets the tongue tie on now and can improve drastically second-up. MISTRESS OF EXCESS (6) won't be far away if she can hold her form. RUPERTS QUEEN (8) is next best.
Race 3: CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF JASON OLIVER HANDICAP (1100m)
SIRIUS STORM (2) just missed at Bunbury two back before a 1.7L over this trip at Bunbury most recently when jumping the equal favourite. He'll find this a little easier today and he is a winner at this track previously. May need some luck from the draw but he looks to have a class edge and that'll take him a long way to winning this. FOXMANIA (1) led and won over 1.7L at this track last time out and drops back to the 1100m journey today. That shouldn't be an issue based off his prior runs and he maps to get every chance from the barrier. He's the main danger if he can hold his form. BEST OF THE GODS (4) stuck on well here first-up in a CL2 and drops back in trip today. McGruddy is booked to ride and he should get his chance from the inside draw once again. Fitter now and is likely to feature. NICCY'S AFFAIR (6) couldn't go on wit the job last time out but ran well enough to suggest the maiden win was no fluke. Include. SONG STORY (3) is next best on the back of a nice trial recently.
Race 4: CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF GLEN SIMPSON HANDICAP (1600m)
SIR BEAR A LOT (2) was only 1.5L off the winner last time out over the 1500m journey following a solid run at the mile prior. Now back out to the mile and he ticks plenty of boxes on his most recent efforts. Should get his chance to win again. CHEYNE BAY (3) dropped back in grade last time out and found one better at Geraldton. Comes down to Albany now but he rates well off the recent efforts and he should be hitting his peak now third-up. Big chance. MAKIN PROPHETS (6) steps up to the mile now third-up into the campaign. He should be getting to his peak fitness now after resuming without a trial. Likely to get back from the barrier but he can storm home over the top of them late. SECRET STONES (1) was too good in a CL2 here last time out and the mile won't be an issue. Can repeat the dose. PECOS (4) is better than he showed last time out and can bounce back.
Race 5: CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF CRAIG WAKE HANDICAP (1500m)
STATE OF FURY (5) disappointed at Belmont two back before a strong effort last time out at Pinjarra, beaten just 0.6L. She'll find this a little bit easier than those efforts and she has the early speed to offset the sticky barrier. Racing in good order and can go one better this time. MAGNABURMA (4) is now third-up into the preparation and bumped into a smart one in a narrow defeat last time out. He's a third-up winner in the past and the wide draw doesn't matter as he'll get back anyway. Can end his winning drought today. STRIKING FELLA (6) just missed by 0.3L at Geraldton last time out and he looks to get a similar run in transit this time around. Wouldn't surprise to see him improve again and that'll have him right in the finish of this race. SHOULDER PATCH (8) resumes today and finds a nice race on the back of two trials. Can feature. MR MT WALKER (7) will find this much easier than his latest outing and won't be far away.
Race 6: TABtouch HONOURING JOCKEYS PAST AND PRESENT HANDICAP (1230m)
MOCHA DREAM (1) was fancied in a stronger race here on resumption and was only beaten 2.8L when ending up worse than midfield in the run. The form out of that has worked out very well and he will find this a much more suitable assignment. Ticks plenty of boxes and he can get back to winning ways. WISE WORDS (4) resumed in good order at Bunbury and steps up to the 1230m today. She's a course and distance winner in the past and if she'll be in the finish if she can run up to her first-up figures. FLYING SOUTH (5) is an improving commodity who was too good on resumption at this track and trip and in this grade. There's been 3 winners come out of that race since and he looks to get a similar run this time around. Building a good record and can win again. FIRST LAW (6) wasn't far away at Esperance last start and has claims. AUDREY GRACE (7) is right in the mix after a couple of good runs recently.
Race 7: TABtouch FITZPATRICK PLATE (1230m)
The feature of the day now and AVOIDANCE (8) goes on top following a brilliant effort at Pinjarra last time out. Stepping up to 1230m is no issue and he has the pace to be prominent from his low barrier. He's beautifully placed on his home track and he's the one to beat. COOL MEMORY (3) is a Listed winner over further last campaign, but he resumed in good order over 1200m in Saturday company last time out. He was 40-1 there, but the form out of the race has been solid and he's placed 2/2 in his second-up efforts. Can use his strength to his advantage. DEFENDING (6) hasn't been far away in recent efforts but will need some luck from an outside barrier. He's been performing strongly in strong races at Ascot and Team Pearce use Faithfull with success. Sure to be in the finish. SUPERSESSION (1) is usually around the mark in races like this and has claims. BAYEZID (2) has trialled well since winning nicely at Geraldton and is a winning hope.
Race 8: CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF FRANK TREEN HANDICAP (1900m)
QUEEN NARDI (7) just missed as Ascot two back before a 3L defeat at Geraldton last time out. She has enough pace to offset the wide alley and Azzopardi riding is a big tick. She looks well placed in this event and she can return to winning ways. ODDONEOUT (6) is knocking on the door of another victory and has been for some time. She was beaten as favourite over 1940m here last time out and she is a versatile galloper Wide draw is a niggle but she's shown she's good enough to feature in a race like this. MISS INTENTION (10) is better than she showed last time out at Pinjarra when going around in an Open event. She'd run well at Ascot prior to that and if she can get back to that level, she'll go close to winning. BIG SWOOP (9) will appreciate the step out in distance and he maps for a lovely run from the barrier. Can put his best foot forward. BENTLEY BEAU (8) can be in the finish stepping out to this distance.
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