2021 Karrakatta Plate Up for Grabs

Next month’s Gr2 Karrakatta Plate (1200m) is looming as one of the most open renewals in its long history. Perth’s most famous 2YO feature, which used to be a Group 1, will bring together a hotly contested field of WA’s best young sprinters. According to thewest.com.au, last Saturday’s Listed Gimcrack Stakes at Ascot created more questions than answers, when bull-like filly Pat’s Got Sass (Patronize-Sassy Flyer, by Due Sasso) over-raced and was trapped out on a limb three-wide before finishing strongly for third place. By that stage, the bird had metaphorically flown, but not before needing to extricate herself from a bunched pack. Eachway chance Hoi An (Long Ma-M’Lady Hallowell, by Wanted), who’d flagged her potential with a fast-closing placing in the Supremacy Stakes, shot clear once she saw daylight and now has to be considered a big chance in the Karrakatta Plate. Hoi An is by well-bred stallion Longma (Sebring-Yes She Can Cancan, by Canny Lad), a winning half-brother to Australian-bred Gr1 Queen’s Plate winner (South Africa) and subsequent leading stallion Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready). Equally talented juvenile filly Policiere (Safeguard-Magnifique Lass, by More Than Ready) filled the runner-up slot in the Gimcrack and will also be among lukewarm fancies in a Karrakatta market that has Pat’s Got Sass at $5.50, with at least $8 and better available about the rest.