Fred Kersley and William Pike

Top Perth hoop William Pike is winning everything at the moment and so is trainer Fred Kersley. A certainty to win the WA jockeys premiership, (but only because Paul Harvey is out with a crook shoulder), Willie even went to Warrnambool yesterday and rode a double! William's got a top book of rides at Belmont Park on Saturday but perhaps the best value runner amongst them is in the opening event when he jumps on board Danana Smoothie who'll be making her raceday debut for Fred. The filly is a full sister to our own Swiss Watch so we're hoping she can win first up and give the family a bit of a kick along!

Marasco Lands in Melbourne

Another potential champ for WA..

Western Australia's latest boom galloper Marasco has landed safe and sound in Melbourne on his way to a run in the Group 1 Australian Cup. Trainer Fred Kersley has plans to run Marasco first up in Melbourne this Saturday in the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes against a star studded line up of high quality horses.

At Caulfield trackwork this morning, Marasco worked from the 1000 metres at even-time and picked up pace to run the last 600 metres in 36 seconds and the last 400 metres in 25 seconds. “The times were nothing out of the box, but the work was excellent,” track rider and Kersley stable foreman Paul Dyson said.

A winner at six of his last seven starts, Marasco's followers will get the opportunity to secure a decent price on their horse as he lines up against some of Australia's best! One has to remember that this Saturdays isn't Marasco's main goal, but it'll certainly tell us all where he's at in relation to the other top liners who have already proven themselves at the elite Group 1 level.

- Peter Morley