The first of three Group 3 events on the Ascot program this Saturday afternoon will be the $200,000 R.J. Peters Stakes, where 10 runners will do battle over 1500m.
Grant & Alana Williams-trained Alsephina, who claimed her first Group 3 victory earlier this year in the La Trice Classic, will have to carry the top weight of 59kg.
The lightly raced five-year-old mare returned to the racetrack in the Group 3 Asian Beau Stakes, where she was sent around as a heavily backed favourite with online bookmakers but was unable to get past Marocchino and finished in second place.
The only other Group 3 winner in the race is Admiration Express, who was a dominant winner on this day last year in the W.A. Champion Fillies Stakes over 1600m as a three-year-old.
The Jason Miller-trained mare kicked off her campaign in the Asian Beau Stakes, where she finished ninth of 10 and was beaten more than three lengths by Alsephina.
Magnificent Andy claimed the first Listed victory of his 21-start career when winning the Listed Hannans Handicap at Kalgoorlie two starts.
Daniel & Ben Pearce will have two runners in the R.J. Peters Stakes, with last-start Northam Cup winner Let’s Galahvant and Listed Belmont Classic winner Black Fantasy both seeking their maiden Group 3 success.
The 2023 R.J. Peters Stakes will be the fourth race of the day and is scheduled to jump at 2:28pm AWST.
R.J. Peters Stakes 2023 field
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