A bumper 3YO Westbred Classic Fillies field assembled

The preparations for W Night are well underway, with the three-year-old heats run and won on Monday August 26 at Pinjarra, and the three-year-old harness racing feature promises to be quite the spectacle.

With three fillies’ heats and two colts and geldings’ heats conducted on the day, the first four in the fillies heats qualified for next weeks finals, and the top six from the colts and geldings heats go through to the $100,000 Westbred Classic on the inaugural W Night, Friday September 6.

Star three-year-old filly Water Lou (Sweet Lou) continued her dominating ways, leading all the way in the first of the heats to claim the first spot in the feature set for trainer Mike Reed and driver Shannon Suvaljko.

Reed goes into the $100,000 classic with two hopes, with stablemate Lion Queen claiming third place in the same heat on the day.

Nase Vira gained access into the feature when she ran second in the opening heat, beaten just 2.2m for trainer/driver Dylan Egerton-Green.

Heartofahlia claimed the final spot for the final from the first heat for trainer David Young, but she will be looking for a new driver in the final, with Aiden De Campo qualifying Miss Hepburn with the last start WA Country Oaks winner claiming the second heat on the day.

Heat two on Monday at Pinjarra saw Sugar Delight finish just behind Miss Hepburn, beaten just 2.8m on her return to racing after she last started back in May in the 3YO Diamond Classic, finishing fifth in the $50,000 feature.

Driven by Chris Lewis, the Barry Howlett trained filly has had just the five race starts now, for two wins and two second placings.

I Cross My Heart (Terry Atkins/Aldo Cortopassi) and race favourite Loch Tay (Mike Williams/Ryan Warwick) take spots three and four from the second heat to go through to next weeks final.

De Campo has qualified two fillies for the race, with Copy Cat Queen going all the way to win the third and final heat for the trainer/driver.

Double Westbred World Secret earned her spot in the final when she finished second in the final heat for trainer Kat Warwick, driven by Chris Lewis. Lewis will have decision to make, after qualifying two horses for next weeks feature.

Last start winner Atlantic Gem goes through to the final for Ryan Bell and Deni Roberts, finishing just 5.2m behind Copy Cat Queen, but well ahead of race favourite Xceptional Arma, who was the final qualifier of the race.

The Colin Brown trained and Dylan Egerton-Green driven was in the breeze for the majority of the race, beaten 17.3m on the line, but after winning the westbred classic last year as a two-year-old, they’ll be hoping for a repeat performance.

Maddison Brown will be back on board for the final.

The Field:

Atlantic Gem (Downbytheseaside)

Copy Cat Queen (My Hard Copy)

Heartofahlia (Art Major)

I Cross My Heart (My Hard Copy)

Lion Queen (Control The Moment)

Loch Tay (Fear The Dragon)

Miss Hepburn (Ultimate Machete)

Nase Vira (Alta Christiano)

Sugar Delight (Bettor’s Delight)

Water Lou  (Sweet Lou)

World Secret (Rock N Roll World)

Xceptional Arma (American Ideal)

Em1:Bazaar Package (Ultimate Machete)

Em2: Rock Rosie Rock (Rock N Roll Heaven)

by Ashleigh Paikos, for RWWA