The fourteen horses contesting the inaugural edition of the $4 million The Quokka slot-race in WA this Saturday have been confirmed with markets led by Group 1 winning filly Amelia’s Jewel.

Bella Nipotina represents Ladbrokes in Saturday’s $4 million The Quokka 2023 race field. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Amelia’s Jewel is dominant favourite in The Quokka 2023 betting at $2.60 through Ladbrokes following her effortless first-up success in the Group 3 Roma Cup (1100m) at the Ascot track a fortnight back.

Simon Miller’s gun three-year-old is now tipped to keep the wins coming up in distance after defeating a number of The Quokka horses in her campaign kick-off.

The extra metres and fitness only should serve the progressive filly well after she won the Group 2 WA Guineas (1600m) – Group 1 Northerly Stakes (1800m) double over further last time in.

Follow Amelia’s Jewel in The Quokka betting for the first ever edition of the weight-for-age sprint at $3.80 is Queenslander Uncommon James.

He jumps one on the outside of the filly from gate 10 with Ben Thompson to ride the Steven O’Dea & Matthew Hoysted-trained in-form Group 1 Oakleigh Plate winning four-year-old.

The airborne Brisbane-based star was also good in his lead-up performance finishing runner-up to Mariamia in the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill on March 18.

Leaders in online betting Ladbrokes look well represented in The Quokka field with the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Bella Nipotina filling their slot as a $7 shot in the latest markets.

The classy Pride Of Dubai mare jumps from gate six with Ben Melham continuing associations.

She has run three times this autumn for two Group 1 placings in Melbourne including a last start second to Imperatiz in the William Reid Stakes at The Valley.

Saturday sees her race in Perth for the first time with the $3.49 million earner looking for her first turf triumph since a nearly five-length Moonee Valley Group 1 success in last October’s Manikato.

Rounding out the hopes under $10 in The Quokka odds post-acceptances is the Henry Dwyer-trained Asfoora ($8) third-up in gate 11 with Mitchell Aitken coming aboard for the ride.

The Flying Artie four-year-old has won six of her 10 starts to date and has been strong in her two lead-up performances this autumn when third in the Oakleigh Plate and fourth in The Galaxy.

James Cummings and the Godolphin stable have a starter with veteran eight-year-old Kementari filling the slot held by Sports Entertainment Network (SEN).

The popular 47-start galloper is rated a $21 chance to return to his best form fresh not having won since resuming in the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) at Randwick this time last year.

The Bjorn Baker-trained Overpass and the local Colin Webster-trained Trix Of The Trade are also racing first-up as 20/1 shots in The Quokka.

Trade Fair four-year-old Trix Of The Trade, winner of the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) last November, is unbeaten first-up with a flawless three-from-three record fresh.

He has a strong Ascot track record (10:5-2-1) and killer strike-rate over the distance (4:3-1-0) making him a definite value player this weekend for his slot holders at The Chief Racing Syndicate.

The key The Quokka Day support acts on Saturday are the $500,000 Karrakatta Plate (1200m) and $200,000 The Joey (1200m).

2023 The Quokka Field & Barriers

Table Credit: Racing Australia.