In-form trainer Roy Rogers will have a two-pronged attack in the Group 2 $500,000 Karrakatta Plate at Ascot

Albany trainer Roy Rogers believes Hoi An and Heavenly Waters can both finish in the top three of the Group 2 $500,000 Karrakatta Plate (1200m) on Saturday. Fellow local trainer Steve Wolfe will also saddle up Ex Sport Man in the two-year-old feature at Ascot. Rogers tasted his first Group success with Hoi An last start, while Heavenly Waters won on debut last year. Hoi An, a Longma filly, charged home to win the Group 3 $150,000 Gimcrack Stakes on March 20 and is yet to miss the placings from four career starts. However, the filly will have a new rider engaged, with Clint Johnston-Porter taking the reins from the suspended Shaun O’Donnell. The pair have been dealt a blow, drawing the outside alley, and will carry 54.5kg in the field of 16. Heavenly Waters, a Headwater filly, was an impressive winner on debut in the $100,000 Crystal Slipper on November 11 and ran second in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic before unplaced runs in the listed Supremacy Stakes and Gimcrack Stakes. Lucy Warwick retains the ride, and the pair will carry 54.5kg from barrier six. “It’s the ultimate for any trainer to have two horses in these sort of races,” Rogers said. “It’s my dream to have good-quality two-year-olds racing at Group level. “I expect them to be both strong top-three chances. They are both live chances. I thought Hoi An was the standout but after their work I can’t split them. “The forgotten horse (Heavenly Waters) drew a good gate and Hoi An drew a bit sticky but there is plenty of good horses to follow that have drawn wide.” Hoi An has drifted to $10 on TABtouch while Heavenly Waters is rated a $29 chance. Wolfe will be looking for redemption after finishing a narrow second in the same race last year with Watch Me Dance. Ex Sport Man was a brilliant winner of the Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic (1200m) and then ran sixth in the listed Perth Stakes 1100m a fortnight ago first-up. The Playing God gelding received a boost at Tuesday’s barrier draw, coming up with gate one and is rated a $12 chance. However, his chances were dealt a blow after rider Shaun McGruddy injured his back in a fall at trackwork yesterday and was unable to fulfil his rides at Bunbury. But McGruddy is optimistic about his chances of taking the mount on Ex Sport Man come Saturday.