Warralea Lass takes big jump to Group 3 company as Steve Wolfe chases upset victory in $300,000 WA Oaks

Maiden galloper Warralea Lass will be out to cause an upset for Albany trainer Steve Wolfe in the $300,000 Drummond Golf WA Oaks (2400m) at Ascot on Saturday. The three-year-old filly has been thrown in the deep end by Wolfe and will contest the Group 3 feature race against the State’s emerging staying crop. Warralea Lass has had eight career starts for two minor placings and is still a maiden galloper. The Playing God filly ran third in Albany to start his latest campaign and was then fifth behind talented stablemate Why Me at his second-up run. At her most recent start Warralea Lass finished third behind Bondi’s Future over 1600m at Belmont on March 20, beaten less than a length. Wolfe pressed on after that performance and they find themselves in a field of 10 for this year’s WA Oaks. Stable rider Shaun McGruddy will be aboard for the feature race, and Warralea Lass has drawn ideally in barrier one. Natasha Stakes and 1000 Guineas winner Own The Queen drew awkwardly in barrier nine for trainer Justine Erkelens and jockey Troy Turner. Other fancied runners in the WA Oaks will be Starating from the Greg Kersley stable and Miss Skyhigh for co-trainers Grant and Alana Williams. It will be a big day for Wolfe and fellow Great Southern trainers on the metropolitan card on Saturday. Promising three-year-old Insyde Success will chase a third career win when he contests the Unite Resourcing Handicap (1200m) with McGruddy in the saddle. Why Me will go around for Wolfe in race five over 1800m, the same race as the Alan Smith-trained Deadly And Fast. Wolfe has a three-pronged attack in the Reliable Asset Maintenance Handicap (1600m) with Knot Secret, The Spruiker and Odinaka all engaged. Albany runner Morgs Freeman is drawn well in the final race for Smith while the Paul Hunter-trained Playing Rio will jump from a wide alley at his second start back from a freshen up. Albany-raised trainer Tom Wolfe will start Battle On Battler and Mack Mack on Saturday.