The locals may have their hands full preventing the defending champion Viddora from retaining her G1 Crown Perth Winterbottom S. title at Ascot on Saturday.

The gifted mare has pleased trainer Lloyd Kennewell in her lead-up work and from a handy gate, regular rider Joe Bowditch should be able to slot the daughter of I Am Invincible into the ideal spot.

Viddora has added to her Group 1 tally since her last trip to Perth when she triumphed in the G1 Moir S. at Moonee Valley and her chances in The Everest were then dashed when she couldn’t act on a heavy Randwick track.

She hasn’t raced since, Kennewell opting instead to trial her at Cranbourne where she won her open 990 metre heat.

Forgive performance

Enticing Star (Testa Rossa) suffered the first defeat of her career when unplaced in the G2 Lee Steere S. at her last appearance, but given she had reeled off eight prior wins she can be forgiven.

Trainer Adam Durrant has since trialled the mare and she won that too, but jockey William Pike will have to pull out another masterly ride from a wide gate.

By contrast, Malibu Style (Magnus) has drawn well and his recent Victorian form was sound with a fourth in the G2 Caulfield Sprint, sixth in the Listed Absolut S. and he then won the Listed Doveton S.

He will need to go to another level, but is at the top of his game and could offer some value.

Young talent

The 3-year-old Valour Road (Frost Giant {USA}) is the interesting runner and while he takes on older opposition, he does drop five and a-half kilos on a top run for fifth from the outside gate in the Listed Belgravia S.

Malaguerra (Magnus) and Voodoo Lad (I Am Invincible) are a pair of proven Group 1 sprinters, but their recent form is questionable while I’ll Have A Bit (Smart Missile) was third in the G1 The Goodwood and two subsequent placings indicate she can again be a major player.

Rosehill will host the running of the G3 Festival S. and in a particularly even line-up the rain-affected going shouldn’t bother last-start Listed winner Pecans (Skilled).

She successfully resumed at Hawkesbury and is a past second-up winner while Kingsguard (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {IRE}) has been freshened since last racing and has gone well in that state before.

Wet track form

Spectroscope (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) has two runs under his belt and as a past heavy track winner he could be worth consideration at odds.

The Listed ATC Cup looks a good option for the Chris Waller-trained mare Savacool (NZ) (Savabeel), who is in a rich vein of form with two wins and two runner-up finishes from her last four appearances.

The stable has a strong hand in the event with Exoteric (GB) Champs Elysees {GB}) and Abdon (GB) (Cacique {FR}) both also boasting strong recent displays.

Spending To Win (Snitzel) was out of sorts last time, but he had previously beaten the talented Eduardo (Host {CHI}) and he’s worth giving another chance in the Listed Starlight S.

Tyzone makes appeal

At Doomben, Toby Edmonds’ Tyzone (Written Tycoon) gave a good account of himself when resuming and he might be the horse to follow in the G3 TAB George Moore S.

He finished fourth in the Listed Keith Noud and will meet the winner Most Important (I Am Invincible) better off in the weights and should be improved for the outing.

Victorem (I Am Invincible) and I’m A Rippa (Love Conquers All) were also minor placegetters in the Noud and can be expected to be competitive once again.

Whisky Shooter (Sebring) has made the trip from Sydney for black type in the Listed Mark Cotterell Mode S. She has won two of her four starts and will have Damien Browne in the saddle for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.

Class performer

In New Zealand, the G3 Eagle Technology S. sees Giovanni Canaletto (IRE) (Galileo {IRE}) makes his second appearance for trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott.

The former G1 Irish Derby and G1 Hong Kong Derby placegetter was an encouraging fourth in an open sprint in his first appearance for the Matamata duo and the step up to a mile will suit him at this stage.

Love Affair (NZ) (Savabeel) didn’t get the rub of the green when she was fifth in the G2 Tauranga S. and the roomier Ellerslie course will help her.

Rocket Fuel (Smart Missile) boasts strong form lines to consider for the Listed Trevor Eagle Memorial following her third behind Avantage (Fastnet Rock) in the G3 Gold Trail S. and a runner-up finish behind subsequent G1 NZ 1000 Guineas winner Media Sensation (I Am Invincible) in the G3 Soliloquy S.

Further south in the Listed Cambridge Thoroughbred Lodge Wanganui Cup, former Australian galloper Raw Impulse (Makfi {GB}) makes appeal. He was a last-start third in the G3 Thompson H. and a step up in trip should be in his favour.