With the favourite out, the Aquanita Stakes shapes as an Opportunistic outing for some of WA’s three-year-olds

With the omission of nominal favourite Opportunistic, the door has opened for a budding three-year-old stayer to capture the crown in Saturday’s Listed $125,000 Aquanita Stakes (2019m) at Bunbury. Following decisive triumphs in both the Raconteur Stakes and Belmont Guineas and an unbeaten record intact, Opportunistic appeared almost over the line in the Aquanita. But after appearing to ‘train off’, he was taken out at acceptances and has thrown the betting market wide open despite only a field of seven facing the starter. Elite Missile and Our Paladin Al are both $3.20 TABtouch co-favourites and have displaced former elect Redback Flyer, who has esaed to $3.80. Elite Missile came from behind Opportunistic in the Raconteur and only went down by a head, though I’m not sure he would’ve ever gotten past. He followed that up with a third placing in the Guineas, running home stoically from last to be a two-and-a-half-length third. Our Paladin Al is a major class riser but was a certain black-book entry last start when rocketing from the back to be beaten only a length, finishing fourth in a 60+ ratings event over 1600m. Prior to that, he had recorded back-to-back wins in maiden grade and a Class 3 with Russell Stewart declaring that he might already be his best horse in training. Redback Flyer won three in a line between April 3 and May 3, following a similar progression to that shown more recently by Our Paladin Al. After a quick break, he resumed in the Guineas where he finished a four-length fourth after parking midfield and grinding his big frame home up the straight. Although Opportunistic will not be present, it does not mean that Peters Investments and Michael Grantham will be devoid of winning claims as Arcadia Park ($6) looks to fill the shoes of his star stablemate. The Ocean Park gelding has progressed from a first-up fourth over 1200m with a runner-up effort over a mile before his last-start win over the same trip. That day, he sat outside the leader after working over from a high draw and took the front on the bend. He then kept up his momentum deep in the straight and proved too hard to pass. After a first-up win over 1200m, Patron Express($13) appeared in for a potentially lucrative campaign. However, after being beaten at $1.50 at his next start and another defeat again at the hands of Rally The Troops at his next appearance, his colours had been lowered. He hit back in the Raconteur, running gamely from near last to be fourth and two and a half lengths behind Opportunistic. But with almost a month between runs and a notable rise from 1400m to 2019m, it seems he too has had a segmented preparation. Bondi Bay ($15) couldn’t match his rivals for early pace and was towards the tail of the field before working home soundly behind Arcadia Park last outing. Metalic Marlin ($51) will go down as the first-ever winner at the Bunbury Fibre Sand circuit, breaking through at start 12. Later, last week’s winner Fancy Red ($1.95) leads the call for the Listed $125,000 Belmont Oaks (2019m) and has built a terrific affinity with William Pike this preparation. Saluting at four of her last six starts, all with Pike in the saddle, Fancy Red sat midfield before releasing an irresistible burst along the fence to score over 1400m last week. She stretched out to 1600m three starts ago when third and a half-length behind Our Paladin Al and has been strongly supported after opening at $2.50. Showlas ($4.20 out to $6) boxed on heartily in the Guineas when fifth and four lengths behind Opportunistic in a coming-of-age performance and now returns to compete against her own sex. Lillian ($10) appeared as a contender after racing midfield in her last-start Northam hit-out but could only grind on fairly into fifth place behind Amazing Cheat, though that was over the sharper 1600m. Kimberley Rose ($11) showed some staying potential when running home from the back to be fourth at Northam over 1600m behind True Player but again is resigned to gate 14. My Harv ($16) was forced to race three wide without cover and only a length behind Vancouver Storm in a mile contest at Northam the day after Kimberley Rose’s showing. Karsavina ($18) has the inside draw and comes out of the same race as My Harv but was out the back in 11th place. However, after being last on straightening, the daughter of Mahuta could find no clear air and went to the line untested for the majority of the straight. Also in her favour is that she has stretched to as much as 2200m when finishing last in the Natasha Stakes behind Machine Gun Gracie. Rosie Can Run ($20) was OK behind Arcadia Park last time when two lengths afield of the winner, while Impressive Jewel ($21) was an eight-length eighth in the Belmont Guineas. Annie Warbucks ($23) won a 1600m Northam maiden on June 25 and had been knocking on the door with three placings from as many starts to open the campaign. Eternal Romance ($23) comes out of the Vancouver Storm event and ground to the line out wide on the track and should appreciate the extra journey. Pretey Royal ($31) is a 14-start maiden and was sent off $1.70 last start and despite running second, could not lay a glove on five-length winner Royal Trooper. Ahh Choux ($51) - bless you - was a half-length behind Tobian at Bunbury on July 6 and also remains a maiden, while Myzoom ($61) follows the same form-line as My Harv but was beaten four and a half lengths more. Gold Enigma ($71) is the market outsider and was beaten two and three-quarter lengths by Metalic Marlin on the fibre sand last week. + In Flight ($2.90) leads the charge for the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield after recording successive wins in the Bright Shadow and Bob Charley, both at Listed level. Kallos ($5.50) resumes and generally stages short preparations, shown her her record of three wins from nine starts when presented first-up. Cleo Cat ($5.50) also shows her best in the early stages of her campaign and has never been beaten first or second-up and despite holding top form, she is now fifth time out. Recommendation ($8.50) who raced like a bomb through this part of the year in 2024, including a victory in this race, has not fired in two runs so far this preparation. New York Lustre ($9) is unbeaten at her last five starts but that stretches across a year period and demonstrates that she has suffered from problems. She has her first start since April here.