Racing
Ladbrokes Blog: 2025 Raconteur Stakes Day Preview
The Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap might be the headline act at Eagle Farm on Saturday, but on the other side of the country, the Listed Raconteur Stakes headlines a huge day of racing in Perth. After hosting the footy last week, Bunbury is the place to be with eight races on the program, including the $125,000 middle-distance sprint feature where the Grant and Alana Williams-trained Storyville looks tough to beat.
For more racing and sports previews, visit the Ladbrokes Blog.
For thoughts and best bets across the entire meeting, check out our race-by-race Racounteur Stakes Day Preview by scrolling down below!
RACE 1 - 1:59PM AEST: PRINCE OF WALES HOTEL PLATE (1000 METRES)
The booking of William Pike on PURE EXCESS (7) is significant after the pair ran on late for third on debut at Pinjarra last month.
The daughter to Exceedance was fractious in the gates and a little slow away, spotting the rest of the field a decent margin early on, before making up ground at the 300m mark.
With improvement still to come and another inside gate to their favour, this looks a winnable race with some relief at the weights.
1 Unit Pure Excess (7)
BET NOW: Bunbury Race 1
RACE 2 - 2:34PM AEST: DONNYBROOK GLASS HANDICAP (1000 METRES)
Keen to stick with MY HIDDEN UNIVERSE (5), who goes around second-up for John Doyle off a brilliant win fresh at Belmont a few weeks ago.
The five-year-old by Universal Ruler went around at short odds on his way to saluting by well clear of a length, largely thanks to a well-timed ride by Brandon Louis after the pair were caught three-wide into the turn.
Drawn a slightly better gate this time with solid second-up form lines, there's no reason to hop off, providing he isn't wanting further of course.
1 Unit My Hidden Universe (5)
BET NOW: Bunbury Race 2
RACE 3 - 3:11PM AEST: DONNYBROOK GLASS HANDICAP (1000 METRES)
ASPHALT (2) looks ready for the rise to the mile now coming off a runner-up performance over 1400m a fortnight earlier.
Joshua Krispyn's gelding stalked the speed and went very close to snagging his maiden win, reeling in the leaders over the final furlong where he was denied by only a nose in a head bob.
Third-up now and drawn to get a much cozier run in transit this time, he should be set to run a huge race with Brad Parnham sticking.
1 Unit Asphalt (2)
BET NOW: Bunbury Race 3
RACE 4 - 3:49PM AEST: GREENFIELDS LODGE HANDICAP (1690 METRES)
FIRST ENCOUNTER (7) is a gelding with upside going around for Michael Grantham third-up.
He's had his runs spaced since resuming in early May, given three weeks between starts on his way to finishing third at Northam a couple of weeks ago on a wet day over the mile.
Clint Johnston-Porter has a good feel for the son of Dundeel now and is likely to test his luck early settling well back from the speed. On less of a turnaround and open to natural improvement, I think the pair are the ones to beat.
1 Unit First Encounter (7)
BET NOW: Bunbury Race 4
RACE 5 - 4:40PM AEST: GREENFIELDS LODGE HANDICAP (1690 METRES)
KRAKEN TIME (5) resumes for Mitchell Pateman off a four-week break.
The Universal Ruler five-year-old was strong through the line on return at Ascot last month for third, rattling home late after blowing the start and being forced to make a move wide mid-race.
He's been given a pair of trials to sharpen up between runs and gets the winkers off now hoping to go one or two better.
1 Unit Kraken Time (5)
BET NOW: Bunbury Race 5
RACE 6 - 5:15PM AEST: SWAN DRAUGHT HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
MT SHIRATAKU (8) should have a good deal of support here third-up in search of his hat-trick.
The lightly-raced three-year-old looks to have real ability based on his two runs this time in work, last seen making every post a winner at Pinjarra where he punched clear to win by three lengths ahead of Best Of The Gods, who has since gone on to run well again.
The wide gate will see William Pike adopt similar front-running tactics with the step up to 1400m seemingly proving no challenge at all based on recent efforts.
1 Unit Mt Shirataku (8)
BET NOW: Bunbury Race 6
RACE 7 - 5:49PM AEST: SWAN DRAUGHT HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
STORYVILLE (2) is the class runner in the feature having won at Group 2 and Group 3 level during the spring last year.
She was only plain on retrun at Pinjarra last month beaten nearly three lengths, but keep in mind she spotted the rest of the field close to seven lengths after drawing the carpark.
William Pike sticking is an obvious plus from an inside gate this time, and although her second-up form could be better, she should be bouncing back if she settles handy to the speed this time.
1 Unit Storyville (2)
BET NOW: Bunbury Race 7
RACE 8 - 6:23PM AEST: NIXON ELECTRICAL HANDICAP (1200 METRES)
HELL I AM (3) has improvement to come second-up for Team Williams.
The Hellbent five-year-old finished a distant seventh when resuming at Pinjarra after weakening down the straight, but still warrants big respect after finishing within 2.5 lengths of recent Belmont Sprint winner, The Boss Lady, on Boxing Day last year.
His second-up for isn't much chop, but Jarrad Noske has been in red-hot form of late as he looks to get back around midfield and launch late from barrier 4.
1 Unit Hell I Am (3)
