Supporters of Wotchinyu can expect another strong performance in the Mio Fratello Handicap (1000m) at Carnarvon on Saturday, despite the three-year-old lumping top weight of 61kg.
The Balestrini gelding has made an impressive start to his racing career and with an ounce of luck he could easily be undefeated from three career starts to date.
He stepped out for his first appearance at Geraldton last April and impressed when he led from barrier-to-post to win by a dominant 2 ¼ lengths over his nearest rival.
At his first visit on the Massey Bay course in Carnarvon he was edged by a nose before bouncing back and winning by over four lengths in a 1000 metre contest last fortnight.
Wotchinyu, to be ridden by experienced Perth jockey Shaun Meeres, will be in a prominent position from barrier two and will take some catching out in front.
Geraldton trainer Graeme Hammarquist can commence the meeting on a winning note with Typhoon Strike in the Good Paddock Restaurant Maiden (1200m).
The Hurricane Sky gelding finished strongly when a nose second to Sexy City last fortnight and will be improved by the extra 200 metres.
Law Rain rates highly in the Bob Levitt Memorial Handicap (1200m), particularly if he can reproduce his effort from two starts back when he demolished the field by six lengths.
He never got near Navello two weeks ago when second and beaten a long way, but it was no disgrace in chasing home a horse who is in red-hot form.
Neverbeenworse is the only horse to have inflicted a defeat on Wotchinyu and on that basis he has to be rated a top chance in the James Squire One Fifty Lashes Handicap (1200m)
Trainer Noel Pateman will play a strong hand in the feature event, the Gascoyne Hotel Ladies Day Cup (1400m), with Faslight, El Tegra and Flirtsa representing solid claims.
And on a day when the Carnarvon Race Club have named a race in honour of Mio Fratello it would be fitting tribute if his trainer Peter Daly can end the meeting on a winning note with stable mates Fury and Vintage Mo.