Star filly Talkanco, crowned last season's two-year-old of the year, makes her highly anticipated return to the track this Sunday in the $125,000 WA Breeders' Classic (1200m) at Bunbury. The Listed feature race serves as a crucial stepping stone for the talented mare, who is poised to add further black-type accolades to her impressive resume before embarking on an ambitious eastern states campaign.
A Stellar Juvenile Career
The I'm All The Talk progeny announced herself as a serious talent with a breathtaking victory in the 2025 Karrakatta Plate (1200m), charging home from midfield to secure an exhilarating length triumph. She continued her winning ways as a spring three-year-old, clinching a narrow victory in the Max Simmonds Classic (1000m). While unplaced in the subsequent Belgravia Stakes (1200m), she demonstrated her consistency with a close second in the Burgess Queen Stakes (1400m) and another runner-up finish in the Champion Fillies' (1600m), bravely tackling the distance for the first time.
Recent Trial and Race Preparations
Under the guidance of regular rider Brad Parnham, Talkanco contested a Belmont trial on January 19. Settling in fifth position, approximately two and a half lengths behind the leader Horcrux, she encountered traffic issues until the 200m mark. Parnham eased her to the outside, becoming more animated in the saddle, but she was again restricted for running inside the 100m, coasting home to finish almost three lengths adrift. Co-trainer Ben Pearce expressed initial uncertainty about the trial but noted Parnham's satisfaction, stating they deliberately did not ask too much of her.
"We're confident with her work and she's come through the trial well," Pearce said. "The plan is to head east with her in a similar line of races to Angelic Ruler. If you line her up with Angelic Ruler, Talkanco has done a lot more before making the trip."
Race Day Challenges and Market Favouritism
This weekend's assignment presents significant challenges, as Talkanco must overcome both a weight penalty and the outside barrier draw of nine. Her rating, accumulated through four wins from nine starts, sees her carry 57kg as the $2.80 TABtouch favourite. This is 1kg more than the gelding Watto's Mark ($3.80) and 2kg more than the highly credentialled Playin'it Sweet ($3.60), who are expected to dispute market supremacy.
Key Rivals in the Field
Watto's Mark arrives fresh off a dashing victory at Ascot last Saturday, steaming away by almost two lengths. Champion jockey William Pike takes the reins, replacing Keshaw Dhurun, who has ridden the chestnut in both of his race appearances. Playin'it Sweet, who narrowly defeated Talkanco in the Burgess Queen Stakes, boasts earnings exceeding half-a-million dollars with five wins from ten starts. While spelled and absent from the Champion Fillies', she brings race fitness to the contest, having raced twice this calendar year.
Her recent form includes a defeat by Prospector's Pick on New Year's Day and a narrow loss to Our Naughty Secret ($20) in another 1200m event, where she endured a tough transit three wide without cover. She renews her partnership with top jockey Lucy Fiore and has drawn slightly better in barrier seven.
Eastern Ambitions and Historical Precedent
The long-term strategy for Talkanco mirrors the successful campaign of Angelic Ruler, who after winning the 2019 Breeders' Classic, immediately placed in Melbourne's Armanasco (1400m), Kewney (1400m), and Alexandra Stakes (1600m). This historical precedent provides a blueprint for Talkanco's potential success on the eastern racing circuit.
Untapped gelding Linchpin ($6) heads the remaining starters, having debuted with a 1400m victory before succumbing to Wembanyama in early October.
Weekend Pacing Highlight
In other racing news, pacing punters have rallied behind Kingman for Saturday's Group 1 Cranbourne Gold Cup (2555m). He aims to uphold his strong record against Leap To Fame, despite being defeated by him in last weekend's Ballarat Cup. Leap To Fame led comfortably to beat the wayward Kingman, with Swayzee also presenting as a contender in the feature event.
