Racing: They're ready to race in Bunbury

South West trainer Mark Bairstow will be looking for star mare Sparta Dame to recapture the form she exhibited in the region last season, when racing returns to the Bunbury Turf Club with the Radio West Race Day this afternoon.

Sparta Dame went on a blistering run between November 2009 and Australia Day earlier this year when she placed in six consecutive starts, half of those wins, at Bunbury.

They were results that saw the four-year-old win the Horse of the Year accolade in Bunbury, but since then her pickings have been slim.

Jockey Clint Harvey will ride Sparta Dame in today’s Radio West Handicap (1420m), and can expect strong competition from favourite Torbell and the Sharon Miller-trained Steves Pick.

In the Locker Room with Glenn & Dan Maiden (1200m), short-priced favourite Metal Talk could be pushed by Helenus gelding Fortescue Flyer, and the Brett Pope-trained Sequalo System.

Meanwhile, emerging apprentice Damian Lane will be looking to return to the winners’ list when he takes the reins of favourite Isabella Maree in the Rocktober Handicap (1200m).

Lane, whose father Michael trains the mare, enjoyed success with Isabella Maree in trials at Lark Hill during July and August, and claimed the Jacob’s Creek Sparkling Handicap (1100m) in Bunbury earlier this year.

He appears due for a win after a trio of fourth-placed finishes in his previous three starts at Belmont Park.

In the Wake Up With Cliff & Nay Handicap, Incoherent, also trained by Michael Lane, looks hard to beat, while after placing in each of its last five starts, The Sleeping Giant should provide the goods in The Dan & Ken Show Maiden (1420m).