Ascot Saturday Perth Racing Preview BY JOSH RODDER Track is a Good (3) as of Thursday morning. The penetrometer is 6.2 (Perth measurements are different from those in the Eastern States, because of a different sand-based track). The rail moves out to 9 metres, from 6 metres on the past two Saturday meetings. There was no midweek racing. The track raced well last Saturday with all horses getting their chance on a firm surface. According to track manager Gordon Menzies there is a good pad of grass for all runners this weekend. The rail will stay at 9m for next Wednesday. They have kept the inside section of track for the big meetings on April 17 and 24. Saturday forecast: Partly cloudy. Min 15 Max 23
Race 1– Enjoy Healthy Eating Hcp [3YO] [60+] 1400m, 3:32pm [EDST] (1) REDHAGE: Genuine racehorse with versatile racing pattern. Was forced to do a ton of work with 58kg last time out in a similar race, and his effort was good. Drawn to dominate on the speed and will prove hard to get past. PLUS: (2) Sacred Crown is another who has been forced to do too much in running of late. With a nice camp off the speed at 1400m he can win. Worth a save. FOR EXOTICS: (4) Amelias Dancer, impressive Pinjarra debut; (6) Collayshell, ready to peak; (7) Comparison, ready now; and (5) Torbell, blinkers on.
Race 2 – Fruit & Veg Handicap [3YO+] [74-86] 1400m, 4:20pm (9) LUNAR MODULE: Is the value in this race, from a perfect draw and set to peak at
his fifth run from a spell. This is not a strong race and he will receive the perfect run. All his runs this time around have been adequate for a race of this nature. Bet eachway at the price. PLUS: (7) Vain Strike resuming here off a quiet Belmont trial. Has won two of three first-up and, with speed on, he will be finishing at a rate of knots. Worth a save at the odds. FOR EXOTICS: (6) Euclassy Thing, the weight horse; (1) Late Night Flight, will be out and rolling; (4) Lexicon Gold, fit and in form; (10) Manila I Scream, (8) Legend Express and (11) Real Honour.
Race 3 – Gimcrack Stakes [2YO Fillies] [Listed] [Open] 1100m, 5:05pm (1) TIME TO CLIMB: Unbeaten, professional, jump-and-run juvenile who does everything right. Will jump, lead, control and then find when needed. Drawn perfectly and her recent trial win suggests she is spot on for a first-up win. PLUS: (3) Miss Condition and (4) Absolute Pleasure have not fared well at the barrier draw for their respective racing patterns, but there is not much between Time To Climb these two fillies heading to the Karrakatta Plate. Both can win with the right run. FOR EXOTICS: (9) Winsome Waif, good from trials: (7) Sexy City, ready to win; (8) Danzmait, flew in blinkers at last Mondays trials; (2) Motion Pictures, jury's out; and (6) Game Muja, Sires’ horse.
Race 4 – Eat More FruitPerth Stakes [2YO C&G] [Listed] 1100m 5:45pm (7) BIG JOSH: The boys do not have the depth of the girls, and I believe any horse could win this race. For this reason I am
looking for value and going with this Blackfriars colt. The Dan Morton-trained juvenile was very good at his most recent Belmont trial. He began sharply, could have led but William Pike chose to go back, and in the straight he made up many lengths. He has a big motor. PLUS: Save on (5) Riosand and (10) Richie. Riosand was dynamic midweek over the 1000m; scratched last Saturday due to a setback. Richie looked very sharp at his last Belmont trial and will give a big sight. FOR EXOTICS: (1) Noname City, honest speed horse who has been up for a while; (9) Painted, solid at the trials; (4) Delta Reign, debut Pinjarra winner in good form race; and (2) Bombora, one for one at Ascot.
QUADDIE FIRST LEG
Race 5 – Strickland Stakes [3YO+] [Group 3] [WFA] [Open] 1800m, 6:20pm (1) MARASCO: Local star! He was back to his brilliant best first-up in the Hyperion, sprinting home sharply to score a soft win. Won this race last year off an unlucky Hyperion defeat and he should really just beat these. There looks to be no natural tempo, meaning it will be a sit/sprint battle, and I believe he has the best point-to-point speed in the country. PLUS: (2) Tarzi has become a fierce rival of Marasco, but is well behind on head-tohead meetings – from 11 clashes it sits Marasco 8, Tarzi 3. Only chance of Tarzi pinching this is leading, dominating and getting Marasco off the bit and chasing a long way out. FOR EXOTICS: (5) Doyoudare; has speed to lead; and (3) Star Risca.
QUADDIE SECOND LEG
QUADDIE FOURTH LEG
Race 6 – Natasha Stakes [3YO Fillies] [Listed] [Open] 2200m, 6:55pm
Race 8 – Healthy Food Fast Handicap [68-80] [3YO+] 1200m, 8:05pm
(6) ONE COOL QUEEN: Has Oaks written all over her and this is the natural progression, following a brave second in the 1000 Guineas (1800m) here last start behind glamour filly For Your Eyes Only. Drawn (9 of 13) to get a beautiful trail. She really should be unbeaten since landing in the west. The one to beat!
(11) CHANCE IN TIME: An underachiever thus far, but is laden with ability. Resuming here off a forward trial showing at Lark Hill, when third to the flying Kid Choisir in fast time. Sprints well fresh, drawn well (2) and can really whoosh home. Each-way value.
PLUS: (1) Impressive Jeuney will be out and rolling in front, so it will be catch me if you can. She is hard, fit and extremely tough. Hard to reel in and worth a save.
PLUS: Save (1) Werd, who appears to get a soft lead and has been flying this time in, being allowed to roll in front. Hard, fit and firing!
FOR EXOTICS: (10) Test Case, no luck in 1000 Guineas; (3) Significant, (5) Tropical Fury, (8) Broccoletta, (9) Lagobell, (2) Le Plunge, (11) Never Easy and (4) Heavenly Divine.
FOR EXOTICS: (5) On The Warpath, very good first-up; (6) Poly Ollie, ready to win; (10) Mr Nicoffski, brilliant Pinjarra win first-up; (14) Go Buster, no luck last week; (12) Emteevee, fresh; (8) Proud Falcon, not far off a win; and (15) Highest Honour, gate 15 a concern. Big watch on betting with the WA debut of (7) Forty Days.
QUADDIE THIRD LEG
BEST BETS
Race 7 – Miss Andretti Stks [Listed] [3YO+] [Open 92+] 1200m, 7:30pm (1) LONDON: Gifted sprinter, who ‘exploded’ back to racing with a comprehensive first-up win at this level in the WATC Stakes. That was a soft Belmont trial win and there was oodles of improvement in him looking at him in the mounting yard. Drawn to get a superb trail again and hard to hold out. PLUS: (6) Spitfire Ace and (12) Shock Value look the dangers. Spitfire Ace is back from giving plenty of cheek at weight for age behind Marasco; Shock Value flashed late after a tardy beginning behind London in the WATC Stakes. FOR EXOTICS: (5) Colour Correct, a budding star; (2) Escadaire, flies secondup; (4) Revolition, brilliant Belmont trial win recently; (10) Estiarte and (11) On The Carpet are flying!
Race 1 – (1) Redhage Race 5 – (1) Marasco Race 6 – (6) One Cool Queen
BEST VALUE Race 2 – (9) Lunar Module eachway Race 8 – (11) Chance In Time eachway
QUADDIE 1,2/1,3,6,10/1,2,4,5,6,12/1,5,6,10,11,12,14 ($336) 1/1,3,5,6,8,10/1,2,4,5,6,12/1,5,6,8,10,11,12, 14 ($252) 1/1,6/1,6,12/Field ($96) 1/6/1/1,5,6,10,11,14 ($6) Good luck and good punting! Tune in to all the racing action from the West with the Pr.com Get access to all Western Australia’s metropolitan and country race and trial replays, Perth Racing preview show, trial reports and much more. Log on to www.perthracing.com.au for more details. Josh Rodder