Ascot Saturday Perth Racing Preview BY JOSH RODDER The track is a Good 3 as of Friday morning. The penetrometer is 6.2 (Perth measurements are different to those in the Eastern States, because of a different sand-based track). The rail moves back to 6 metres from 9 metres midweek and last Saturday. The track has raced well at the past two meetings and this new position should not change a lot. According to track manager Gordon Menzies there is plenty of grass cover and the pad is in good order. He has kept the inside section of the track for the big meetings on April 17 and 24. Saturday forecast: Partly cloudy. Min 13, max 24.
Race 1 – Amelia Park Lamb Handicap [3YO+] [Open 80+] 1400m 2:35pm [EST] (4) ESTIARTE: Flying this time in and he looks well placed on the seven-day back-up, following a fast-finishing third in the Listed Miss Andretti last week. Drawn to get a nice trail off a strong speed and will be strong late. PLUS: (5) Shock Value also comes through the Miss Andretti, when held-up at a vital stage and did beat home Estiarte. Blinkers come off to try to get him to relax and run 1400 metres. Drawn to get the right run and will look the winner. Worth a save. FOR EXOTICS: (2) Comic Hero will be out and rolling, (3) Corporate Sam trialled well, and (1) Stratazoa.
Race 2 – Amelia Park Wines Plate [2YO] [Open] 1200m, 3:15pm (9) LISETTA: Natural, running filly who put up a strong performance on debut, when
raced outside the speed into a strong head wind and fought on well to go down a length to a more experienced opponent in Ortessa. Better for that run, drawn well and will gain a cushy lead. Very confident! PLUS: (1) Ortessa again looks the danger. Flashy filly who had the charmed run behind Lisetta last time, and was too good in the run to the line. Saving bet. FOR EXOTICS: (14) Princess Vivien better out to 1200 metres, (7) Soonest can improve, (6) Painted forget debut last week, (3) Courageous Show, (11) Fridays Girl, (13) Ima Citinpretty and (2) Veracious.
Race 3 – Amelia Park Handicap [3YO+] [Open 80+] 1800m, 3:55pm
showing she is back and, on her best form, she wins! PLUS: (3) Kim Currency fitter for two Belmont trials and his last trial win was fast and impressive. Goes off like a bomb first-up and will get a soft lead. Hard to run down and will be value. FOR EXOTICS: (6) Flight Path is a classy mare in form, (2) Destino goes in on best form, (5) Jean, (9) Secret Enigma and (7) Demands Attention.
QUADDIE FIRST LEG
Race 5 – V & V Walsh Trophy [3YO] [Open 60+] 1200m, 5:15pm
(2) FRIAR’S TOUCH: Evergreen galloper who, when ridden correctly and relaxes in running, can reel off a big finish. Well placed back from weight-for-age to handicap conditions and there looks enough speed in the race to suit his racing style. Each-way.
(8) VALOURA: Gifted Exceed And Excel filly who put up a massive performance to win her Ascot debut a fortnight back. She was three wide, no cover and kept finding to share the prize. Drawn awkwardly again in 11, but has the services of William Pike and looks a rising talent.
PLUS: (1) Doyoudare also comes through the Strickland Stakes at weight-for-age and after the claim for Kyra Yuill gets in well under the handicap conditions. Drawn to box seat and will look the winner. Saving bet.
PLUS: (4) Fromm returns to the track fresh, which suits the O’Reilly breed. Forget she went around last time when worked too hard over the 1600 metres in the Champion Fillies. She is suited back to this sprint trip. Definite saver.
FOR EXOTICS: (3) Money Exchange the weight horse, (6) Black Habit nearly ready to win, (7) Key Miss, (4) Hawkeye Mort and (8) King Of The Stalls.
FOR EXOTICS: (5) Our Ol’ Fella is promising and blinkers on, (3) Don’trocktheboat resuming, (1) Sacred Crown genuine animal, (2) Regol Street, (6) Wizards Point, (10) Ella Rose and (7) Romida.
Race 4 – Amelia Park Products Handicap [3YO+] [74-86] 1200m, 4:35pm
QUADDIE SECOND LEG
(1) MOCCASIN BEND: Top-class mare returning with a couple of gear changes to rectify a disappointing performance last start at Ascot, when bolted in front on Jason Whiting, breaking 35 seconds for the first 600 metres of the race. Her first-up placing in the Listed Cyril Flower was excellent,
Race 6 – SchweppesMelvista Stakes [3YO C&G] [Listed] 2200m 5:50pm (1) GOD HAS SPOKEN: Top-shelf middledistance three-year-old crying out for this journey and set to peak at his fourth run from a spell. Drawn to get a lovely run, set
weights + penalties won’t stop him and is the best horse in the race. Will be short! PLUS: (4) Brother Mak is a promising staying son of Zabeel and is another suited by the rise in distance. Did too much work at the wrong stage of the race in the JC Roberts. The clear next pick.
PLUS: (6) Gamroy is a good horse returning after a disappointing preparation last time in. Resumes without a trial so hard to know how he is going, but Pike is back on board and has a good record on this horse. I’m backing Sharon Miller to get him back and firing. Saving bet!
FOR EXOTICS: (10) Bag Of Nails suited by the distance, (7) Campobello maiden on the up, (5) Four Floors fitter, (2) Zentrate, (9) Sail Maker, (6) Dark Money and (8) Guest Wing.
FOR EXOTICS: (4) Striken forever running on, (9) Hoodlum Gang (tongue tie on can improve), (5) China Bay, (7) Lunar Module, (12) Inferno (last-start Ascot winner), (14) Mineours Luck, (3) Round Tuit (another last-start Ascot winner) and (10) Super Hawk (former Sydney galloper who trialled well).
QUADDIE THIRD LEG
BEST BETS
Race 7 – Amelia Beef Handicap [3YO+] [62-74] 1600m, 6:25pm
Race 2 – (9) Lisetta Race 6 – (1) God Has Spoken Race 8 – (11) Highest Honour
BEST VALUE (9) SNOW SYMPHONY: Lightly-raced four-year-old drawn to get a cushy lead, third-up from a spell at 1600 metres. Won third-up over 1650 metres at Belmont last time in. Very good first-up and forget last run when did too much work in running. Each-way value. PLUS: (8) One Cool Queen is on an Oaks campaign and is a genuine contender next week in the big one. Don’t know if back to 1600 metres will suit, however she is flying and is a classy filly. Favourite and horse to beat. Worth a save. FOR EXOTICS: (1) Volcanic Causeway and (12) Osmak racing well, (13) Amelias Dancer, (4) Manila I Scream, (10) Chin Chin, (2) Last Curtain, (6) Doc Marshall, (3) Major Sweeney and (5) Brandy Lane.
Race 7 – (9) Snow Symphony eachway
QUADDIE 1,2,4,5,8/1,4/1,4,8,9,12,13/3,4,5,6,7,9,11,14 ($480) 1,4,5,8/1,4/1,8,9,12/5,6,9,11 ($128) 4,5,8/1/1,8,9/6,11 ($18) 4,8/1/8,9/6,11 ($8) 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.
QUADDIE FOURTH LEG
Race 8 – Amelia Park Racing Synd Hcp [68-80] [3YO+] 1400m, 7:05pm (11) HIGHEST HONOUR: Ready to win at her fourth run back from a spell up to 1400 metres. Won two on end at the Ascot 1400 last spring and her run last Saturday here was eye-catching. She gets in with a feather weight after 3kg claim for Ben Kennedy. One of the better bets on the card.
Josh Rodder