Ascot Saturday Perth Racing Preview BY JOSH RODDER Track is a Good (3) as of Friday morning. Penetrometer is 6.2 (Perth measurements are different from those in the Eastern States, because of a different sand-based track). The rail stays at three metres, the same spot as last Saturday, where conditions played into leaders’ hands. The weather conditions predicted should even up the race pattern. According to track manager Gordon Menzies it makes a big difference when the Ascot track gets a midweek break. There is a good grass cover and the inside will be saved for the big Derby and Karrakatta race meetings.
FORECAST: Saturday Cloudy periods. Min 21 Max 30
Race 1– Westspeed 2YO Plate [2YO] [Open] 1200m 3:35pm [EDST]
Race 2 – Westspeed 3YO Handicap [3YO] [Open 62+] 1200m, 4:15pm [EDST]
Early scratching: (8) Whipsaw. (3) Sacred Crown: Promising young galloper who continues to impress onlookers. He was very good first-up as a maiden when placed behind outstanding pair Sir Hallowell and Morant. The Simon Miller-trained gelding pulled out plenty to win strong race here last time. Again gets the perfect run in transit and is the horse to beat. PLUS: (4) Bad Funk Stripe was brave firstup behind Sacred Crown and will be competitive despite awkward draw.
(2) Escape Velocity: Has returned to racing in good order, and form through Lie In Wait ties in well. Beat Lie In Wait when giving him weight two starts back, then was back in slowly run race last time behind Lie In Wait and hit the line strongly. Suited here in slowly run distance race and should be too sharp for his rivals. PLUS: (4) Night At The Opera has been luckless of late. Presents value. For Exotics: (1) Double Barrel, (6) Haste and (7) Timberlands will stay all day.
For Exotics: (5) Classic Smile is in for a good campaign; (2) Grand Platz, (1) Sunsilkin and (6) Ancient Prophecy go in.
QUADDIE FIRST LEG
Race 3 – Puntathon March 20 Hcp [3YO+] [74-86] 1600m, 4:55pm [EDST]
(3) Gannochy: Battled on well after riding the speed on debut here late last month. Has been gelded since, will again take up a forward position and, with experience under his belt, he can break into the winner’s stall.
(5) Impressive Jeuney: Quality three-yearold filly taking on the older restricted horses, and this crop of local 3YOs are top shelf. Very good last Saturday, when nearly put over inside rail early in the race, then held up at a vital stage. She was strong on the line, backs-up well and will get the run of the race. Filly going places!
PLUS: Save on debutante (11) Comsitbesideme. He is the watch horse, following an impressive Belmont trial win after the addition of blinkers. The Tricia Roberts filly is a Mcflirt half-sister to Bunbury Cup winner Whipsaw.
PLUS: Save (1) Another Clanger. He is back in some of the best form of his career, judging by his two runs this time in work. Will lead, roll and take catching.
For Exotics: (1) Margaret Street will be back and running on; also include (6) Celebration Girl, (8) Sexy City and (9) Delamaine Diva.
Race 4 – budget.com.au Handicap [3YO+] [62-74] 2100m, 5:35pm [EDST]
For Exotics: (2) Delta Bay had no luck last time, (3) God Has Spoken is classy but may need one more, (6) Black Habit, (8) Key Miss and (4) King Of The Stalls all go in.
Race 5 – Happy 21 Stacey Panton Hcp [3YO+] [62-74] 1500m, 6:12pm [EDST] st
(1) Big Ted: Progressive horse who has made the transition through his classes in great fashion and shoots for an Ascot winning hat-trick in this. Big strong gelding who will handle the 59kg. Will take up his usual position on speed and prove extremely hard to run down. PLUS: (5) Pearler has the late gear change of bar shoes on. He is ready to win and was a third-up winner at Ascot 1400m last time in. For Exotics: (3) Euclassy Thing, (2) Legend Express, (7) Skitzo and (6) Never Forgotten.
QUADDIE SECOND LEG
QUADDIE FOURTH LEG
Race 6 – Budget Rent A Car Hcp [3YO+] [68-80] 1200m, 6:50pm [EDST]
Race 8 – Budget Truck Hcp [74-86] [3YO+] 1100m 8:05pm [EDST] Early scratching: (2) Late Night Flight.
(5) Henry De Horse: Good horse returning to the scene of some of his best performances. Great record of four wins from seven starts, and a narrow second here in the Listed Raconteur to Ballroom Crown. Had an easy kill at Esperance first-up and with that run under his belt, you would expect a further improved galloper. Has the speed to overcome wide draw. PLUS: Save on (7) Dane Commodore. She is an ultra-competitive on-pace mare who was brave last start after riding a fast speed. Drawn well and gets her chance to break through. Worth a save. For Exotics: (8) Hoodlum Gang, (4) Werd, (12) Highest Honour, (11) Go Buster, (6) Round Tuit and (10) Shy Cano.
QUADDIE THIRD LEG
Race 7 – T.J. Smith Trophy [Listed] [3YO Colts & Geldings] [Open 67+] 1600m, 7:28pm [EDST]
(8) Wolfe Dreams: Arguably the best twoyear-old of last year, who won the Magic Millions and Perth Stakes, as well as finishing second in the Karrakatta Plate and the Sires. Has had two Great Southern trials to fit him for this first-up assignment and despite not being at his top fresh off such a long break, class does take you a long way. PLUS: (7) Jean and (1) Estiarte are flying and ready to win so worth a save. For Exotics: (4) Group Memory and (6) Demands Attention are big watches fresh. (11) La Forza, (5) Mcbuster and (9) Captain Feathers go in.
BEST BETS Race 2 – (3) Sacred Crown Race 4 – (2) Escape Velocity Race 7 – (1) Morant
QUADDIE 1,2,3,5,7/4,5,7,8,11,12/1,2/1,4,6,7,8 ($300)
(1) Morant: Talented three-year-old who broke through for a well-deserved feature win last start in the Listed Challenge Stakes. Sat three wide with no cover, relaxed beautifully and was too good for a quality field. The form has been franked with two of the beaten brigade, Le Plunge (1st Champion Fillies) and Bridgestone (1st Patrons Plate), impressive at their next starts. PLUS: (2) Zentrate is on a WATC Derby preparation and was seen hitting the line well behind Morant last time in the Challenge. He does meet Morant 2kg better for a half-length defeat.
1,2,3,5/5,7/1/1,4,5,6,7,8,9,11 ($64) 1,2,3,5/5,7/1/1,7,8 ($24) 1/5,7/1/7,8 ($4)
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
For Exotics: (4) Yabigorse, (6) Brother Mak, (3) Redhage, (11) Ranger and (5) Bag Of Nails are all heading towards the Derby and will run well.