Ascot Saturday Perth Racing Preview BY JOSH RODDER The track is a Good (2), as of Friday morning, with a penetrometer of 6.2 (Perth measurements are different to those in the Eastern States, because of a different sandbased track). The rail moves back to three metres, after being out six metres last Saturday; midweek the rail was out 15 metres with a cutaway back to 12 metres in the straight. The Ascot track has raced relatively fairly this season, but during the summer months it is important to be in the zone turning for home – there is a three-length winning zone on the point of the bend, based on the tempo of the race; otherwise it is difficult to win. FORECAST: Saturday – Risk of a thunderstorm. Min 19, max 34.
Race 1 – Westspeed 2YO Plate [Open 2YOs] 1000m 4:10pm [EDST] There is more depth to this juvenile race than we have seen this season. I expect the race-experienced Flying Heritage (1) to show natural speed and lead with relative ease. Hot Tamale (2) sat on debut, but has loads of toe and can take a place outside speed. Noname City (3) will be handy from gate one. The race-experienced trio should dominate on speed and be hard to run over. There looks to be even pressure, nothing ridiculous. I’m selecting one from the trials, Totteridge Green (5). This son of Peintre Celebre stallion Pearl Of Love is a baldy-faced bay with plenty of natural ability. The Adam Durrant-trained youngster is a half-brother to Stormalive, who won his first three starts in Perth, and is out of a half-sister to former high-class sprinter Arctic Park and Stakes winner Power Plus. He has had two 400m trials to prep him for his debut and both times he was extremely strong on the line. He looks a natural to me and from barrier three he should get a nice trail behind the pressure and launch late. He’s a nice eachway gamble.
The race-experienced pair Flying Heritage and Hot Tamale are definitely the testing material. Flying Heritage has an abundance of speed and was dominant winning his debut, while Hot Tamale overcame difficulties to beat a moderate bunch last week. The latter showed in her trials that she has speed and can pour pressure on the leader if desired. There is a big watch on Pearls Of Wisdom (10) on debut from the in-form Luciani stable – one trial, one win at Belmont earlier in the month. She was scratched last week to be given one more week to recover from the trial, and she has drawn superbly in five. She has ability. Watch betting moves for a guide.
VERDICT Have something eachway (5) Totteridge Green. (1) Flying Heritage and (2) Hot Tamale are the main obstacles. I have healthy respect for (10) Pearls Of Wisdom. Include (9) Miss Condition, (4) Berenzoni, (7) Magnificent Pair and (8) Mam’selle Hepzibah in multiples.
Race 2 – Westspeed 3YO Handicap [Open 59+ 3YOs] 1400m, 4:50pm [EDST] A small but competitive field of three-yearolds line up here. On paper, there is zero front-end pressure. Terada (4) is likely to find himself in front controlling the race tempo. Keshaar (6) and Circular Quay (3) can be more prominent from handy draws. Keshaar was knocked out of the race turning for home last start in the Lee-Steere Classic. His previous performance was a slashing third to the high-class Kid Choisir in the Placid Ark. He is drawn to be ridden more positively and gets his chance to breakthrough for an overdue win. Terada has the tactical speed to lead and dictate terms to suit himself. He raced like he was craving 1400m when winning midweek and can give some cheek from the front. Trustee Brown (1) is a very good horse at the back end of his first campaign of racing. He was another who raced without luck in the Lee-Steere Classic. If they do run this race truly, he will be powerful on the line. He does have a wide gate and 58kg to contend with, but has the ability to overcome both hurdles.
Bizet (2) worked overtime in the Lee-Steere and, in a race devoid of speed, he can be ridden closer and from there make a bold bid. Zidansky (5) is a horse we want to black book for the WATC Derby in the autumn.
VERDICT Back (6) Keshaar with confidence and have a small saver on (4) Terada, who will give a power of cheek. (1) Trustee Brown is good enough to win. (2) Bizet is the blowout. Include (5) Zidansky, (3) Circular Quay and (8) Stormish.
Race 3– Drain Pave Handicap [3YO] [63-74] 1100m, 5:30pm [EDST] This race lacks depth but has oodles of speed and pressure – they will really scoot. Ginsberg (6), Master Tenby (7) and The Entourage (2) contest lead spot. Impatient Times (3) is a very promising young galloper who overcame a sluggish start, and being worked up in the mounting yard, to score a devastating win. He looks superbly placed in this race and with the predicted speed and pressure, he is expected to get the perfect trail. He should just win again. Ginsberg is a wayward character with natural ability. He was a first-up fourth to Impatient Times. There is something there and he can give cheek on the speed. Xaaravid (1) is the proven, class runner returning from a let-up. He has some quality about him and will be suited fresh in a highpressure 1100m race. The Entourage battled on strongly with 58kg last start behind Impatient Times and has the speed to overcome a wide draw. He’s a genuine animal! Whistledownthewind (10) had all the favours winning on debut at Bunbury, but the time rated well and he gets a nice run again.
VERDICT Get on early fixed odds (3) Impatient Times – he should win. (6) Ginsberg, (1) Xaaravid, (2) The Entourage, (10 Whistledownthewind, (7) Master Tenby and (4) Ascoli will fight out the minor placings.
Race 4 – Boutique Gardening Handicap [3YO+] [Open 83+] 1600m 6:07pm [EDST] Early scratching: New Spice (4). A genuine tempo is expected with Nellie Got There (6), Greatwall Of China (5) and Beyond Dispute (8) rolling forward and all horses to get their chance. Inarticulate (3) is a very good horse and was awesome winning first-up in the Listed Carbine Club on Railway day. He followed that up with a luckless second to his stablemate Proart, who franked that form with a follow-up win in the Group 3 Scahill Stakes last Saturday. He is drawn to settle a couple of positions closer and his turn of foot should blow his honest rivals off the park. Doyoudare (1) was given a superb ride by Jason Whiting to win a slowly run 1600m race on Winterbottom Stakes day. That form has been franked with two of the beaten brigade winning – Truckin Tobie and Le Bon Jeune. Doyoudare looks likely to get the perfect run behind the speed. Garavanni (10) is a horse that gets back and always needs luck. He got none last start when knocked out of the race in the straight. Drawn inside, but if he sees daylight he can run into a place at odds. Found And Kept (9) is racing well and is suited back to 1600m. He requires a fast-run race and the leaders to come back to him a little in this grade to win. Veteran galloper Friar’s Touch (2) was solid in the Kingston Town Classic and is not the worst.
VERDICT Bet with confidence on (3) Inarticulate. (1) Doyoudare is the horse to beat. Include (10) Garavanni, (9) Found And Kept, (2) Friar’s Touch, (5) Greatwall Of China, (8) Beyond Dispute and (6) Nellie Got There in wide exotics.
QUADDIE FIRST LEG
Race 5 – Landscape Development C.B. Cox Stakes [3YO+] [Open] [Group 2] [WFA] 2100m 6:45pm [EDST] This is the main event and the weight-forage lead into the BMW Perth Cup on New Year’s Day. It was run on a Wednesday, but is back to the traditional Saturday placing and has a good mix of gallopers doing battle. Expect Dante’s Banquet (4) to set a strong
tempo again, ensuring a truly run 2009 Cox Stakes. On weights and measures they really should not be beat Scenic Shot (1), the hometown hero who has shown his class and steel on both the eastern and western seaboards. He has had 18 starts at Group 1 level in a 56race career, and only missed weighing in five times. He has recorded two Group 1 wins, two seconds and three thirds at the highest level. Some of the races he has contested since winning on debut at Belmont in 2005 – as a two-year-old, the Karrakatta Plate and WA Sires; at three, the WATC Derby, WA Guineas, Fruit ’n ’ Veg; and the Railway, Perth Cup, Caulfield Cup, Melbourne Cup, George Ryder, Brisbane Cup, Turnbull, Underwood, Cox Plate, Sandown Classic, P.J. O’Shea Stakes, Hollindale Stakes, and he dead heated in this race in 2006. This year he won the big Queensland winter carnival treble of the Doomben Cup, P.J. O’Shea Stakes and Brisbane Cup. He won the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington on October 31, but at his past two starts an inside draw has been his undoing. Again, he has to contend with an unfavourable near rails draw (2). Jason Brown just needs to keep him away from the rails, wind him into the race before the sprint goes on and he should win. Last start in the Kingston Town Classic he was dictated to by other runners, just got left turning, but attacked the line like a next-start winner over more ground. Gets the distance to suit, has a massive class edge and is the one to beat. Lords Ransom (5) is an untapped talent who was massive first-up in the Railway, rushing home in a 33.92 final 600m section. Second-up in the Kingston Town he raced a little flat at the 1800m and the rise to 2100m is in his favour, where he can find his rhythm in running. His A-game makes him competitive. Newport (2) is a dual Group 1 winner and was luckless in both the Mackinnon and Melbourne Cup. Both runs were excellent and he has not missed a beat since arriving in Perth. Brad Rawiller rides and the genuine speed will suit. I’m expecting a slashing Cup trial. Star Encounter (11) is probably not suited at weight-for-age but is one of the toughest racehorses in the state and has good distance credentials. Her Kingston Town Classic run was very good and I expect her to be strong on the line. Markus Maximus (10) is coming right at the right time. He won the 2009 Group 1 WATC Derby here in April.
VERDICT I’m confident (1) Scenic Shot can win, so bet accordingly. I have healthy respect for (5) Lords Ransom if he produces his best and (2) Newport will be roaring home late. Mares (11) Star Encounter, (13) Cassandara Shadow and (12) Ma Chienne go in multiples, along with (4) Dante's Banquet.
QUADDIE SECOND LEG
Race 6 – Country Challenge Final [3YO+] [68-80] 1500m, 7:20pm [EDST] Early scratching: My Atacanta (3). This a wonderful opportunity for the provincial and country-prepared horses to race for high stakes – heats have been contested all over this vast state. They will really run along here, with Mekong Miss (5) the leader and Coiled Spring (2), Coccinella (11) and Masters Seal (13) prominent. Lots of front end pressure is expected. I really like Coiled Spring as a race mare: she has a high cruising speed, top ability and most importantly she is tough as nails. Her form this time in has been impeccable. She was brave with 58kg in a hot form race at Pinjarra behind Castletown Keys, who has since won the Listed Starstruck Classic. Coiled Spring led, ran time and held off the subsequent city winner Bermaise midweek last start. From gate one Chloe Chatfield has the opportunity to just camp off the leader Mekong Miss. From there she is the one to beat. Mekong Miss is a dashing front-runner out to 1500m for the first time. She broke her rivals heart midweek last start and will again take a power of running down. All Class (1) won with her ears pricked at Mt Barker last time and that should give her the confidence she needs to return to the peak of her powers. She is the class mare and will appreciate a genuinely run race. Island In The Sun (10) is getting better at each run back from a break and her run was eye-catching midweek. She is another who will be suited with the speed on. Coronate (4) and Friartruck (6) have had no luck leading into this race, while Movie World (7) is flying!
VERDICT Back (2) Coiled Spring – I’m quite keen on her chances. (5) Mekong Miss is the horse to run down and I expect (1) All Class to be strong on the line. Include (10) Island In
The Sun, (4) Coronate, (6) Friartruck, (7) Movie World, (9) Mr Emiseven, (11) Coccinella, (15) Tivation and (12) Forest Hall in multiples.
QUADDIE THIRD LEG
Race 7 – R.S. Crawford Stakes [3YO+] [Open 92+] [Listed] 1000m 7:57pm [EDST] The fastest guns in the west face off in a quality sprint race. They will be cooking with gas in this, with hot pressure! Vain Raider (3) will lead Star Laser (2), with Revolition (4) wide out and Ma Ma Machine (5) and Nollamara (9) handy. Vain Raider is one of the better short-course sprinters in WA. He had a soft Belmont trial to prep for this and his record is hard to fault. Jim Taylor has had a red-hot start to the 2009-10 racing season and he will have Vain Raider primed for this. Hard to catch! Brilliant comeback sprinter Vizard (1) returns to prime time without a trial and, in a fast-run Ascot 1000 metres, watch for him late. He has won six of seven at the distance, and he won 10 of 11 starts in the 2007-08 racing season and if the real Vizard turns up, look out! Veteran sprinter Star Laser has been impressive in two Belmont trial wins and, one thing you know, he will tough this right out. Ma Ma Machine was not suited leading the Winterbottom at 1200m and will appreciate being ridden with a sit behind the pressure. There is not much between Ma Ma Machine and Vain Raider at their best.
paddock in winning form, as this horse did. He has returned with two lovely Lark Hill trial performances. The key is he looked nice and relaxed in the run during both trials. All the hard work Adam Durrant has put into this horse now looks to have paid off. Yes he has drawn wide, which is not ideal, but at Ascot three wide with cover in a high pressure race is not a bad position. In the last week we have seen several horses even sit three wide no cover and win. Golden Heart is a gifted animal who will win better races than this! Spitfire Ace (4) is a promising galloper returning from a spell with blinkers on. He has drawn barrier one on the back of a solid trial performance and he gets a superb run behind the speed, so there is a lot of upside with this galloper. Eagle Rock (11) is flying this time in, being ridden quietly and rocketing to the line. He had no luck last time behind Stratazoa and, with any luck from his inside gate, he will rocket to the line again. Speed mare Versarc did too much work in a fast- run Jungle Dawn. There is less pressure here and when she gets her own way she can really give a sight.
VERDICT Back (8) Golden Heart with confidence. (4) Spitfire Ace, (11) Eagle Rock and (9) Versarc are on the next line. Include (12) Ballroom Crown, (1) Northwater Boy, (5) Dance Works, (13) General Confusion and (7) Given Vision in wider bet types.
BEST BETS Race 3 – No. 3 Impatient Times Race 8 – No. 8 Golden Heart
VERDICT
BEST VALUE
Back (3) Vain Raider and save (1) Vizard. (2) Star Laser and (5) Ma Ma Machine can win and must go in quaddies. Include (9) Nollamara, (10) Stratazoa, (7) Danes Mystery and (4) Revolition in wider exotics.
Race 1 – No. 5 Totteridge Green
QUADDIE ($1 unit) 1,2,5/1,2,5/1,2,3,5/4,8,9,11,12 ($180) 1/Field/Field/8 ($140)
QUADDIE FOURTH LEG
Race 8 – Custom Irrigation Handicap [74-86] [3YO+] 1200m, 8:35pm [EDST] This is a good betting race. A genuine speed will be set by Versarc (9), who controls the race. Golden Heart (8) is a good horse who will finally deliver on what he has always promised throughout an up-and-down career. I love it when horses go to the
1/2,5/1,2,3,5/4,8,9,11 ($32) 1/2/1,2,3,5/8 ($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