Ascot Saturday Perth Racing Preview BY JOSH RODDER Track is a good (2) as of Friday lunchtime, with a penetrometer reading of 6 (Perth measurements are different to those in the Eastern States, because of a different sandbased track). The rail moves to three metres and won’t go back to true until Railway Stakes day. According to track manager Gordon Menzies the track “looks a million dollars” with plenty of grass cover and he could not be happier with it He will water again overnight and all is order for a cracking Ascot Saturday feature program. FORECAST FOR SATURDAY CLOUDY PERIODS, FINE DAY. MIN 14 MAX 28
QUADDIE FIRST LEG
Race 5 – Ascot Vale Estate Handicap [3YO+] [74-86] 1200m, 6:45pm [EST] Not a big field to kick off the quaddie, but oodles of class. Revolition (4) leads, with Kasabian (5) outside the speed. Choisir gelding Kasabian looks destined for stakes grade racing and returns here from a short let-up. His recent trial was outstanding behind subsequent Northerly winner Megatic, showing he has not gone backwards and should prove too strong for Revolition over the final stages. Revolition also trialled well and he should get a cruisy lead. Black In Time (2) (back in form) and Naku Penda (9) (ridden back this time) will sit off the speed and be strong late in the race. Broome Time (1) was back in winning form last time, however has a big impost to deal with.
VERDICT Include 5, 4, 9, 2, 1 in your quaddie.
QUADDIE SECOND LEG
QUADDIE THIRD LEG
Race 6 – Country Cup, [3yo+] [68-80] 1500m 7:20pm [EST]
Race 7 – Prince Of Wales Stakes [Group 3] [3YO+] [Open] [WFA] 1200m 7:57pm [EST]
The toughest leg of the quaddie and it will pay to go as wide as possible. Even speed on paper, but it must pay to remember it is a big field, with some natural speed drawn out, so in my mind all horses should get a winning chance. Trafalgar Square (3), Can Time (6), Code Of Silence (11), Lago Man (12), Nalingason (13), Raise A Light (14), Shavano (15), The Package (16) and Beaurich (17) can be used early to take a position near or on the speed. On an each-way basis, I’m going with Can Time, a handy Danetime mare who has been ridden back at her past two starts, before finding the line in fine style. Drawn well, with the 2kg allowance for Chloe Chatfield, she should secure a superb run from behind the speed and should look the winner in straight. She is very consistent and will be strong on the line. Thundelarra (10) is the biggest danger. Her two runs this time in have been excellent, last start not far away from subsequent stakes-placed galloper Colour Correct. She will be ridden quietly and if they overcook it, look out! Lago Man was terrific winning in restricted grade at Northam. The stable is firing and he will push forward from his difficult draw. He is one for one at Ascot. There’s a big watch on classy lass Delta Gee (5), a Street Cry mare who stormed through the grades in her three-year-old year. She will go back and will be doing her best work late.
Ripper race with plenty of class! Two past winners of the race look the major players – Dark Target (3) and Idyllic Prince (2). Expecting Dark Target to cross and lead from his wide barrier. Yes, he can be sluggish away, but drawn out he does not have to be hustled, and that’s very important. I’m going with one of the fastest horses in the state, Dark Target. He resumed with a close defeat at the hands of the unbeaten Hay List, in slashing time. It was nearly 12 months off, without a trial, and only rustiness beat him. Paul Harvey, the state’s best, takes the ride here and he will burn turf! Expecting evergreen sprinter Idyllic Prince to be chasing home hard. Jim Taylor has done a marvellous job with this horse, who has had severe feet issues throughout his career. Won his past two starts at stakes level at Belmont and had a nice, soft Lark Hill trial Monday. He won this race two years ago. Promising mare Broadway Belle (11) is the blow-out. Loved her run first-up – she was in a world of trouble off the back, before letting rip early in the straight and staggering late. She looked like that run would improve her and from a nice gate could surprise.
Can’t dismiss the chances of Trafalgar Square, Chance In Time (4), Rocking The Blues (9), Raise A Light and Monaco Prince (1).
Another gifted mare Spirited One (10) has a massive finishing burst and will be flashing late. Her trial was good enough to suggest she could run a race fresh. Liquidation (9) is gifted and drawn to do no work in the run. He is the watch horse. Tarzi (1) is so honest, so goes in multiples.
VERDICT
VERDICT
Go as wide as possible – 6, 10, 12, 5, 3, 4, 9, 14, 1,
Can go 2, 3 in a skinny quaddie. Include 9, 10, 11 wide.