Ascot, WA, March 28, 2009 FIRST LEG 3.45 WA time
SECOND LEG 4.20 WA time
THIRD LEG 4.57 WA time
FOURTH LEG 5.37 WA time
Country Bowl (0-79), 1500m
Karrakatta Plate (Group 2, 2yo) 1200m
Melvista Stks (Listed, 3yo C&G) 2200m
Eat More Fruit Hcp (3YO & up) 1500m.
This is a race in two – two very promising gallopers (3) Loyalty and (6) Gamroy should dominate the other dozen made up of those out of form, or out of their grade. Loyalty bounded onto the city scene with two superb wins from the front of the field (Ascot 18 Feb, 1600m; Ascot 4 March, 1600m), before odds on favourite when beaten in the last 50m by Split The Scene. In that event, (1800m) Loyalty pulled hard, was hemmed in, dashed to the front at the top of the straight, but was out of punch at the line. He’ll be on the pace, and the semi-sprint distance suits. Gamroy came to Ascot in November with a slashing win over Lord Airlie in a 1600m 0-64, then was spelled after a poor 5th over 2010m at Pinjarra on Nov 23. He returned first up here (1400m, 0-67) on March 18 with a simple win over (12) Hugo A Gogo. After racing midfield with cover, he raced to the lead half way up the straight, and won by 3 lens. This is a class rise, but his potential is large, with three wins and a second from five starts. Hugo A Gogo will win races, in easier company. (9) Undertake A Dane and (4) Kenanas have place hopes.
The preambles are over and the form is exposed, and it comes down to just three – the unbeaten gelding (1) Wolfe Dreams and the filly (13) For Your Eyes Only, and the spruik colt (5) Kid Choisir. Conservative punters will include (3) The Corporation, a very honest gelding, but we don’t see him beating the top three. Lindsay Park has sent over the maiden Testa Rossa colt (8) Tribulus, (four Melbourne runs for four placings), but we can’t see him in the same class of the locals. Kid Choisir missed the start by just enough to put him under pressure for the whole journey when a lunging ⇠ len 2 nd to Wolfe Dreams in the Perth Stakes (1100m) on March 14 after an easy first up win that had his stable eyeing the Golden Slipper. A strong win here, and the big one could be back on the agenda. Danny Brereton replaces Paul Harvey. For Your Eyes Only bounced to the lead, and was most impressive casting aside the Gimcrack (1100m) field on March 14, in faster time than Wolfe Dreams. She can’t be left out, and the 2 kilo benefit over the boys will be most important.
The lead-up race to the WA Derby and we reckon there are only three real chances. We like (1) Liquidation, (2) Phenomenons, and (8) Almohad, all part of the exciting Roberts Stakes (1800m) here on March 14. Phenomenons at his fifth start from a spell, won his third race with a wonderful late sprint, after having the run of the race one-out, oneback. He showed he can run near the lead, and should be able to do so again. Liquidation had the early lead, then took the sit, was slightly held-up, but was no match for Phenomenons. The fourth placegetter Almohad was most impressive; he was held-up for some way into the straight and really put on the burners in the last 200m. He is not drawn to suit, but will be held back for a late run. Must be included. (3) Kim Coin has been too disappointing in stakes company at his last two. He had every show behind Phenomenons. Trainer said he will be freshened, and taken to the front of the field. He has done well with those tactics, but still would surprise in this company, over this trip. Rough shows for (7) Black Habit and (11) Berlioz.
A moderate finale, but the bottom weight (11) Oscar WIldy looks the best option after strong Ascot form franked by a very good fourth in the Listed Bunbury Stakes (1400m) on Mar 10. A length behind him in seventh place was last week’s Stakes winner, Tarzi, who would win this race with the grandstand. Oscar Wildly has been in work since September, winning three, with five placings from 12 outings. It’s a long haul, but he is obviously handling it well. The 8YO (1) Forest Frolic is the class runner, but it seems his best days are behind him. His win (by a head) over Secret Courier (who is not up to city class) at Ascot on Jan 31, was his first since March last year (nine runs), and 59.5 is a big impost. (2) Corporate Sam is another 8YO racing most consistently with three thirds, then three seconds from his last six. His last win was over 1400m at Belmont in July. (8) Kaleido beat Caller One in a small field four starts back and has been thereabouts since. Hasn’t returned in the same form he had this time last year when he won three in a row at Ascot. Rough hope for (9) Lexicon Gold
3 – 6 – 12
2, 8 – 1 – 3 – 7 – 11
11 – 2, 1 – 8, 9
FOCUS ON FIRST LEG
THE PLAYS (50c unit)
We’re a bit nervous looking through this week’s quaddie, as each race looks to come down to only a few chances. That often means the whole show implodes and roughies abound. Let’s look on the bright side, and believe strongly in (3) Loyalty and (6) Gamroy as the only pair who can win the first leg. Once you’ve gone narrow in the opening leg, the rest of the quaddie can open up, or you can go short and invest more units on fewer combinations.
$9
3,6/1,5,13/2,8,1/11
$36
3,6/1,5,13,3/2,8,1/11,2,1
$60
3,6/1,5,13,3/2,8,1,3,7/11,2,1
$100
3,6/1,5,13,3/2,8,1,3,7/11,2,1,8,9
$176
3,6/1,5,13,3/2,8,1,3/FIELD
OUR FAVOURED BET
1, 5, 13 – 3
$176
3,6/ 2,5,13,3 /2,8,1,3 / FIELD