Ascot Saturday Perth Racing Preview
time were very good. Genuine filly, drawn well and will give her all.
VERDICT
BY JOSH RODDER
Race 3 – Go For 2 & 5 Handicap [3YO+] [68-80] 2200m, 4:45pm [EDST]
Back (3) Trustee Brown and save on (11) Test Case. (1) Black Nijinsky and (2) Dawinner are next. Include (5) Bizet, (4) Bad Funk Stripe, (7) Stoppitt, (8) Eagle Peak and (9) Ascoli in wider multiples.
Scratch (15) Verissimo. An even tempo is likely with Esroh (10) expected to dictate terms in front with not a lot of exposed pressure. Thumbuster (13) will be prominent throughout.
Track is a Good (3) as of Friday lunchtime, with a penetrometer of 6.3 (Perth measurements are different to those in the Eastern States, because of a different sandbased track). The rail is out to three metres, from true last week. According to track manager Gordon Menzies put a fair bit of water has been put on the track and the grass cover is good. FORECA ST: SATURDAY SUNNY. MIN 12, MAX 32
Race 1 – Festival of Perth Racing Handicap [3YO] [59-74] 1400m 3:25pm [EDST] Even speed is expected with not a lot of natural pressure. Expect a lot of chopping and changing through the early stages. Bad Funk Stripe (4) can lead with Stoppitt (7) and Eagle Peak (8) handy to lead. Trustee Brown (3) was ultra impressive winning here a fortnight ago. This promising galloper was allowed to find his feet before gaining a split in the straight and sprinting quickly to score. Drawn well and looks ideally suited up to the 1400m. Big watch on maiden filly Test Case (11), who made an eye-catching debut at Bunbury behind Lady Doll. The well-bred daughter of Group 1-winning mare Spectrum went back from a wide gate, saved ground through with rails runs and ran on stylishly. She can find the back of Trustee Brown and finish hard. Nice filly! Black Nijinsky (1) has quality, but is trying to find peak form after running in his grand final, the WA Guineas. He will go back from his wide draw, so will there be enough pressure for him to run over those mentioned? His class will take him a long way. There are not many tougher than Dawinner (2). She was bumped from pillar to post in the WA Guineas and her first two runs this
Race 2 – Freightmaster Handicap [3YO+] [68-80] 1000m, 4:05pm [EDST] There should be high speed with solid pressure on throughout. Chopin (1) can find the lead from (5) Freetime, with a query on the plan with Most Secretive (10), who could lead if they choose – they may try to teach her to relax from her inside draw. Chopin is a 1000-metre specialist fresh off an honest third to the flying 3YO Kid Choisir. The 3kg claim for Ben Kennedy brings him in well at the weights and in the right conditions he will take a power of running down. Awesome Force (4) was awesome first-up for his new owners. He was dominant, cruising to victory with 58kg and looks well graded in a race that will be run to suit. He will be powering after the leaders late. Most Secretive is highly talented sprinting mare resuming. Her form lines through Moonlight Drive read well and from her kind draw she will be competitive. Golden Act (8) had no luck when she was off the track without cover last time and fought on OK. If she can find cover, she will be thereabouts. There’s a big watch talented mare Rose Of Dante (3) first-up without a trial and Kim Trader (7) was disappointing on face value last time.
VERDICT Back (1) Chopin and (4) Awesome Force for a winning result. (10) Most Secretive, (8) Golden Act, (3) Rose Of Dante and (7) Kim Trader can all be competitive if they bring their A game. Include (5) Freetime, (9) Generalaz and (6) Pak In Black in wider exotic bet types.
Almohad (3) is a promising staying horse with oodles of upside. He has come back a more complete package and has been dominant in his past two wins as he works through the grades. Last try at this journey he was a strong second in the Listed Melvista behind Phenomenons, and that is good form for this event. He should lob midfield and prove far too classy for his opposition. Tough mare Phormium (2) is just about ready. Looking for this distance and if she can get the right run from a tricky gate, she will be thereabouts at the finish. Can Time (6) is better than her form suggests and from a good draw with Patrick Carbery on board expect a lift. Danish Conquerer (9) ran a terrific race at Bunbury, working home strongly against a slow speed. Drawn well and can run into a placing. Midnight Special (12) is one paced and was not suited in that same slowly run Bunbury event.
VERDICT Bet with confidence on (3) Almohad. (2) Phormium is the blow-out. (6) Can Time is another improver. Include (9) Danish Conquerer, (12) Midnight Special, (10) Esroh, (4) Casual Life, (5) Sunrange, (13) Thumbuster and (8) Collecting in wide multiples.
Race 4 – playeronline.com.au Handicap [3YO Entires & Geldings] [74-86] 1400m 5:25pm [EDST] They will run along in this with Three Amigos (2) expected to set the solid speed. Pete The Profiler (11) is in peak form and can continue on his winning way. Big effort here two starts back, then lunged late to score last week. Drawn to get a superb run and trainer/jockey combo is on fire. Monaco Prince (6) tried hard to run down