Ascot Saturday Perth Racing Preview BY JOSH RODDER Track is a g o od 2 , penetr ometer is 6, and the ra il is back i n t o 6 metres, after bein g 1 5 metres at the last tw o meet ings. Expect tra ck t o race fair ly i n ne w rail p osi ti on a nd w ith the weather condi ti ons it sho uld e ven t hin gs up. There has been a tr ickle of rain th is week to j ust take fire ou t of gr ound. FORECAST FOR SATURDAY CHANCE OF A MORNING SHOWER. MINIMUM 12, MAXIMUM 23
Race 1 – Perth Legacy Sprint (Open Hcp), 1200m, 3:31pm (EST) Even pressure is expected, and all runners will get their chance. ( 4) Legend Express should lead, with ( 2) El li ott o, (5) Estiarte and (3) Snip Espr it behind with cover. I believe Raw Metal is ideally suited up to 1200 metres in a small field. Trainer David Harrison is very astute when he decides to use a three kilo claiming apprentices in town and rarely gets it wrong. Raw Metal has been in good form at three runs back from a spell and is able to reel off some awesome sectionals when everything goes his way. Drawn nicely and thrown in with 54kg after the claim for mature age apprentice Maki Morita. Last time in Raw Metal was able to capture the listed Ruabon (1200m) at Belmont with only 1kg less than he carries here. If he reproduces that form he can give this a real shake. Much improved sprinter Estiarte was only nosed out of victory when resuming, then got all the favours and scored a solid win second-up. Suited again with the run of the race and will look the winner at some stage. Elliotto and Snip Esprit finished in front of Raw Metal last start and both look well placed up to 1200m.
THE VERDICT Back (1) Raw Metal as a blow out. Save on (5) Estiarte, from (3) Snip Esprit, (2) Ellioto and (4) a first four/quartet hope.
Race 2 Fremantle Legacy Hcp, (3yo), 1000m, (4.06pm EST) They will really scoot along in this, with the Paul Jordan stablemates (1) Rev ol iti on and (7 ) Franc ina holding the key. They should control from the front, with (3 ) Buon R ic ord o box seating and ( 6) G o Buster handy. Revolition was brilliant winning over 1100m here seven days ago and again Jordan has taken an apprentice’s claim, this time 3kg with Duncan Miller. Drawn one, he should lead and looks too quick for his rivals. Has backed up and won before, so I have no worries with the seven days’ breaks. He really does have a touch of class – his rating is 83, with (2) Moonli ght D rive the closest at 68. Buon Ricordo was very good winning back to back races at Bunbury, prior to looking the winner at the mid weeks recently, when run down by a promising type in Royal Devotion. It was a good effort and he is still learning the caper. Should trail the leader and get his chance in the straight. Moonlight Drive has Revolition’s scalp last season at Belmont and Trevor Andrews has elected to add blinkers to his charge this time. Trialled in the blinkers at Belmont recently, when setting up a slick time and was nailed late by the seasoned older horse, I Command. (4) E mteevee is a horse I want to follow from this race. He has oodles of scope, but will find the 1000 metres too short. He has trialled well at Belmont in preparation for this. He is being taken along slowly by the very astute Danny Morton and when he gets to 1400m+, look out!
THE VERDICT I’m confident (1) Revolition can outspeed his rivals, and win from (3) Buon Ricordo. Watch betting with (2) Moonlight Drive and (4), Emteevee with (7) Francina a first four/quartet hope.
Race 3 – Legacy Laurel Clubs Hcp (3YO), 1400m 4.41 pm (EST) The speed looks even and all horses should get their chance. (7) Qui ck Tur n should be positive from a wide gate with (6) Kender, (8) Ro yal Dev ot io n having
the run of the race from (3) Mi o Fratel l o and (4 ) S mok in Drag on. I’m rating Smokin Dragon one of the better bets of the day. His was a fabulous debut victory at Pinjarra over 1200m on April 2, oozing quality! Then he had absolutely no luck at Ascot against similar opposition a fortnight ago. Was caught out in no man’s land, working throughout but kept finding the line. He has a 1.5kg weight turnaround on Fun Spice for a long head margin. Should be able to get on the back of Royal Devotion and get his chance. Royal Devotion is another promising type who has rated very highly winning two of his last three. She smashed twice subsequent winner Mekong Miss over 1000m in slick time at Bunbury three starts back, then was dominant winning here at the midweeks, with the handy Buon Ricordo in her wake. William Pike will give him his chance. (1) Fun Spice has a whirlwind finish, when saved for a late run. The race was run to suit last time, he had clear running and went ‘bang’. He is drawn well, however will have to put in a massive performance with the 58kg in a hot field. Kender was huge first-up, missed start and was the only horse to make ground when third to Shock Value over 1100m here on March 28. Second-up was able to sit on top of strong speed, and although wanting to lay in badly in the straight was still only beaten 2 lengths by Fun Spice and Smokin Dragon. She gets the spot outside the lead and will give cheek. (2) Barn Bur ner was the best of good things beaten at the midweeks (2nd to Lago Man, 1600m, April 15), but strikes a hot field, coming back from 1600m to 1400m.
THE VERDICT I’m keen to bet up on (4) Smokin Dragon from (8) Royal Devotion, then (1) Fun Spice, (6), Kender, (2), Barn Burner and (3) Mio Fratello a first four/quartet hope.
QUADDIE FIRST LEG Race 4 – Jacks Or Better Plate (2yo) 1600m, 5.18pm (EST) This race is named after the former top line local galloper Jacks Or Better, who won the 1995 Railway Stakes. The speed looks even – to be set by ( 8) Dawi nner – and every
runner should get a winning opportunity. (9) Aria Magi c is likely to hold box seat, (2) Wizards P o int should be handy with stablemates Aljizah and (7) Splendid Sun not far away. I believe ( 3) Bridgest one can turn the tables on Sires’ winner and stablemate (1) G od Has Spoken. I have waited for Bridgestone to get to 1600 metres and this race looks ideal. The son of Pentire has defied his breeding by winning a 1000 metre trial at Belmont and placing at his subsequent two starts at Ascot over 1200 metres, in good company. He was run off his feet in the Karrakatta and his final sectionals were excellent. He had no luck in the Sires’, sitting wide throughout, having to overcome a check mid-race and was the widest runner cornering. God Has Spoken cut the corner and got a dream run through the field. Bridgestone will settle back and should be able to pop on the back of (4 ) Test The A ngels who will take him into the race. God Has Spoken put up an extraordinary performance bursting through down near the inside, from last on the turn, to win the Sires’ in emphatic fashion. Once again he is likely to get back and will need similar luck, but Steven Parnham will be keen to win on a horse he jumped off two starts back. Dawinner box-seated in the Sires’ and stuck on soundly over the concluding stages. She does look a query at the 1600m, but with the claim and tactical speed, she should give some cheek. Test The Angels got a long way back from his wide gate in the sires and had an interrupted run at a vital stage. Bred to relish the 1600 metres, being by Testa Rossa, from former talented Stakes class mare Angel’s Image. Will make his presence felt.
THE VERDICT I’m keen to back (3) Bridgestone and save on (1) God Has Spoken, from (8) Dawinner, (4) Test The Angels then (5) I Owe You and (2) Wizards Point.
FOR THE QUADDIE Go wide: 3,1,8,4 If skinny: 3,1
QUADDIE SECOND LEG Race 5 – Legacy Wards (Children) Hcp (0-79), 1600m, 5.55pm (EST) I’m expecting a strong tempo in this. Look for horses finishing on from back in the field. (8) L itt le Assassin will look to work forward from wide out, with (4) Kennedy, (3) Sky Marsha ll and (5) Truckin Tobie holding their spots. (1 ) Caller One does look a special on paper, however he may be snookered three back
the fence, which can sometimes be an awkward spot at Ascot. The former David Hayes’ trained veteran has been in awesome form throughout this Ascot season and he comes off a little break since a strong last start win at this track/distance on March 21. Neville Parnham has gone for an astute three kilo claim with Duncan Miller, back from the east, but my query is experienced hoop Patrick Carbery (five rides, two wins and three placings) really clicked with Caller One. Parnham has done an amazing job with this horse who resumed at this meeting last year and is still racing in peak form. His win in February over Found and Kept rates very highly and he has not run a bad race in 2009. The only sticking point with me is the way Carbery rode Caller One, winding him into the race early, ready to pounce cornering and letting down quickly from the top of the straight. Will Duncan Miller be able to replicate this pattern from gate one? The 5yo entire (2 ) Burnzy is a talented type, who resumed for a new stable at Kalgoorlie and his effort was good. He had 58kg, was caught three wide, restrained, did not get in at any stage and hit the line nicely when 5th to Swahili. He is drawn to get on the back of Sky Marshall and was ultra impressive winning at this track/distance in December ’08, with winning form behind him from Gambero, Le Bon Jeune and Sir Clase. He will be the value in the race. Sky Marshall never runs a bad race, tries hard and was a touch unlucky behind Caller One three starts back, before winning here last time over 1800m, with subsequent winners Danacolada and Black Habit in his wake. (6) Do n Kaly is an 8yo who has obviously had his fair share of issues. His last two runs have been very good behind Gamroy and McLurch; that’s good form for this. However, he will get back to last and has only won one from 19.
THE VERDICT Back (1) Caller One and save on (2) Burnzy, with (3) Sky Marshall a winning chance; then (6) Don Kaly, from (7) Eucabello, (5) Truckin Tobie, and (8) Little Assassin exotic hopes.
FOR THE QUADDIE If wide: 1,2,3,6,5,7,8. If skinny: 1,2,3
THE QUADDIE THIRD LEG Race 6 – Diggers’ Cup, 2200m, 6.30pm (EST) Looks to be an even tempo, but they won't break any records as races run in WA over a journey are more often just a walk and a quicken from the 600m. (4 ) Si r C lase will
roll to front, with (7 ) Observati on on top of the speed and (2) Cat In A Hat boxseating. (1) Star Enc oun ter is better with a sit. (3) La mbt on Castle gets his chance to return to the winners’ stall. He has always displayed above average potential, including a hat-trick of wins in December 08 on a very similar program – over 1800m, 1400m and then 2400m. He subsequently finished fifth, only beaten four lengths in the Perth Cup (2400m) behind Guyno. He showed he took no harm from that effort with a win at Stakes level over 1800m at Ascot at the end of January. Forget his Bunbury Cup run when knuckled at start and he then just whacked away in the Pinjarra Cup. The key is he carried 58kg and 57kg respectively in those cups and here he looks well in after the claim for Ben Kennedy at 54.5kg. He was able to reel off a 33.74 last section in the Strickland (1800m) when fourth behind Marasco and Tarzi, and then broke 33 seconds last week in the Grandstand Cup (1400m) behind Megatic. That form is very good for a race like this. He will get a cosy run at the back of the field and just has to hold his current form to run down his rivals. His quick back-up form is very good and he gets the nod just ahead of Star Encounter. She is a talented mare who has been out-sprinted at her last two starts over short trips. She is well placed up to 2200 metres because she stays all day, but does have 58kg to deal with. She did beat Lambton Castle (7th) in the Pinjarra Cup, but there is a 5.5 kilo turnaround in the favour of Lambton Castle for a 3.5 length defeat. I reckon they will fight out the finish. Cat In A Hat was ready to improve last start and Shaun McGruddy pinched it in front. Drawn well and should get a cosy run behind the speed. He won at sixth run back from a spell at 2200 metres two preps back and will be thereabouts.
THE VERDICT Back (3) Lambton Castle and save on (1) Star Encounter from (2) Cat In The Hat, then (7), Observation, and (4) Sir Clase.
IN THE QUADDIE 3,1,2
FOURTH LEG OF QUADDIE Race 7 – Legacy Windows Hcp (0-86), 1400m, 7.05pm (EST) This will be truly run, so all runners get a winning chance. ( 7) Ge yser Peak, (9) Cor onate, ( 11) The S lam, and (4) Lakeside Rh yth m push forward and will be prominent early. This is a tricky race to end the day. A big watch on Geyser Peak,
a last start narrow Bendigo winner. I watched the replay of his second on Thousand Guineas day (Oct 15) at Caulfield, behind Vigor, who subsequently has won his next four races in good style. He worked hard up the horror Caulfield hill to sit on top of the speed, while his stablemate Vigor had the cushy run. He got a split half way up the running and fought to the line. He is drawn to lead or box seat and his tough racing pattern gives him a great chance around Ascot. The query is how did he handle the travel to the West? Has he settled in? These are vital questions, but I am happy to watch the betting with him and follow the smart money. The Adam Durrant pair (1 ) Inarticu late and ( 2) Reverend L ovej oy are the two obvious challengers. Inarticulate has been untapped and was taken to Albany for their feature sprint on Cup Day for an easy kill. He was on a Railway Stakes path last spring but the plan was aborted following a lacklustre last at Ascot on Nov 22. This time last year, he was able to string together five straight wins in this sort of grade and with W. Pike from gate four he will get a charmed run midfield in transit. I have him on the back of (6) E uclassy Thi ng. Inarticulate has won three of four second-up, so I have no worries on that front. Reverend Lovejoy got the cash for us first-up, then went back from a wide gate in a slowly run race last time and had no hope. He appears to be on a path to Kalgoorlie’s big events, so he’s still on an upward spiral. Suited up to 1400 metres at this stage of his campaign and just needs an ounce of luck from his inside gate. However Peter Hall is an experienced hoop and knows his mount well. Euclassy Thing had the right run and won in good style last start at this track/distance. Gets a nice run again and will be competitive. I have not found a first four place for the in form Coronate and the fast finishing (3) Garavan ni.
THE VERDICT Follow the money trail if it comes,with (7) Geyser Peak, with (1) Inarticulate the hardest to beat with (2) Reverend Lovejoy right in the mix; next (6) Euclassy Thing, (9) Coronate, (3) Garavanni and in wide multiples (4) Lakeside Rhythm, and (8) No White Flag.
IN THE QUADDIE Going wide: 7,2,1,6,9,3. If skinny 7,2,1 Good Luck and Happy Punting! Tune in to all the racing action from the west with the PR.Com subscriber's package for $200 a year - just $4 a week. Josh Rodder www.perthracing.com.au