Ascot, WA, March 14, 2009 FIRST LEG 3.35 WA time
SECOND LEG 4.15 WA time
THIRD LEG 4.55 WA time
Perth Stakes 1100m (Listed)
Frederick James 100th J.C. Roberts Stakes B’day Hcp (0-86) 1400m 1800m (Listed)
There are huge raps about (3) Kid Choisir and no doubt he will start a red hot favourite, but quaddie players should tread a little warily. This is a quality field ($49k first prize), and leaving out the unbeaten (1) Wolfe Dreams (the Magic Millions winner) and (4) Bizet, as well as (2) The Corporation (2 from 3) is a risky strategy. Veteran trainer Frank Maynard rates Kid Choisir up with the best 2YOs he has trained, and that includes rippers such as Paklani and Send A Sign; AND he has not ruled out a Golden Slipper start for this Choisir colt. That’s certainly a strong push on our VIBOMETER. Wolfe Dreams was strong and impressive winning the MM after trailing the leader, and hitting the lead at the top of the straight. He’ll be well placed again behind the leader, Kid Choisir. The Corporation was sent out at $1.70 in the MM, missed the start, was buffeted, and drew praise for managing fourth. Pike replaces Harvey, who is on Kid Choisir. Bizet was three wide throughout winning on debut, and comes off similar formlines to the above. First starter (9) Solitary Hero is 2/2 at the 400m trials.
There are no champions here, so we’ll need to go wide. If you can afford the field, then go for it. Top chances are: (6) Just Marika, who had all favours including a delicious rails run when she beat Fine Memories in a mares’ 1200m here on Feb 28; (5) Rock The Pago, a strong finishing third in that event, when favorite; (11) Radiant Prince, impressive in a 0-73 1400m here on Feb 18, but disappointing after a soft lead when 7th to On The Warpath over 1600m (0-79) on Feb 28. Others to consider are: (7) Lexicon Gold, who hasn’t won for 12 months, but had good form last summer/autumn. Comes off a barrier trial win (3 starters) over 1000m at Belmont Park on March 3; (9) Hide The Loot, who hasn’t won since July 2007, and was ridden upside down last time; and possibly the 10YO (2) Beyond Dispute, who has four fourths in a row in similar company. The class factor is the 2008 Belmont Oaks winner Rock My Pago, who beat Thursday’s Bunbury winner My Chienne in that event over 2000m last June. She will be fitter for two runs since December. The more you look at it, the wider you go.
3 – 2,1,4 – 9
5 – 6,11 – 7,2,9
After a great series of 3YO Stakes races, we’re starting to get a sense of who sits where in the pecking order. We see the following as the top bunch in another quality line up – the filly (16) Brava Fortune vs the boys, (3) Phenomenons, (5) Shajezar, (2) Kim Coin, (1) Liquidation, (4) Dominicano and the newcomer to this company, (7) Lovre. Brava Fortune resumed from 10 months off with a great 2nd to Flight Path in the Magic Millions 3YO, before a disappointing 6th to Danebeela in the Champion Fillies (1600m) on Feb 21. Wide gate doesn’t help, but will be in the finish. The boom on Phenomenons burst when he was 4th at $1.70 to Dominicano in the TJ Smith (1600m) on Feb 28. Big chance, as are the strong finisher Shajezar (3rd in that race), Liquidation (2 nd), Kim Coin (6th), and of course the winner Dominicano, who broke his maiden status with a $41 win! The unknown is Lovre, rated highly enough by trainer Lindsey Smith to shoot for the Perth Cup (2400m) on Jan 1. He finished 8th when wide throughout, at only his fourth race start. Should race near the lead, after two months off.
FOURTH LEG 5.35 WA time Pepsi Hcp 1800m (0-79) We have a rising star to sign off the quaddie – (3) Loyalty. What a story. He’s come from a longshot winner of a Mt Barker 0-58 in January to have his trainer Frank Maynard naming him as a Kalgoorlie Cup candidate later in the year. Since coming to town, he has been a revelation. We loved his fourth straight win (1600m, Ascot 0-73, March 4), and second straight at Ascot when he came from an outside gate, was wide outside the lead, and killed them in the straight. That form wins this. Others to consider are (2) Amberlyn, down from Geraldton where she led throughout to win easily over 1800m on March 2; (5) Hawkeye Mort, down in class from recent Stakes racing; (7) Aquinas, a front runner who might find that task hard with Amberlyn drawn to lead; (10) Dvoryan, better suited over this trip; (13) Insurgency, a flying 2 nd to On The Warpath over 1600m (079) here on Feb 28; and (14) Vain Strike who will need to improve to turn the tables on Loyalty – 2¼ lens rails finishing second on March 4. That’s a long list of candidates – for second. We’re happy to take Loyalty one out.
3 – 13,14,5,2,10,7
FOCUS ON FOURTH LEG
THE (50c unit) 3,16 –PLAYS 5,4 – 1,2,7
We’ll let one of WA’s best trainers, Frank Maynard, speak on behalf of our standout, (3) Loyalty. “I never like to get carried away with horses as often as not they will turn around and make you look like a mug, but he’s shaping as though he could develop into a nice horse.” Maynard has targeted the Kalgoorlie Cup in the winter with Loyalty, shooting for his fifth straight win, and third straight at Ascot. Maynard has a big hand in our fortunes, saddling up the favorite (3) Kid Choisir in the opening leg.
$12
3,/5,6,11,7,2,9/3,16,5,4/3
$21
3/5,6,11,7,2,9/3,16,5,4,1,2,7/3
$42
3/FIELD/3,16,5,4,1,2,7/3
$84
3,2,1,4/5,6,11,7,2,9/3,16,5,4,1,2,7/3
$168
3,2,1,4/FIELD/3,16,5,4,1,2,7/3
OUR FAVOURED BET
$168
3,2,1,4/FIELD/3,16,5,4,1,2,7/3