Ascot 23 January – Thoroughbreds Preview Posted on January 22, 2016 | Posted by Greg Hooper Greg Hooper’s Preview RACE 1 – FLYING COLOURS SUMMER SPECIAL HANDICAP 1400m No. 6 PEGGY SUE – I’m keen on the promising filly PEGGY SUE in this opening race of the day. She broke her maiden with an impressive win at just her second start. She should get all the favours from gate 2 and Harvey jumps on. (1) THE BLUE NIPPER looks the logical danger. He pushed the very smart Lite’n In My Veins to a half length at his most recent start. (2) FOURTY FOUR RED will lead and give some cheek. (5) MERRIJIG has claims. Suggested Bet – Peggy Sue win RACE 2 – AUSTRALIA DAY CUP 1500m No. 3 VENGABUS – The Simon Miller trained six-year-old VENGABUS is in career best form including a big win over 1400m last week when he led and dictated. He looks the only leader again and if he gets his own way in front they will struggle to get over him. (4) RFELECTANCE is another horse who is in career best form. He should relish the 1500m and with the claim for Randy Tan will only carry the postage stamp weight of 51.5kg. (2) CARRY THE NATION beat a similar line-up at his most recent start and is the other chance. (5) ALREADY FAMOUS can run a race fresh. Suggested Bet – Vengabus win RACE 3 – AMELIA PARK PLATE 1100m No. 3 RHI’S ROCKET – Speedy three-year-old RHI’S ROCKET will likely fire straight to the front and be very hard to run down in this 1100m sprint. He won his first two WA runs in a strong fashion before doing a mountain of work in running and finishing a game third behind the smart Vega Magic and Scales Of Justice. (1) DIAMOND TONIQUE should settle on the back of Rhi’s Rocket. (5) DREAMTIME DANCER will be finishing powerfully. (2) VIKING FORREST has claims again. Suggested Bet – Rhi’s Rocket win RACE 4 – PERTH RACING#ASCOTHAPPENS PLATE 1100m No. 1 THE RIVER – It is hard to tip against the impressive debut winner THE RIVER. He showed an electric turn of foot on that occasion and appears to be one of the smartest two-year-olds to have hit the track this season. If he is within striking distance he takes some holding out. (2) TRADEMARK probably lacks the class of his stable mate however Harvey goes on he settles handy to the speed from a good draw. (7) DAINTY TESS trialled in a very nice order. (4) FOUR WHITE FOX has done everything right in both trials. Suggested Bet – The River win RACE 5 – MEMBERSHIP PRO-RATA RATES HANDICAP 2400m No. 2 COUGAR EXPRESS – Tough stayer COUGAR EXPRESS gets his chance to post a much deserved win in this 2400m handicap. Harvey will likely be able to find the front with relative ease and from there he takes plenty of running down. (4) QUITE REGAL was a strong winner at Pinjarra. He drops weight on that run and Pike goes on. (1) SAVANAROLA endured a tough run in the Perth Cup. He won a similar race prior to that. (7) FLYING FORCE has each-way claims. Suggested Bet –Cougar Express save Quite Regal RACE 6 – VALE MICHAEL ‘MICK’ TAYLOR HANDICAP 1200m No. 2 TRAVELLIN’ – I’m very keen on the last start winner TRAVELLIN’ in this sprint. He was a strong winner at his most recent start and although he’s going from a Wednesday to Saturday race this doesn’t appear much of a class rise. From gate 3 Clint Johnston-Porter should have him in the perfect spot ready to strike. (7) CLOBBERETTA looks the danger. She attacked the line at her most recent start and it took a very smart horse to beat her. (8) DENDEE drops in distance and the bar plates go on which is a concern however she is in impeccable form. (5) FESTIVE EXCESS can finish in the money again. Suggested Bet –Keen on Travellin’ save Clobberetta RACE 7 – WA BUSH FIRE APPEAL RACEDAY 20 FEB HANDICAP 1800m No. 8 SOCIALLY UNIQUE – Lightly raced four-year-old SOCIALLY UNIQUE has returned in top form this campaign. He was a big winner first-up at Pinjarra and then last week was doing his best work late in a race dominated by the leader. From his good gate he can settle handier to the speed and he should relish the rise to 1800m. (2) SAKER looks the main danger. He got the job done at his most recent start, albeit narrowly. (12) O’REILLY’S CRUMPET is a horse on the rise. He attacked the line fresh at Pinjarra. (6) DANISH DELIGHT is finding it impossible to win another race but Harvey goes on. Suggested Bet – Socially Unique save Saker RACE 8 – STONE MOTHERLESS AFTER RACE 8 HANDICAP 1100m No. 16 CALABRIA JOE – This is a wide open finish to the program. CALABRIA JOE should derve plenty of benefit from his first-up run where he was beaten just over a length. He has good second up stats and drops 2.5kg on that run. (15) OUTLAW PETE is a very talented four-year-old. He’s trialled well and should be attacking the line. (14) VOLKOFF is flying and can make it a hat-trick. (13) NORTH RIDGE will be doing his best work late. Suggested Bet – Calabria Joe each-way QUADDIE RACE 5 – 1, 2, 4 RACE 6 – 2, 7 RACE 7 – 2, 6, 8, 12 RACE 8 – 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16 Bet Now
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