Digby Beacham’s Ascot Feature Rankings
WINTERBOTTOM STAKES (1200m) – November 26
1. MISS CONTEKI
You will know your fate with this mare in regards to how the track is playing. If, like last week, they are making ground, she is a live hope. Not sure she has ever gone as well as she has this campaign, breaking 33 seconds for her last 600m at all three starts. Will be flashing late.
2. VILANA
The more you hear about this bloke, the more excited you get. Godolphin know better than most what a good horse profiles like and the Blue Army is adamant Vilana is high class. The win in The Hunter was brilliant and he has settled in superbly. Can most definitely win.
3. ROTHFIRE
Robert Heathcote and Damien Oliver combine here with this Queenslander in their pursuit of more Winterbottom Stakes glory. Not only does the gelding get the services of a Hall of Famer, he has come up with the perfect barrier. His best is terrific.
4. THIS’LL TESTYA
I’ll admit that I have been late to the party with This’ll Testya. But as they say, it’s better late than never. Her form this campaign has been superb and if you like Miss Conteki, she needs to come under consideration. Was terrific in the Colonel Reeves Stakes and has a lovely gate for her racing pattern. The 1200m is the only niggle.
5. MY BELLA MAE
What a training performance this would be? Dion Luciani has handled this exciting filly brilliantly and she injects undeniable X-factor into the race. Unbeaten from three starts and has ticked the 1200m box in impressive fashion at her past two.
NORTHERLY STAKES (1800m) – December 3
1. CASCADIAN
He will be giving some of his rivals weight, but he could also be giving them a beating. The old boy is in vintage form and gave everyone in WA an indication of how well he is tracking with a slick 1200m trial at Belmont Park on Monday. Knows how to win at Group 1 level.
2. AMELIA’S JEWEL
Reclaimed her crown (if she actually lost it in the first place) as the State’s premier three-year-old with a stirring win as a heavily-backed favourite in the WA Guineas. Rises to 1800m, but drops down to 50kg for the WFA assignment. Fillies have a wonderful recent record in the feature.
3. BUSTLER
Impossible not to respect this three-year-old. Suffered his first defeat at the hands of Amelia’s Jewel last Saturday, but didn’t throw in the towel. Has been aimed at the Northerly for some time and the father-son combo of Neville and Steven Parnham have won the race for fun over the years.
4. TRIX OF THE TRADE
You will go a long way to find a more popular victory than Trix Of The Trade’s in last Saturday’s Railway Stakes. Aided by a gun Troy Turner ride, he exploded in the straight. He now needs to do it at WFA, but Colin Webster has him flying.
5. ALASKAN GOD
Was not the Alaskan God we had seen throughout his three-year-old days or the Alaskan God we witnessed savage the line fresh when out of the placings in the Railway. He clings to a spot in the top five, but only just ahead of Treasured Star, who was particularly impressive. He gets a mulligan.
THE GOLD RUSH (1400m) – December 10
1. KISSONALLFORCHEEKS
An experienced mare who sits at the pointy end of the plane. Fears she was perhaps going to be over the top have been allayed by both Dan Morton and Chris Parnham this week. Indeed, Morton feels the Winterbottom isn’t out of reach. She stays on top.
2. VILANA
James Cummings said this week that Vilana was getting sharper and sharper in his work, pointing to a bold showing in the Winterbottom. If he runs up to market expectations on the weekend, boy he is going to be a short quote Sunday morning. Or Saturday night for that matter.
3. KEMENTARI
His form of late suggests he wouldn’t have been out of place in the Winterbottom. Didn’t beat any stars in his trial at Belmont, but moved fluently and the 1400m at Ascot is right in his wheelhouse. Unsurprisingly, looks an absolute picture.
4. ROTHFIRE
Would love to see Robert Heathcote’s charge perform at the level most expect he will in the Winterbottom because the 1400m at this stage of his career could be his best trip. Proper horse who should be suited by the Ascot track.
5. MASSIMO
Might not have the class of his rivals, especially those from the east coast, but is a warrior who loves the 1400m and is proven at WFA. Don’t be too perturbed if he finds the Winterbottom opposition too slick.
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