Digby Beacham’s Ascot Feature Rankings Posted on November 25, 2022March 10, 2023 | Posted by Digby Beacham 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. Market Market
Scott Embry’s Thursday Northam Preview July 8, 2025 RACE 1 GOD’LL GETYA obvious has feet troubles so seeing the Bar Plates come off is a great sign. Won a barrier trial by 5L… Read More
Scott Embry’s Wednesday Pinjarra Preview July 8, 2025 RACE 1 COUNTRY GOD trialled super leading into his debut and it saw him go around favourite on a Saturday at Ascot behind Luana Miss… Read More
Warren Huntly’s Wednesday Sandown Preview July 8, 2025 Race 1 ALIANO has jumped out very well on a number of occasions for his debut and has handled wet ground under those conditions. MELBOURNE… Read More
Matt Young’s Tuesday Gloucester Park Preview July 8, 2025 Race 1 LADY DELA HOYA (7) has an abundance of early speed, the mile suits and if she can cross, she could just keep on… Read More
Shayne Williams’ Tuesday Greyhound Best Bets July 8, 2025 MANDURAH Race 6 No. 6 West On Caddy Was brilliant here winning last week in a very fast 22.39, thought it looked a good map… Read More
Matt Young’s Monday Pinjarra Preview July 7, 2025 Race 1 COCOBOLO (1) was solid on debut, chasing a frenetic pace and will be better for the run and has an improved draw, she… Read More
Shayne Williams’ Monday Greyhound Best Bets July 7, 2025 NORTHAM Race 5 No. 6 Ita Keeping Lightly raced daughter of Feral Franky, she’s won 3 from 8 in her career to date, two of… Read More
Shayne Williams’ Saturday Greyhound Best Bets July 5, 2025 CANNINGTON Race 4 No. 2 Sunset Capone Stepping back up in trip after having a crack the Winter Sprint at Mandurah over the 400 metre… Read More
Scott Embry’s Sunday Bunbury Preview July 4, 2025 RACE 1 TOBAIN had poor form in the Great Southern at Albany but since returning to the provincial area has really improved. Finished third behind… Read More
Matt Young’s Saturday Narrogin Preview July 4, 2025 Race 1 Open race. BLIND EDITION (1) has the speed to lead early and can pick and choose who he sits on, HEAVENLY BLISS (4)… Read More
Matt Young’s Friday Bunbury Preview July 4, 2025 Race 1 ALTA KING (5) gets a wonderful opportunity in this, did a power of work to get to the breeze last time out and… Read More
Shayne Williams’ Friday Greyhound Best Bets July 4, 2025 MANDURAH Race 2 No. 8 Jeremy’s Brigade Think he will appreciate the wide draw, drew the pink two starts back when over the longer 400… Read More