Races

Digby Beacham’s Saturday Ascot Preview

Posted on | Posted by Digby Beacham

RACE 1

It was hard not to be impressed by the return to racing of CAPRICORN MAN. A positive ride by Madi Derrick aboard a lightly-raced animal with an affinity for Ascot. He was targeted in betting on that occasion and with the benefit of that hit-out under his belt, looms as the one they need to beat here. Does rise 1.5kg, but you know where he will be in the run and that is key at headquarters, especially early in the afternoon. ON THE FULL chased home hard behind CAPRICORN MAN and gets a 3kg weight swing in his favour. FAST FLICKER also comes out of that race and was scratched from Bunbury to race here. The 1200m suits. SEDUCE ME is going well, but her pattern counts against her.

Numbers: 1 – 3 – 9 – 5

Suggested Bet – CAPRICORN MAN WIN

RACE 2

The raced brigade v the unraced brigade. Many wise individuals will tell you that juveniles with race experience are so much better off than those we haven’t seen yet. Obviously, there are exceptions to the rule. ANGELS IMPACT, a winner of the opening two-year-old race of the season, looks to have the measure of the three he met a fortnight ago that are buttering up again — THIS’LL SHOW YA, LONDON’S IMAGE AND SHOW THE WAY. Can he resist the fresh faces, headed up by GOLDEN VALE, SATIN BOW and SIREN ASSAULT? THIS’LL SHOW YA displayed blistering speed to breeze and toughed it out, shaded late by LONDON’S IMAGE. GOLDEN VALE has impressed in her two trials.

Numbers: 1 – 5 – 6 – 7

Suggested Bet – ANGELS IMPACT WIN

RACE 3

TRIPLE JAY did a very good job last start to grab third. Having drawn wide and racing on top of the speed with no cover, he was entitled to puncture. He didn’t and was gunned down for second by RULER ROCKET, who he meets here again. This time around, TRIPLE JAY has drawn better in seven, whereas RULER ROCKET starts from the extreme outside. The start prior, TRIPLE JAY rode the pace and was nabbed by PLAYHOUSE PATRON, a race that has proven an excellent form reference. NOBELLITY made a splash in his first-up effort and the Mike Santich stable is ticking over beautifully. FOREST WAR is … well, FOREST WAR, but his recent trial was extremely encouraging.

Numbers: 3 – 7 – 2 – 6

Suggested Bet – TRIPLE JAY WIN

RACE 4

Pick your poison. The cerise and white operation has four runners in this graduation 1800m event where PLEASURE CRUISE, the lightly raced son of Justify is all the rage. Does he deserve to start favourite? Off the two wins to open his career and a luckless fifth a fortnight ago when getting no cover over 1400m, yes. But he is awfully short. William Pike has elected to ride him over DIAMOND SCENE, who he piloted to a strong first-up win last Wednesday week over 1600m. It was a great training display by Donna Riordan. BERNBRAE and SKETTA could easily bob up at double figures.

Numbers: 11 – 4 – 1 – 6

Suggested Bet – PLEASURE CRUISE WIN

RACE 5

STRIKE NOW backs up for Clint Johnston-Porter and Jason Miller off what was a soft win in the end over 1800m. It was a sweet ride by CJP and in a staying event that doesn’t appear to have a lot of tempo, the foray into a staying trip shouldn’t prove a hindrance. Aiding his chances of going back-to-back and notching a third win in his past four starts is the turn of foot he possesses, not to mention he also has a suitable impost of 57.5kg. BANDALERA MISS appreciated getting back to Ascot on opening day and loves firm ground. TONI’S SPIRIT and BAD WOLF are at contrasting stages of their careers, but racing in equally good fashion.

Numbers: 3 – 4 – 12 – 1

Suggested Bet – STRIKE NOW

RACE 6

It’s never easy to tiptoe around horses who have compiled impressive winning strike-rates. But we’ll go that way here and hope we don’t finish with egg on our face. SPEED DREAM is a horse who frustrates punters, but equally, you’d love to own him because he rarely runs a bad race. He just doesn’t win out of turn. His return over 1200m on opening day was very SPEED DREAM-ish, but he went in without a trial and was beaten 4.5 lengths by AUGMENT, who is in the market in the Belgravia. Drops 6kg here and if they’re making any ground, watch for him to be working home late. MAGNIFICENT ANDY is one of those winners, with his latest success in the Hannan’s Handicap delighting punters nation-wide. Is up 5kg here and also has to contend with the resuming RUSTY DREAMS. Her trial at Lark Hill was smart. STREET PARADE backs up after setting a solid tempo this track and trip last weekend.

Numbers: 6 – 1 – 9 – 3

Suggested Bet – SPEED DREAMS EACH-WAY

RACE 7

COSMIC CRUSADER is a work in a progress, but he also looks like he is a fast learner. A raw winter two-year-old, he has returned a far more mature individual mentally and physically, with his opening day win over 1400m laced with arrogance. It wouldn’t have been a shock had he gone to the 1800m, but the cerise and white are already well represented there. Therefore he stays at 1400m and must overcome a low barrier. Off what we have seen though, if he spots daylight, he can burst through and win again en route to the WA Guineas. Joseph Azzopardi elected to stick with COSMIC CRUSADER over AMBER GLIDE, who is flying herself. The barrier is a concern, but no denying Ross Price has her going brilliantly. BENJI’S return in a 78+ 1400m franked his recent trial and after the claim for Brayden Gaerth is only 4kg off the minimum. PENNY ON THE QUEEN could give cheek out in front.

Numbers: 13 – 9 – 1 – 12

Suggested Bet – COSMIC CRUSADER WIN

RACE 8

Another black-type three-year-old event in WA where you can’t help but get excited. The Max Simmonds Stakes might have unearthed one out of the box … ALMIGHTY CLASS. The spruik had been strong over his talent levels and off what we witnessed, you can understand why. He travelled strongly, absorbed pressure and then gave a kick in the straight like he had only joined in halfway through the race. Goes up 2kg here, but maps ideally and is likely to be at the head of the chasing pack. SUPER SMINK resumes off a slick trial in which she bowled around and yet finished only one length off Asian Beau Stakes-bound ADMIRATION EXPRESS. Can’t wait to see her wicked turn of foot once more. RIPCORD is paying the price for his two-year-old accomplishments, but gets his preferred 1200m here. AUGMENT has formlines around SUPER SMINK from their 2YO days. A LOT OF GOOD MEN and PETULA will have admirers.

Numbers: 3 – 2 – 1 – 11

Suggested Bet & Same Race Multi – ALMIGHTY CLASS Top 2 + SUPER SMINK Top 3

The trial of Almighty Class leading into his first-up run was eye-catching and set the tone for his dazzling win in the Max Simmonds Stakes. The step from 1000m to 1200m here is ideal at this stage of the preparation, as is the barrier from which he’ll jump. The race shape profiles eerily similar to the Max Simmonds Stakes for the Mitchell Pateman-trained gelding. As for Super Smink, she hasn’t put in a dodgy display yet and showed she was poised to make a splash in the spring with a terrific trial against older horses at Lark Hill. She’ll let the speed go and be winding up down the centre of the Ascot track. Almighty Class top 2, Super Smink top 3.

RACE 9

SENTIMENTAL HERO didn’t get the rub of the green most thought he would (and hoped) on opening day behind POMPEY. Don’t mistake that comment though for him being disappointing. He was anything but and now that he comes back a peg in grade and in a race where they look like they’ll march, he represents one of the better bets on the day. Is progressive and proven at being able to withstand pressure and run well at a mile. MACK MACK is up in class, but will be just behind the pacemakers and looms as the leader early in the straight. The booking of William Pike is an undeniable advantage. Hard not to like the way ATLANTIS BEACH and PLAYHOUSE PATRON are racing. Same can’t be said about their barriers. EEYORE WAYZ isn’t hopeless here up to a mile.

Numbers: 5 – 9 – 12 – 7

Suggested Bet – SENTIMENTAL HERO WIN

Quaddie (Races 6-9)

6,1,9,3,2,4

13,9,1

3,2,1,11,4,12

5,9,12

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