Races

Michael Heaton’s Saturday Ascot Preview

Posted on | Posted by Michael Heaton

RACE 1

COUNTRY GOD resumed with a first-up third placing in the Magic Millions 3YO Trophy then was beaten only 1.6L and 1L respectively in this grade at his past 2 starts. His last-start opposition of Holler Nuff/Swingman/Ourgirlcanrun looks superior to this field and this looks winnable. SO SI GOD has a sticky draw and map to overcome but she gives the impression of being a Saturday type. GANGSTER GODDESS has been around the mark all prep and will get the run of the race with only 53kg for Holly Nottle. HASANI joins the in-form yard of Summer Dickson and whilst he’s first up, no trial at 1400m, he’s a colt with upside.

Numbers: 1-8-6-3

Suggested Bet – COUNTRY GOD WIN

RACE 2

AVOIDANCE has gone to a new level this campaign. He bolted in over 1400m on Bunbury Cup day then raced 11 points outside the handicap when setting a solid tempo in the Grandstand Cup over 1500m and being beaten only 2L by star mare Bonjoy. He’s now back in grade, back to 1400m and should dictate terms in front. The ultra-consistent DUG ANOTHER HOLE was scratched from Wednesday in preference for this and gets a gun run parked close to the speed. ROCK’N’THE JAM is second-up 5 weeks between runs but is a lightly-raced 4YO with plenty of talent and will be launching late. AMJAAD is also second-up 5 weeks between runs but was a great return when a fast-finishing second to King Hit who has since won his next 2 starts.

Numbers: 3-7-9-5

Suggested Bet – AVOIDANCE WIN

RACE 3

HOLLER NUFF was suited by the hot top-end speed last start but he still reeled off some big late figures to run over the top of them in a 1200m event where they broke 01:10:00. He steps straight to 1600m now which should be much more in his wheelhouse and he looks a progressive type. STYLISH LORD drops back to 66+ grade after placing in consecutive 72+ events and looks the likely leader. I DREAMED A DREAM hit the line super to miss by a head when second to progressive filly Searchin’ Times last start and will be doing his best work late. DECORATION has been freshened and can park up outside Stylish Lord in running with 55.5kg after Holly Nottle’s claim.

Numbers: 8-1-5-3

Suggested Bet – HOLLER NUFF WIN

RACE 4

PRECIOUS GOD always looked a talented mare before an underwhelming campaign last winter but Paula Wagg has her back to her best this time in. She came from a mile back to win on an on-speed dominated day at Pinjarra Scarpside last start and looks capable of progressing her way through lower Saturday grades now. MANGIFERA has been held up at her past 2 starts and whilst she’s drawn awkwardly here, if she can land in the moving line that could be an ideal spot for her. THE SPRUIKER has been very good at his past couple and is ready to break through for his 10th career win. HARLEQUIN PRANCER was in barnstorming form in Esperance and showed she was up to the grade when hitting the line as well as anything at Ascot a fortnight ago.

Numbers: 7-8-9-5

Suggested Bet – PRECIOUS GOD WIN

RACE 5 

WESTERN LADY has been a beaten favourite at her last 2 outings but was also sectionally massive in defeat on both occasions. She now steps to 2200m and draws a gate which should allow her to settle a bit closer in running and go one better. FEY KING produced a good staying performance in a fast-run 2100m midweek win at his fourth run back and should enjoy a suitable run tracking likely leader Rock In Wonder. AUDIO BOY is a perennial placegetter who doesn’t win out of turn but you can’t knock his consistency. ROCK IN WONDER is second-up at 2200m but is a big class dropper, gets in well after the claim and will likely take up the running.

Numbers: 8-5-2-1

Suggested Bet – WESTERN LADY WIN

RACE 6

Geraldton galloper SNIPPETY LEGEND is flying, as is the whole of Tony Scally’s stable as he’s striking at 26% from his past 50 starters and an impressive 20.2% over the past 12 months. He’ll naturally require some luck being a backmarker but there looks set to be a three-wide moving line which he can blend into and then unleash his powerful finish at a juicy quote. DESERT WAVES was brave last start when doing a fair amount of work in a fast-run race and sticking on to be beaten only 1L by subsequent 72+ winner King Hit. The 3kg drop in weight after Holly Nottle’s claim makes him hard to beat. WESTBOUND resumes and looks a progressive type who is better than Graduation grade. QUEEN ARIA has been leaving herself too much to do but she’s been making good late ground and has a much better gate to work with now.

Numbers: 2-5-6-7

Suggested Bet – SNIPPETY LEGEND EACH-WAY

RACE 7

AFIREOFGIDGEECOALS endured a torrid run on debut but bounced straight back with a strong midweek win last time out. He steps to far stronger company now but looks one of the barrier draw winners as he can camp just behind the speed and be strong late. BEATTY makes his race return and is unbeaten from 2 race starts and 2 trials. He’s arguably the state’s number one Karrakatta Plate seed but has drawn awkwardly and this isn’t his grand final so it could be a race he’s vulnerable in? Stablemate HE’S A MACHINO was always destined to do it tough in the Supremacy Stakes first up but fought on well to finish third to star filly Aurum Belle and gets a far more suitable setup here. MARCOS should land in a commanding position and can play a part at odds.

Numbers: 7-1-2-8

Suggested Bet – AFIREOFGIDGEECOALS EACH-WAY

RACE 8

AURUM BELLE came with a big price tag but she looks special. This is by far her toughest test to date having drawn barrier 10 in a race with more depth and natural speed but her 2 wins from as many starts have rated through the roof and she’s managed to run all the fastest closing sectionals whilst leading at a good tempo. Different gravy? JEDI DREAM was a strong winner on debut and looks the value runner. She can park midfield before launching late and Taj Dyson rides 55.5kg for the first time since his comeback. GOD’S CHOICE arguably trialled up the best of the debutants and whilst she’s certainly thrown in the deep end first up, she’s a big winner at the barrier draw. Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner MARIA LUCIA resumes and is undefeated but she has a horror draw to contend with.

Numbers: 2-5-13-1

Suggested Bet – AURUM BELLE WIN

RACE 9

Great race. WEST STAR trialled up very well ahead of his return and is suited at WFA level. He gets a nice setup here where he can park midfield in a race with plenty of top-end pressure and he typically flies fresh. SMOOTH CHINO also resumes and faces his first test at WFA level but he’s the biggest X-factor horse in WA after being undefeated from 6 starts. He has drawn perfectly for his return and arguably the most exciting thing about him is that he appears to have the scope for so much more improvement. OSCAR’S FORTUNE strikes a far hotter field and has drawn the outside but his first-up Rock Magic Stakes win rated through the roof. LUANA MISS will likely sit back and launch late en route to representing the TABtouch slot in the BYD Quokka on April 18.

Numbers: 4-6-1-9

Suggested Bet – WEST STAR EACH-WAY

Same Race Multi – West Star (Top 3) + Smooth Chino (Top 3)

The two local stars kick off their BYD Quokka campaigns in the Roma Cup and both trialled up very well ahead of their returns. West Star is suited at Weight-For-Age level and gets a nice race shape here whilst the untapped Smooth Chino has drawn perfectly to keep his undefeated record in tact.

RACE 10

Tough race. CANNYKEV maps awkwardly but he’s in career-best form, won well last time out and showed he’s up to this level 3 starts ago when finishing a narrow second to Haida Gwaii at this track/grade/distance. JUST SAINT JAMES resumes off the back of a soft trial in top company and he was a brilliant fresh winner last campaign. PINGERS endured a tough run in a stronger field last start and won 4 of her previous 5 so she’s capable of bouncing back. THERMOSPHERE lad races first-up, no trial and was a model of consistency last prep.

Numbers: 6-5-7-3

Suggested Bet – CANNY KEV EACH-WAY

Quaddie (Race 7 – 10)

1,2,7

2,5

1,2,4,5,6,9

3,4,5,6,7

180 combinations

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