Races

Michael Heaton’s Saturday Ascot Preview

Posted on | Posted by Michael Heaton

RACE 1

FEELS PLAYFUL resumed at 1400m, crossed to the breeze and ran subsequent Saturday winner Rock My Way to a nose. She gapped the third-placed horse by 3.7L and now drops 1kg with naturally improved fitness levels. FASHION STAKES ran very well at 1400m at her first two starts this campaign before dropping back to 1200m at her last two. She made late ground behind the talented Rear Admiral last time out and looks suited stepping up to 1400m with a favourable map. SALARY MAN can find the top and control.  ROCK ‘N’ TALES had no luck when posted three-wide without cover at his return but toughed it out well to run third.

Numbers: 9 – 8 – 2 – 1

Suggested Bet – FEELS PLAYFUL WIN

RACE 2

SHELL BELL is just one of likely two runners in the race with race experience as If I Din Haveadime is unlikely to race off a three-day turnaround after winning on Wednesday. She crossed to the front last start, set a fast tempo throughout before sticking on well to run second to Home James and she’s drawn inside her main dangers here (if If I Din Haveadime scratches). LEADING TADDY is the first of the Ducimus stock we get to see on race day. The recent trial win was impressive and the horse he beat didn’t get much luck at Belmont on Wednesday. JATS bombed the start at his first trial but made good late ground and then looked much more professional when jumping cleanly and winning his next trial. He appears to have some ability. MORE SPECIAL makes her debut off the back of two 400m trial wins and looks very fast.

Numbers: 6 – 3 – 4 – 9

Suggested Bet – SHELL BELL WIN

RACE 3

VANE TEMPEST’S formlines jump off the page for a race of this nature but it’s likely to be a heart-in-mouth watch for punters from her inside draw. She isn’t the most reliable beginner and may well end up in an awkward position but she’s brilliantly placed and weighted for this grade after young gun Luke Campbell’s claim. She finds herself in a 66+ race restricted to fillies and mares and five starts ago ran 1.4L off Resortman in the Listed Farnley Stakes, three starts ago ran a neck second to Hot Zed in a 78+, two starts ago made a stack of late ground behind Sniparoochy and Baby Paris in the Listed Jungle Mist Classic and last start arguably should’ve won the Listed Jungle Dawn Classic. GLASGOW GIRL looked the winner before getting gunned down on the post by Costume Party and W Pike last start. Now drops 2.5kg to carry only 52.5kg from a low draw and she runs for apprentice Victoria Corver. NINETYONE DWYER is likely to settle rearwards and may not be entirely suited dropping back to 1200m but she’s come back well, is capable of a strong finish and drops 4.5kg. SOCKOFF should be able to find her customary role in front but steps to 1200m for the first time in her 13-start career.

Numbers: 1 – 3 – 6 – 2

Suggested Bet – VANE TEMPEST WIN

RACE 4

WEAPONSON looks ready to win third-up. He comes from a pair of 72+ events back into a 66+ after running into a wall of traffic first-up before finishing strongly to run second to Burnya To Survive a fortnight ago. He should get a nice run midfield-with-cover and the 3kg pull and map advantage on Bitofmerit might be enough to give him the edge. BITOFMERIT has serious X-factor. Returned in a blaze of glory when jumping the gates cleanly, holding a position in running and winning impressively. The form has already been franked with Hardly Ever winning last Saturday but he’ll now have to do it at 1200m and from near-last after drawing the extreme outside. AIN’T NO OTHER MAN hasn’t won in 19 months but has run second at four of his last six starts and can take up the running. CORN COB has won 10 races in Geraldton and gets some much-needed weight relief here. Well and truly deserves his spot but might need an ounce of luck luck from a potentially awkward gate with speed drawn both inside and outside of him.

Numbers: 4 – 2 – 3 – 1

Suggested Bet – WEAPONSON WIN

RACE 5

GODDESS OF GIVING is still a maiden but oozes talent. She was one of the runs of the meeting when resuming a fortnight ago and bursting through the pack in eye-catching fashion to run the fastest closing splits of the day. Has always shown a level of ability, will appreciate the step up to 1200m and should be suited by the expected hot tempo. STREET PARADE has won two on the bounce and has definite claims again. He has a tough draw to overcome but the two main speed horses have drawn outside of him so he’s a chance of being able to follow them across and then slot in. SALOON BAR was never going to be suited first-up at 1000m but was very strong through the line and will get a soft run in a suitably fast-run 1200m. REVITUP added another string to her bow when breezing and winning at 1200m last start and she’s brilliantly weighted under SWP conditions here but she’ll have to work hard to get across from her outside draw and will have to burn the candle at both ends.

Numbers: 13 – 1 – 5 – 3

Suggested Bet – GODDESS OF GIVING EACH-WAY

Race 6

ALSEPHINA is a super-talented mare. She showed her class to overcome a dawdling tempo and being held in a pocket turning for home to muscle her way out and make it seven wins from nine starts last Saturday. She now drops 3.5kg, is 1/1 off the quick back-up, gets a 4kg pull on Treasured Star and is still on the up this campaign. TREASURED STAR won the Group 3 Asian Beau three starts ago and was only beaten 3L in the Railway and Northerly at Group 1 level at her last two outings. Brilliantly placed in this type of race. PLAYING MARIKA had a torrid run last week but was still brave to the line to be beaten only 2L by Alsephina, gets 1kg on her from that effort and is a renowned seven-day specialist. BUZZOOM received a 10/10 ride from John Allen when winning the Jungle Dawn but has a potentially sticky draw to overcome and steps to a mile for the first time in 10 starts.

Numbers: 6 – 1 – 5 – 2

Suggested Bet – ALSEPHINA WIN

RACE 7

QUEEN ALINA is a progressive stayer on the rise. She’s been enormous at each start this campaign, especially at her first start over 2100m a fortnight ago when getting shuffled back to an awkward position and then savaging the line in eye-catching fashion. She remains at 54.5kg here and – rating points dependant – a win could see her thrown into Perth Cup calculations if she’s able to sneak into the field. ROCH LEGACY may lack the class of his stablemate but he’s been building into his campaign, gets 2kg on her from their last start and is rock-hard fit now. HOLY ENCHANTMENT will appreciate the rise in distance and should continue to improve with each run on his way to the Cup. REJUVA KING is a 3YO taking on the older horses over a staying journey which is never easy but he gives the indication he’ll suit the trip and is well-weighted after the 3YO allowance.

Numbers: 7 – 13 – 2 – 6

Suggested Bet – QUEEN ALINA WIN

RACE 8

MAROCCHINO is a marvel but still seems to be underrated. He’s closing in on $1mil in total earnings after his brilliant performance in the A.J Scahill Cup when leading throughout with 60.5kg and he now drop 1.5kg to be the best-suited under Weight-For-Age conditions as the equal highest rated horse. He’s likely to sit outside Trap For Fools in the run before hitting the front on straightening and will look the winner at some stage. STEINEM was super in the Group 1 Northerly Stakes. She settled further back than expected after jumping tardily but finished off very well to run third and the extra 300m shouldn’t be a concern. IRONCLAD was the beneficiary of a moderate tempo in the Northerly but was still just as impressive. He never gave up the fight and should get a gun run from a perfect alley. GOD HAS CHOSEN pulled his head off for most of the 1800m of the Northerly but still managed to run home in the second-fastest closing splits (33.82 L600). It was a great effort in review and he’ll appreciate the more genuine pace that’s expected here.

Numbers: 3 – 10 – 4 – 7

Suggested Bet – MAROCCHINO EACH-WAY

Same Race Multi – Marocchino (Top 3) + Steinem (Top 3)

RACE 9

TRI FOR US ran a head second to Above The Peg in a 72+ two starts ago before having a torrid run four-wide without cover and then almost clipping heels in the straight last time out. She now reunites with Clint Johnston-Porter in a 66+, should get a perfect run midfield-with-cover and is capable of bouncing back. TRADE WAR has been the recipient of bad luck more often than not but everything fell into place last start and he won well. This is a deeper race and he now has to do it at a mile. PAT’S GOT SASS was solid in the Jungle Dawn Classic last start, rises only 0.5kg dropping back into a 66+ and can ride the speed for a long way. KNOT SECRET will need a McGruddy special from the wide draw but should’ve finished closer last start, gets a 2kg swing on Trade War in his favour and there should be a three-deep line he can blend into.

Numbers: 4 – 3 – 1 – 11

Suggested Bet – TRI FOR US EACH-WAY

Quaddie (Race 6 – 9)

1,5,6

2,7,13

3,4,7,10

1,3,4,5,10,11

Market Market



Recent Articles