Races

The TABtouch Best From The West – 17th October, 2026

Posted on | Posted by TABtouch

Racing and Sports’ Jaike Altieri provides his best bets for Eurythmic Stakes Day at Ascot.

After a brilliant return to Ascot last weekend, we return to headquarters this weekend with the R.S. Crawford Stakes and the Eurythmic Stakes the feature events.

While they are the best races on the card, the 3YO Open event (race four) looks to have plenty of ‘Pinnacles Pointers’ as we really get into the swing of things at Ascot this Saturday.

The Crawford is the first of our features for the sprinters with Hot And High the early favourite. She was dynamic over a sprint trip before stretching to a mile to win the Belmont Guineas before the break in a tremendous effort from all involved. There are a few handy ones behind her in the market though, with Cessation having the race fitness on her side while Playin’it Sweet and London’s Image are classy types on resumption. There looks to be plenty of speed engaged, which could set it up nicely for a horse like Playin’it Sweet, who showed good promise before pulling up lame in the Challenge Stakes and heading for a break.

Following the Crawford, the Eurythmic Stakes is a belter, with King Of Light back at the races, along with Western Empire and Watch Me Rock, who returns to WA.

King Of Light was brilliant in the Idyllic Prince on resumption and has been kept fresh since after Dan Morton and connections decided not to send the son of Earthligh across the nullarbor, instead planning an assault on The Pinnacles. He’ll have to be up to the task first-up though, with Western Empire trialling impressively in readiness for his return. After going unbeaten last campaign, the nine-year-old appears to be at that level again on resumption and as long as there’s enough tempo, he’ll be lurking as they enter the straight.

Watch Me Rock is an interesting one. Last year’s Railway Stakes Winner was edged out by Cosmic Crusader in the Northerly (that form looks good now!) before heading across to Victoria. He held his own in the Futurity but failed badly in the All Star Mile, with connections sending him back to WA to defend his Railway crown. With the aid of an inside draw and being back in familiar surroundings, he may have the tactical advantage on his rivals.

Best Bet – Race 10 #4 ROCK FEST

Rock Fest is an exciting gelding on resumption, tackling the RTG66+ on his return to the races. He progressed quickly through the grades, just missing behind King Of Light when flashing home in the Fairetha and again in the W.A. Guineas where he was at the top of betting for the Northerly Stakes before being sent for a spell. He trialled in February but went for another break before hitting the line very impressively in his most recent trial, with Afireofgidgeecoals who was runner-up in the Max Simmonds last weekend.
He looks in good shape for his resuming effort and with some knocks on the early favourite Ourgirlcanrun, he looks a very backable price.

Next Best – Race 3 #7 JEDI DREAM

Siding with the lightly raced 3YO Jedi Dream on resumption on the back of a nice trial where she showed speed and won at Lark Hill. She was very good from the back in both the Karrakatta and the Sires’ before a break and she clearly has the most upside of anything in the 1MW event. The inside draw could be a query, but if she shows good speed like she has done previously out of the barriers, with her expected improvement and light weight, she’ll be hard to hold out in the third event of the day.

TABtouch Best From The West:

Best Bet: Race 10 #4 ROCK FEST @ $3.20*

Next Bet: Race 3 #7 JEDI DREAM @ $2.80*

*Prices correct as of 5:20pm, October 15th.




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