A strong eight race card has been assembled for Ascot this Saturday where it is Detonator Stakes Day. The weather is fine, the track is good (4) and the rail is out three metres for the entire circuit.
Race 1. (15:54) David Rudland 60th Birthday Handicap 1000m
If he runs up to the trial win, 5 Seven Castles (Bet Now: $1.80) should be winning. The debut run in August behind Flirtini at Belmont from the back was a beauty and that form has been great with three subsequent winners. But it was the trial that really impressed me. Led all the way under little riding, won by a space, ran good time and had plenty in reserve. Really keen to see him return.
2 Fairview (Bet Now: $5.00) did some lovely things for me at big odds two back when winning here. Crept up in weight last time and the turn of foot wasn’t as dynamic as when she won but did close off well late when third to Cryptic Love. Has got race fitness on her side and I think a fast run 1000m is going to be right up her alley. If the top tip is off his game, this is the girl.
1 Metro Boy (Bet Now: $5.00) took on the older horses here a couple of Wednesdays back and passed with flying colours. Atacama Sky was rolling on speed and looked to be going well but this three year old kept finding under Pike and the last 50-75m, he asserted his authority and came away in the end. Harder here, but he’s a hard fit/in form horse on the up and this is a winnable race.
Race 2. (16:34) Sign On Group Plate 1100m
Just needs better racing manners and 5 Niccovi (Bet Now: $1.65) should be beating this field. Simon Miller trains this filly, who was well in the market when resuming in the Magic Millions at Pinjarra and probably should have won but just pulled hard in the run and that left her gassed late when Jericho Missile was surging and that horse nabbed her late. This looks a good race for her.
7 Sannabreanna (Bet Now: $5.00) is a David Harrison trained filly who was good on debut at Bunbury before racing here a couple of Wednesdays back where she chased a genuine speed and looked in a bit of trouble on the turn but Pike got fair dinkum on him and she surged hard late to grab the win. She’s got the hard race fitness on her side and has early toe so the wide gate no issue.
12 Native Chimes (Bet Now: $16.00) is a daughter of My Admiration for the Justin Warwick stable on debut. This girl has had three career trials, two of those coming in the Spring. Was tipped out, now back and her 1000m trial win at Belmont last Friday was solid enough, sitting outside the leader before being given a squeeze by Lucy and he got clear late. Looks to have ability so keen to see how she goes.
Race 3. (17:14) Andrich's Cousin Raceday Handicap (1MW) 2200m
Thin staying race on the cards, so I’ll side with the Dan Morton trained 9 Oriental Rose (Bet Now: $9.00). She ran over this track/distance last Wednesday where she sat wide with cover before being presented wider on the turn and letting down strongly to just miss out on picking up Stafford’s Lad. Overall depth here isn’t strong and she’s a mare who is hard fit and in form.
2 Dealing (Bet Now: $7.50) has won or finished second in four runs back from a break. Last start came over 2100m at Albany where he was keen in the run before taking the lead down the side and booting for home on the turn, giving a really good kick in the straight only to be nabbed near the peg. These McAuliffe runners are in good form at the moment, and I think he can measure up.
3 Cool Witness (Bet Now: $51.00) is a Terry Brennan trained stayer who has done most of his recent racing at Albany, where he won two on the bounce before contesting the Albany Cup where he ran along in front and felt the pinch late when midfield behind The Big Show. Depth here not as strong, he should roll along on speed again and might prove hard to catch.
Race 4. (17:55) Perak Turf Club Trophy (70+) 2100m
I’ll go the way of 1 Come Play With Me (Bet Now: $3.50), who looks to have come back in really good order for the Adam Durrant stable. Good resumption over 1500m here behind My Greek Boy before going to the Pinjarra mile two weeks ago and working home with real purpose behind the same horse. The Ascot record doesn’t read great, but I think he’s a better horse this time around and up in trip third up should suit.
She’s in career best form at the moment is 7 Crystal Valley (Bet Now: $2.90) for Colin Webster. Ran over 1800m here last Saturday where she ran an enormous race in defeat. Field was strung out and she was well off the pace so Turner had to get going early, going four and five wide around the field and she loomed to win but that early burn just told on her late and had no answers for Mycroft. Is a winner at 2200m and with a cold steer, hopefully her turn of foot comes to the fore.
4 American Joy (Bet Now: $6.00) is a pretty consistent mare for the Adam Durrant stable that has been around the mark of late. Won a couple of races on the bounce before running second at this track/distance. She then contested the Albany Cup where she got back and worked home okay late but was never a threat to the eventual winner The Big Show. She can bounce back for sure.
Race 5. (18:30) Penang Turf Club Trophy (64+) 1000m
Tricky race but going the way of 2 More Aces (Bet Now: $8.50), who is second up for the Jim Taylor stable. Resumed over this track/distance four weeks back where he led at a good speed with pressure applied and tried hard but just ran out of puff late when fifth to Shackleton, beaten two lengths. Good gate, so looks the likely leader and the claim for McNaught certainly helps.
4 Fabergino (Bet Now: $1.70) is the complete unknown here. Quality mare for the Tiarnna Robertson stable that is first up. This girl hasn’t raced since June 23 at Belmont when placing over the short course behind a quality type in Ambiente. Comes here with no public trials and draws wide, but is 3/3 fresh and has brilliant early speed, so the wide gate could be taken care of early and then she’ll be dangerous.
10 Saturia (Bet Now: $9.00) is a Paul Jordan trained mare who looked to trial up well prior to resuming down the Pinjarra straight where she had no cover near the speed, a good speed, and just faded late when fourth to the speedy customer Captain Stirling. Better suited on a bending track for mine and if allowed to let roll in front, she could well take some catching.
Race 6. (19:05) Detonator Stakes 1800m
1 Star Exhibit (Bet Now: $2.50) is the class runner of the field and class will certainly take him a long way. He hasn’t raced since the Perth Cup when given a 12/10 steer from Peter Hall, diving through and getting clear to grab the win from the fancied stablemate Action. Been kept on ice since and the recent trial at Lark Hill over 1450m looked quite good to the eye so it’ll be interesting to see how he goes.
Back in trip perhaps a negative for the Team Williams trained 5 Red Army (Bet Now: $12.00) but I think he’s going well. He got a mile out of his ground last time in the Albany Cup and was never really in the hunt, but did pick up and was good late behind The Big Show. 2100 back to 1800 probably not the ideal set up, but he’s got race fitness on his side and gets good weight relief from last time.
10 Let’s Twist (Bet Now: $8.50) has earned a crack at this level for mine. The Pearce stable has her going really well at the moment, her last run being at this track/distance three weeks when near the speed and fighting hard but had no answers late for the finale produced by Crystal Valley. Much harder here, but has hard fitness under the belt, looks the likely leader and could take catching.
Race 7. (19:42) Selangor Turf Club Trophy (70+) 1200m
Not a flash overall winning strike rate, he’s getting on in years, but gee I think 10 Star Glitter (Bet Now: $16.00) is one of the better each way gambles across Australia for Saturday. He hasn’t raced for four weeks since racing over this track/distance where he got a mile back in the run but closed off with real purpose late to run fifth to Forceful, beaten two lengths. Would love him to sit closer in the run, which he can do. I think he’s flying.
2 Dam Ready (Bet Now: $6.00) is two weeks between runs after racing down the Pinjarra straight where he didn’t have the greatest of luck in the run, especially in the last 400m or so, but I don’t think he would have troubled Captain Stirling, who found the outside section and showed brilliant sustained speed. 1000m is his pet trip, so 1200m is the query, but hard to knock the way he’s going.
I think 13 Guns Of Navarone (Bet Now: $9.50) is one of the better value chances. Trialled up okay prior to resuming over 1000m here several weeks weeks ago where he had a good run just behind the speed, loomed to win but condition probably just gave way late when fourth to Macroy, who won last Saturday to frank the form. Think he’ll take really good improvement from that outing and for the most part he does try hard.
Race 8. (20:22) Tabtouch Better Your Bet Handicap (64+) 1400m
Mark Bairstow has got 1 Special Delivery (Bet Now: $6.50) absolutely flying at the moment. This bloke has had two runs for the prep, showing an electric turn of foot to win first up before racing here last Saturday where that turn of foot was displayed again…only problem was that a horse was five lengths in front, Alpha Sky. Like he is on the quick back up and he finds a winnable race.
2 Midnight Sky (Bet Now: $5.00) is a daughter of Myboycharlie resuming for the Adam Durrant stable. This mare had a pretty good Winter prep at Belmont, running very consistently but at times was costly for punters. Like that she resumes at 1400m, she has a good fresh record and has been given two trials to prepare for her return, so I don’t think fitness will be an excuse.
6 Lofty Lad (Bet Now: $10.00) is the intriguing runner. He’s been terrible in two runs this time in, showing no dash or anything exciting at the end of his two runs this prep. Last run came three weeks back behind Macroy and has trialled twice since, so the stable are trying something different with him. At his best, he can certainly beat these. I’d just rather watch at this stage.
Best Bets & Quaddie Tips
BEST BET: Race One Number 5 Seven Castles
NEXT BEST: Race Two Number 5 Niccovi
LONG SHOT: Race Seven Number 10 Star Glitter
Quaddie Tips (Races Five Through To Eight):
$50 Investment = 20.83% of the dividend if successful
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