Ascot Saturday BY JOSH RODDER

Track is a Good (3) as of Friday morning. Penetrometer is 6.3 (Perth measurements are different from those in the Eastern States, because of a different sand-based track).

The rail moves back into the 3m position, after being at 15m with the cutaway in position midweek, and at 9m last Saturday. A return to a fresh pad of grass back is welcomed.

The Ascot track has raced extremely well this season with all horses getting their winning opportunity, however during the summer months it is important to be in the zone turning for home. (There is a three-length winning zone on the point of the bend, based on the tempo of the race, otherwise it is very difficult to win.)

Track manager Gordon Menzies said plenty of water had been poured on to the track.

FORECAST

PARTLY CLOUDY. MIN 20 MAX 31. RACE 1 – THE WARNBRO FAIR LIQUOR STORE PLATE [2YO] [OPEN] 1200M, 3:25PM [EDST] Not a lot of depth to this juvenile contest. Hot Tamale (1) was ultra impressive when back to midweek company for a soft kill. Again she will take up the lead spot comfortably, control and prove hard to run down. Lexdane (3) was brave when forced to do it tough, three wide no cover, and kept coming at the winner Why She Left (2), whom she meets on 2kg better terms. Why She Left box seats and is competitive. VERDICT: (1) Hot Tamale clear top pick with her strong form lines. (3) Lexdane sits outside leader and gives cheek. Next best are (2) Why She Left, (5) The Pupster and (4) De Troy Roy.

RACE 2 – THE GATE BAR & BISTRO HANDICAP [3YO+] [62-74] 1600M, 4:05PM [EDST] Very little speed or exposed pressure here on paper and turn of foot will be crucial. I believe it is a race in two with progressive types Escape Velocity (3) and Lie In Wait (5) renewing their rivalry from a stirring midweek battle. Escape Velocity went from 1200m to 1600m second-up and zipped home sharply against a mediocre speed. He is further improved and is in for a big campaign. Lie In Wait has not put a foot wrong since arriving from the east. Massive win two starts back and then raced flat last time on a seven-day back-up. The danger! VERDICT: Back (3) Escape Velocity and save (5) Lie In Wait. (1) Dangerous Dane is a genuine animal and will look the winner at some stage and sits on the next line with (4) Arctic Waters (blinkers on and scratched midweek for this). Include (6) Raging and (8) Divine Magic in quartet cards.

RACE 3 – THE CARLTON DRAUGHT HANDICAP [3YO+] [OPEN 80+] 1600M, 4:45PM [EDST] I believe this race will be dominated from the front, and the two leading positions will be held by Late Night Flight (5) and Rocky Range (7). Late Night Flight was game last time when he scorched through the first 800 metres in 46.99, only to be run over in the final 100 metres. He was second-up, strips fitter and experienced hoop Jason Brown takes the reins. Rocky Range does not know how to run a bad race and gave the promising Almohad a real scare here last time. Trails leader and hard to keep out. VERDICT: Back (5) Late Night Flight and save (7) Rocky Range. (6) Money Exchange paraded well last week and raced accordingly. He will get a similar run and will be thereabouts. Include (1) Calico Blue, (2) Great Destiny, (3) Friar's Touch, (4) Carbineer and (8) Referees in final trifecta and quartet spots.

RACE 4 – THE CRAIGIE TAVERN HANDICAP [3YO] [OPEN 65+] 1000M, 5:25PM [EDST] Early scratching of Excellar (6). Highly competitive event and they will be cooking with gas in this short-course scamper. Impatient Times (2) is a smart horse who was underdone going into his last start, after eight weeks between runs. After taking a spot outside a strong speed, he was nailed late by his handy stablemate Yabigorse. Drawn awkwardly here, but if he begins like he did last time, he can take up a spot outside leader Twilight Hero (9) and proved hard to toss. Twilight Hero has abundant natural toe and despite taking shorts steps late when resuming, just held off the highly-rated Morant. Again hard to reel in. VERDICT: Back (2) Impatient Times on a 1 unit win x 2 unit place basis. (9) Twilight Hero will be hard to catch, while we see the much-anticipated return of WA Guineas heroine (1) Clueless Angel, who will be finishing on strongly. Impressive Bunbury maiden winner (7) Incoherent gets a nice trail and can make presence felt. Include (3) Sunsilkin in all multiple bet types.

QUADDIE FIRST LEG RACE 5 – PINK HYGIENE SOLUTIONS HANDICAP [3YO+] [68-80] 1100M, 6:05PM [EDST] Early scratchings of Impressive Johnson (2) and Field Commotion (8). On paper this looks a middle-distance race that will be run at a genuine tempo, with Acute Brute (6) and Andretti (7) rolling forward. This plays into the hands of the lightly- raced staying mare Galaxy Queen (5). She is shooting for three Ascot 2200m wins in as many weeks. Wonderful piece of riding by Alan Kennedy to give her the win last time and, again in a truly run race, she gets all the favours. Best bet of the day! VERDICT: Bet with confidence on (5) Galaxy Queen continuing her winning sequence. (3) Double Barrel can give trainer Adam Durrant the quinella. (1) Street Value is better placed here back from open

stakes grade with a claim for Andrew Castle. Include consistent one pacers (4) Neige and (10) Simply Adorable in exotic bet types.

QUADDIE SECOND LEG RACE 6 – THE ALBIES BAR & BISTRO HANDICAP [3YO+] [74-86] 1800M, 6:40PM [EST] Expecting an aggressively run 1800 metres to play into the hands of horses covered up off the speed. Truckin Tobie (7) presents each-way betting value and, on his performance last Saturday fresh off a let-up, he gets his chance to return to the winner’s stall. Last Saturday over 1600m he went back from a wide draw, had nothing to take him into the race and was seen doing his best late. Trainer David Casey followed a similar program in early summer, backing up the gelding (from 1600m to 1800m) successfully when a comfortable winner on December 5 at Ascot. Troy Turner, who has won four races on this gelding, returns to the saddle and he will get a dream run from a favourable draw. VERDICT: Each-way all day (7) Truckin Tobie. Serious threats will be provided by (1) Nellie Got There and (5) Prevaricate. Big watch on (6) Yuro resuming for astute new yard (Lindsey Smith). Really taken by the way he opened up in a recent Belmont trial and we all know the ability this horse possesses. Include (10) My Becks in everything and (3) Majorca and (2) Hawkeye Mort in wide multiples

QUADDIE THIRD LEG RACE 7 – THE ARMADALE TAVERN HANDICAP [3YO+] [OPEN 62+] 1400M, 7:20PM [EDST] Tremendous race with so many form lines clashing. We have strong form references from midweek metro grade, provincial class, Festival of Perth stakes level and New Zealand black type to line-up. Many of these horses will push forward to the autumn classic races at Ascot and this will be a useful guide to those events. Keen about the chances of Kiwi filly Sophia Babe (1), fresh at the 1400m, making her Aussie debut in the west. Leviathan local owner Bob Peters has purchased this Iglesia filly with an intention of winning races such as the Champion Fillies and WA Oaks. Looking through her form she has her races well spaced, so she is a clean-winded filly who does not take much racing to find her peak, and fresh at 1400m looks ideal. Her replays paint her as a filly who gets back and is very strong at the finish. Last time out she took out the Listed Great Northern

Guineas Prelude and the second-placed Zarzuela has gone “bang, bang” in the Great Northern Guineas and Waikato Guineas, winning both impressively. William Pike takes the mount in a race that will be run to suit. VERDICT: Back (1) Sophia Babe who looks a nice gamble and save on another Bob Peters-owned former Kiwi filly, (7) Fromm, on the quick back-up – she is suited up to the 1400m. (5) Barometric, (13) Street Belle, (2) Red Hot Choice, (4) Cheri Cheval and (15) Tropical Fury all rate a winning chance in an intriguing race. (6) Dawinner, (14) Tottenham Hots, (11) Special Project and (8) Ciera go in wide multiple bet types.

QUADDIE FOURTH LEG RACE 8 – THE CORFIELD TAVERN HANDICAP [74-86] [3YO+] 1200M, 7:57PM [EDST] There looks to be hot speed and pressure, and this which will suit horses settling off the speed with cover. This race sees the clash of two classy lasses, Moccasin Bend (1) and For Your Eyes Only (5). Moccasin Bend resumed from a lengthy break in the Listed Cyril Flower earlier in the month and paraded pre-race like she would benefit from the hitout. She raced accordingly, looming after having an easy run off a fast speed and peaking over the concluding stages. Drawn to get a similar run and she is a top-class mare back in restricted company. Looks value early on Player markets at $5.50. For Your Eyes Only is a gifted three-year-old filly taking on older rivals. Not that well off at the weights and drawn awkwardly, so she has to be risked at the early red figures of $1.90. Was dominant winning the 3YO Magic Millions last time after overcoming severe traffic problems to score first-up. Lead Rope (10) is another quality mare and has a nice weight turnaround on Moccasin Bend for their last meeting in the Cyril Flower. VERDICT: Back (1) Moccasin Bend and save on (5) For Your Eyes Only. (10) Lead Rope and (4) Destino are winning chances. Include (8) Dominicano, (6) Hide The Loot, (2) Northwater Boy and (7) Legend Express in extra multiple spots.

Best Bet Race 5 – No. 5 Galaxy Queen

Best Value Race 6 – No. 7 Truckin Tobie e/w Race 7 – No. 1 Sophia Babe e/w Quaddie 1,3,5/1,5,6,7,10/1,2,4,5,7,13,15/1,4,5,10 – $420 5/Field/Field/1,5 – $300 5/1,5,6,7,10/1,2,4,5,7,13,15/1,5 – $70 5/1,5,7/1,7/1,5 – $12

Good luck and good punting! Tune in to all the racing action from the west with the Pr.com Get access to all Western Australia’s metropolitan and country race and trial replays, Perth Racing preview show, trial reports and much more. Log on to www.perthracing.com.au for more details. Josh Rodder