The number two raceday in Perth is Kingston Town Classic Day, named in honour of one of the all time greats, who won this race some 30 years ago when it was known as the Winfield Classic. The 2013 edition should be a beauty, headed by last start Railway winner and the winner of the Kingston Town 12 months ago, Luckygray.
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Race One: Westfield Plate 1100m Form Guide
Back Me: Storm God did everything right here on debut last week and won impressively. Same weight, has the race experience under the belt, hard to beat.
Big Danger: Yousha Dua is the pick of the trial horses, winning a recent Lark Hill trial by seven lengths, admittedly over 400m, so it’s hard to get a guide on those, but she appeared to do it nicely.
Roughie: Talatina got a long way back here last week and worked to the line nicely late. Not sure she can turn the tables on Storm God, but still should be included in exotics.
$250 Storm God Free Bet
Race Two: Shirley You’re The Best Handicap 1000m Form Guide
Back Me: Chinetti looks to be a good one in the making. Bolted in a barrier trial, then was even more impressive on debut at Northam, winning by seven lengths in very fast time. Should spear over from the wide barrier and prove the testing material in a strong race.
Big Danger: Kheleva has had a few weeks since his last run on October 12 at Belmont, where he finished a close up second. Might need the run, but if they go mad in front, he’ll finish over the top of them.
Roughie:Casablanca Lily is on debut for Jim Taylor and Jason Brown, and has looked quite sharp in several barrier trials. Keep an eye on betting moves and see if there is confidence.
$250 Chinetti Free Bet
Race Three: Aguanita Stakes 1800m Form Guide
Back Me: Best bet of the day here in Newton Prince, who won like a very good horse last week, coming from well back in a slowly run race. Stepping up to the 1800m looks perfect, he is in form, drawn beautifully…should take care of this bunch.
Big Danger: Vital Edition probably lacks the class of some of these, but he did win quite comfortably last start in weaker company, and he does look the only leader in the race, so Harvey could dictate here and attempt to pinch it.
Roughie: Moonsearch was one of the best runs of the beaten brigade in the WA Guineas behind our top tip in the Kingston Town, Ihtsahymn. He sat last and was never a winning chance, but he closed off strongly, suggesting that the extra furlong will be ideal.
$250 Newton Prince Free Bet
Race Four: Lee Steere Classic 1400m Form Guide
Back Me: Giving Petrol Power the nod here, but only just. He was very gallant over the 1400m here two back in the Fairetha, then dropped back to 1200m and beat home our big danger in the Placid Ark. Back to 1400m is a concern, as I feel he is better at 1200m, but the weight pull in his favour has me in his corner.
Big Danger: Simon Miller must have a huge opinion of Sujet given he ran that horse on debut in the Placid Ark and got the services of Douglas Whyte. The gelding did an enormous amount of work early on, eventually getting up outside the speed, but Petrol Power had the suck run behind, peeled out and duly saluted. The weight pull in favour of the top tip doesn’t help this horses chances, but he looks very promising.
Roughie: Guardlock was the eye catcher late in the Placid Ark, running home hard for third after being near last on the home turn. He’ll love the 1400m and the inside draw, which should allow him to sit much closer to the tempo.
$250 Giving Petrol Power Free Bet
Race Five: AJ Scahill Stakes 1400m Form Guide
Back Me: The drop back to 1400m will suit Conservatorium big time here I think. He was a gritty winner of the Lee Steere, then sat three wide on the speed when a gallant eighth, beaten three lengths, in the Railway. Looks beautifully placed under the weight scale, should roll forward and take a power of beating.
Big Danger: Kerrific had the back of Conservatorium in the Railway and had the perfect drag into the race, but didn’t quite on with it but still managed a super fourth. He meets that horse worse off at the weights, but is an Ascot specialist and cannot be left out.
Roughie: Watermans Bay ran the race of his life in the Winterbottom when a close third to Buffering and Moment Of Change, who are the two benchmark sprinters in Australia at the moment. The pace won’t be as hot here, so that’s the concern, but he has the best form in the race, while Power Princess won this race last year, and her run wasn’t too bad in the Winterbottom. She just couldn’t keep up early on and had no winning chance.
$250 Conservatorium Free Bet
Race Six: GA Towton Cup 2200m Form Guide
Back Me: In what looks to be a horrible staying race, I’ll go with Cyber Crime to get into the winners list for the first this preparation. Loved his run in the Tatt’s Cup where he flashed home in between runners after settling last in the run. With upside, he should go very close to winning.
Big Danger: Global Flirt was three wide with no cover on the speed in the Tatt’s Cup yet fought on so hard for a close up fifth. If he holds that sort of form here, he’ll be hard to beat.
Roughie: I’ll give Malaika a sneaky place chance. He wasn’t far off them in the Tatt’s Cup, and finally draws a decent barrier, something he hasn’t done in some 15 race starts.
$250 Cyber Crime Free Bet
Race Seven: Jungle Dawn Classic 1400m Form Guide
Back Me: Looks a lovely race for Bippo No Bungus, who was absolutely luckless in the Carbine Club behind Elite Belle, who is a live chance in the Kingston Town, so that formline should hold up really well for a Listed mares race. Drawn to get a gun sit off the, it could very well be the start of a very fruitful hour for Steve Parnham.
Big Danger: Dark Delight certainly has the ability to win a good race, much better than this, but she tends to get too far back in her races, and flash home to be put in the blackbook nearly every start. Drawn to sit off Bippo No Bungus, maybe three or four pairs back on the rail, and have the last crack.
Roughie: Rose Of Choice was excellent in the Jungle Mist, rattling home to finish a close second, beaten a long head. Will strip much fitter for that outing, drawn well and meets the winner better at the weights.
$250 Bippo No Bungus Free Bet
Race Eight: Kingston Town Classic 1800m Form Guide
Back Me: Had I not been so keen on Newton Prince, I’d declare Ihtsahymn the best bet of the day at Ascot. I think he could be the next superstar from Perth and kick some backside over in the east. His win in the Guineas was unbelievable, and the turn of foot he showed over the final furlong was incredible. 52kg here, 7kg on the main threat, will lap up the 1800m…it’s going to take a mighty effort to beat this horse.
Big Danger: Luckygray is the obvious danger. His win in the Railway was just as brilliant as the top tips win. He came from near last on the turn, peeled the widest and rounded them up in the last couple of strides. He won this race last year, and appears to be going just as well as 12 months ago.
Roughie: Horses to include in calculations are Mr Moet, who was excellent in the Railway, along with Playing God, Ranger and Elite Belle.
$250 Ihtsahymn Free Bet
Race Nine: Download Tabtouch Today Handicap (72+) 1400m Form Guide
Back Me: Putting Wild Charger on top in the last. He had support in the Peters on Railway Day, and 300m from home he looked as if he was going to win, but didn’t quite go on with it, so dropping back to 1400m and the big drop in class should provide this horse with a great chance of winning his eighth race from 29 starts.
Big Danger: The unbeaten run of Takanori came to an end in the Jungle Mist where she was caught three wide with no cover on a hot speed and went backwards from the home turn. Provided that run hasn’t taken too much out of her, she’ll definitely be in the finish with Pike back on board.
Roughie: Go Jorj did bugger all first up, but really caught the eye second up when savaging the line late for third in a hot little benchmark race. Drops 3.5kg from that run and steps out to a trip which he excels at. Best roughie here.
$250 Wild Charger Free Bet
