It’s quickly gathering momentum as one of the better race days on the Australian racing calender, and the race card assembled for Super Saturday at Ascot certainly hasn’t disappointed, highlighted by the Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) and the Railway Stakes (1600m). It is also highlighted by the appearance of one of the best riders in the world, Douglas Whyte.
Race One: Peroni Plate 1000m Form Guide
Back Me: Maximus Mak looks the pick of the unraced brigade. He has won two barrier trials, the latest of those coming a couple of weeks back over this distance at Belmont, where he ran fast time. Drawn well, should be in the finish.
Big Danger: Vital Art got a long way back a fortnight back, sitting last in the run before flashing home late to be beaten only a neck. May have to adopt similar tactics here from a tricky barrier, but has the race experience, and that is a big advantage.
Roughie: Rommel ran a close second to Maximus Mak in that barrier trial and appeared to do it quite nicely. The Parnham always fire during the carnival, so keep an eye on the betting.
$250 Maximus Mak Free Bet
Race Two: Carbine Club Of WA Stakes 1400m Form Guide
Back Me: She won’t get a run in the Railway, but Elite Belle will pick up a nice consolation and win this race. She was a brilliant winner first up, then hit a flat spot second up but still flashed home for second, then should have bolted in last week in the Peters Stakes, but got held up badly in the straight when looking to build momentum. She’ll be short in betting, but she is a good thing.
Big Danger: Luke’s Luck has been given a three week break since his latest run, which was in the Asian Beau Stakes behind Platinum Rocker. He loomed to win 300m from home, but just died on the run. Like the fact he is fresh here and remains at 1400m.
Roughie:This time last year, Bippo No Bungus was running cracking races in the best company, but has failed to really go on from that. Didn’t mind his run last week over 1500m where he covered ground yet ran on strongly at the end. If he gets cover and some pace on in front, he can fill a first four without surprising.
$250 Elite Belle Free Bet
Race Three: Placid Ark Stakes 1200m Form Guide
Back Me: Looks a perfect race for Petrol Power to record his first win of the preparation. He has had two runs this time in, both resulting in excellent seconds. Drops back to 1200m which is perfect and drops in depth.
Big Danger: Guardlock was an impressive winner two weeks ago, given a perfect sit off the speed before pouncing at the top of the straight and holding on well, beating home our roughie tip, with whom he meets 1kg worse off the weights, but again has the barrier advantage.
Roughie: Keep an eye out for this galloper Wanderlust. He’ll sit back last, but if he gets a clear run, he has a massive finishing burst. Can easily blouse these with the right run.
$250 Petrol Power Free Bet
Race Four: Tattersall’s Cup 2100m Form Guide
Back Me: WA Derby winner Mystic Prince is steadily getting back to his best form. Didn’t mind his run first up behind Elite Belle, then worked to the line nicely last week behind Moonlight Bay. He will love the rise to 2100m and meeting all of these pretty much better at the weights or on equal weights.
Big Danger: Vaughn Sigley must be thinking he has done something untoward in life because his galloper Rohan has had absolutely no luck this time in, including last week in the Peters Stakes where he flashed home in restricted room along the rail. Stepping up to 2100m will only be beneficial, and he is the clear class runner.
Roughie: Fanicio was first up since an unlucky fifth in the Kalgoorlie Cup with a grinding fifth in the Peters Stakes. He is better suited over this distance and slightly further. Wide barrier won’t be an issue as he prefers to sit back in the run. Keep an eye on him from a Perth Cup perspective.
$250 Mystic Prince Free Bet
Race Five: Jungle Mist Classic 1200m Form Guide
Back Me: Looking for a bit of value and have come up with Ready On Time. Liked her run three weeks back where she resumed with a fast finishing third behind Monteverdi. From the good draw, she shouldn’t be too far away and can unleash a slick final sectional. Happy to have something each way on her.
Big Danger: Celebrity Miss was given a peach ride by Pike to win last time out, giving her a soft run out the back before peeling out wide and letting her down powerfully over the final furlong. She hasn’t drawn a decent barrier for a long time, so it’ll be interesting to see where Pike has her in the run. Still, massive chance.
Roughie: Red Hot Sax resumed with an encouraging fourth to the next star of Perth racing, Smoko. Sat midfield on the fence and worked home strongly. Horror draw, but with some cover, she can figure.
$250 Ready On Time Free Bet
Race Six: WA Guineas 1600m Form Guide
Back Me: In recent years with the WA Guineas, the winner has been a tough galloper who can find a spot near the pace and keep going. Vitello fits that bill perfectly, as he showed last start at Randwick with a tough all the way win over 1800m. Back to the mile is perfect and Oliver rides. Prepared to risk Miss Rose De Lago and Saint Bro from their wide draws.
Big Danger: Thunderclap Newman is a very capable gelding for astute trainer Steve Wolfe. He was a very soft winner last start over the 1500m and his times are favourable with Miss Rose De Lago. He is $16 while the favourite is $3. Should get a lovely sit from the barrier and is big overs.
Roughie: $31 for Moet Me was crazy odds, so it’s understandable that he has been well backed to win the race. He closed off really nicely last start behind Saint Bro, coming from last on the turn. He’ll love the rise to 1600m and Douglas Whyte takes the ride.
$250 Vitello Free Bet
Race Seven: Winterbottom Stakes 1200m Form Guide
Back Me: The more you put on Buffering, the more you get back. He is the worlds best sprinter now, no doubting that. Super win in the Manikato then toyed with them in the VRC Sprint Classic. Should ping over and sit outside Barakey and out gun him.
Big Danger: Inclined to say Barakey, but he is a massive risk. Second up from an injury enforced spell, and he had a real gutbuster first up in the Prince Of Wales. He did win this race last year, and was asked to do a lot of work outside Travinator, but that horse cannot be mentioned in the same breath as Buffering. Massive respect also to Spirit Of Boom, who was awesome in this race last year, Moment Of Change, who ran well at Flemington behind Buffering and Power Princess, who can blouse these if they go crazy in front.
Roughie: Shining Knight is a must for trifectas and first fours. I’d be amazed if he was to win the race, but with a cheap run on the fence, he can snare a first four spot if one of the big guns is off their game.
$250 Buffering Free Bet
Race Eight: Railway Stakes 1600m Form Guide
Back Me: Can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m putting Ranger on top, even though he has been a complete money muncher to for punters. In saying that, he really did hit the line with purpose in the Lee Steere behind Convservatorium. He may have turned the corner, and for a horse of his quality, $21 seems very attractive.
Big Danger: If Smokin’ Joey was trained by a more known trainer, he’d be even money, so $5 for him is an outstanding price given how brilliant he was in the Emirates, covering a stack of ground to only go down narrowly to Boban, who is the best horse in Australia under 2000m. Only concern is that he is creeping up in the weights, but he is racing so well that he has to be included. Longport has to be included too. Loved her run in the Yellowglen on Derby Day then backed up with a week later with a dominant all the way win. She’ll jump and go forward, and given she is only 0.5kg over the minimum, she’ll take some beating.
Roughie: Fire Up Fifi produced one of the runs of the carnival in Melbourne when she won the Blazer, then was excellent in the Tristarc and even better in the Myer, both times behind Red Tracer, the best mare in the business. Barrier 18 makes it awfully tough, but she does get back anyway and there should be good speed here. Another one to include is Mutual Trust. He ran two strong races to open his campaign, then was excellent in the Sir Rupert Clarke before a fighting second to Mouro in the Sale Cup, and that horse franked the form with an unbelievable win last Saturday at Caulfield. Olly rides and he’d love to win the big race in his home state.
$250 Ranger Free Bet
Race Nine: Crown Lager Handicap (66+) 1200m Form Guide
Back Me: Keen on Dark Delight here. Sat back in a slowly run race last start and really zipped home to only go down by a neck. With more speed engaged here, she should sit back, with cover, and unleash a powerful finish over the top of these.
Big Danger: King Of The Palace beat home Dark Delight two starts back nicely, then bumped into Celebrity Miss, who is a live chance in the Jungle Mist Classic earlier on in the day. She’ll get the tag behind Dark Delight and follow her every move.
Roughie: Marmaa was unlucky not to finish closer last start at this track/distance. She got held up between runners and only got clear very late. Senior rider takes the ride now, she’ll jump on the pace and give them something to chase.
Best Roughie: Ranger
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Quaddie Tips (Races Six Through To Nine):
Leg One: 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 13, 14
Leg Two: 1
Leg Three: 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15
Leg Four: 3, 10, 11, 12
$50 Investment=25.51% of the dividend if successful.
