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Race 1 CROWN PERTH HANDICAP 1200m
Selections: 2 – 6 – 4 – 5
Too Dardy won like a good horse to break his maiden over the 1000m. Bolted in there from back in the field over the short course and the start prior to that was beaten only by La Dette who performed well and was very well supported in CL1 grade, with Sizzle Me Patrick back in 3rd since bolting in as well. Think Troy Turner can follow King’s Flirt across and land in a prominent position in running even from the awkward gate, really nice horse.
King’s Flirt took the piss in what I think was a pretty weak field on debut, leading and bolting in by 6.5L. The figures say the win was strong, but not as strong as it looked to the eye. Not a great deal of speed drawn underneath so should be able to cross and find the fence in a field that is a great deal deeper than what she put away 1st up.
One Cool Gal has been trialling very impressively and wanted to follow her wherever she landed 1st up but she’s bumped into a very handy field.
Madame Magic has real ability, likely settles off the speed but conditions could well be suiting that today with the SW blowing and the rail out/cutaway in play. Recent trial under Alan Kennedy was very impressive.
Suggested Bet: Too Dardy to win, but this is a cracking race with many winning chances to open the day, strong form reference.
Race 2 TABTOUCH - HAVE YOU GOT THE TOUCH MAIDEN 1400m
Selections: 5 – 8 – 3 – 2
Think this race shapes much better for American Songbook than his 1st up effort. Drew wide, didn’t really find cover and just whacked away to the line, most likely needed the blow. His trial prior to that effort was as good as very impressive subsequent maiden winner Amber Glide and this is a very weak field. Can position up much closer from the draw here and think he maps a treat, big improver.
Been a fan of the trials of So You Think gelding It So Happens. Pulled himself into the ground on debut and the Blinkers coming off here should help him settle, willing to give him another chance and another who maps very well from his soft draw.
Romantic Ruler can win but is under the odds for me at $2.20 after being beaten 6.5L fresh by King’s Flirt. Get as good a line through the strength of that form in race 1. Really just whacked away 1st up so I would suggest the 1400m is much more to his liking but this draw could be a little tricky.
Elusive Pro rolls across from 11 and has been trialling solidly.
Suggested Bet: American Songbook to win, could entertain something smaller on It So Happens as well.
Race 3 FURPHY BUNBURY CUP AT ASCOT 11TH MARCH MAIDEN 1400m
Selections: 10 – 14 – 6 – 12
Pro Latte is a horse I have been following since she first stepped out at the trials. The half sister of Triple Missile, she trialled up very quietly on 4 occasions prior to her debut effort when very well supported in betting. Pike worked her across to sit over the speed from her wide barrier and she just peaked on her run very late with a gap back to 3rd. Ridden more conservative is where I suggest we will see her at her best, and this looks a terrific opportunity to see that with Pike the perfect hoop to pilot her, think she’s a really nice mare.
Dark Looks is drawn awfully on paper but made her debut in a CL1 and more than held her own on the wrong part of the track when taking the cutaway which was inferior ground on the day. Drops back into a maiden and drops 4kgs after Luke Campbell’s claim, tough steer but really respecting.
Scenic Strike sustained a huge run from a mile back in the field 1st up at any old price. Off the back of that effort, 1400m certainly looks suitable here.
Slavica closed off well enough on debut behind King’s Flirt, get a great insight into the strength of that form in race 1 on the program, tough map for Pat Carbery to navigate.
Suggested Bet: Pro Latte to win.
Race 4 AUTUMN ASCOT RACING CARNIVAL 11TH MARCH TO 6TH MAY HANDICAP 1400m
Selections: 7 – 5 – 8 – 3
Kelvin is hard to catch, one of the hardest, but this is the sort of race that I think he can bob up in. Was absolutely bolting in behind runners last start over the 1200m in a strong Westspeed Platinum Saturday event for those races usual standards. Hit a brick wall and would have been very interesting to see how much he had left under the hood had he got clear at the right time. Drawn for a nice run here, up to 1400m perhaps not his pet trip on paper but some of his career runs over the distance have been super, Twice A Fortnight has since come through that race after enduring a similar luckless run and bolted in over the weekend. Happy to have another throw at the stumps with him.
Mosquito savaged the line last start behind Aiyza, conditions should be suiting those doing the same tomorrow and this race is no deeper, this looks his grade.
Rocky Path is airborne but with his racing pattern just struggles to pick them up at the business end. Flew home into 4th behind The Admiral on a very tough day to make ground and last start savaged the line into 2nd behind Paigey’s Turn who was right there in the finish in Saturday grade at Pinjarra over the weekend. Will sit back last but in the conditions, be cutting them down at a rate of knots late, will it be too late?
Wakan Tanka was ridden for a sit last start which is not something we often see from him but he hit the line really nicely considering and his form prior to that is certainly strong enough to be competitive here, the barrier hurts.
Suggested Bet: Kelvin each way a good throw at the stumps.
Race 5 AMELIA PARK HANDICAP 1600m
Selections: 3 – 5 – 2 – 6
Starchienne has put 3 in a line and doesn’t seem like slowing down. 1600m the way she’s been savaging the line at 1400m will be of no issue to her, this CL3 isn’t overly deep and she gets the services of William Pike in favourable conditions to sit back and launch over the top of these late, going to be very popular to chalk up that 4th victory.
Bandalera Beau was very good last start in this grade behind Solid Gold and his last 2 best runs have been over this trip. Need only go back 4 starts and he’s beaten under 2L Knot Secret and Trade War in Saturday 66+ grade over the trip and only carries 1kg more here in this CL3. Maps a treat for Taj too.
Eee Pee Cee missed the start last start (when I was very keen) and that was all she wrote. Also took the cutaway in the straight which was far inferior ground to the middle of the track, if he can step cleanly he can take up a prominent position here and bounce back quickly.
Divine Quest is a get back, run on horse and the conditions might just be suiting for a horse like him tomorroe with that SWer over his shoulder.
Suggested Bet: Starchienne to win.
Race 6 MORLEY GROWERS MARKET HANDICAP 1100m
Selections: 1 – 6 – 2 – 9
Regal Access went super fresh and according to his trainer had improvement to come. Was uncharacteristically slow away, mustered through hard to still take up the running and the winner was able to get the suck run on his back and get over the top of him late. That horse was Wednesday, who went to a 66+ mares race at Pinjarra on Saturday and ran 3rd, adding to the strength of that performance. Think he can get across to lead here and if Paul Harvey can chalk up some cheap sections, he’s going to be awfully hard to run down, progressive.
Sabino on his back from barrier 1 looks a key danger. Went awful last start, but willing to forgive for one bad run, the start prior went super from off the speed in a winner producing 1000m 60+ behind Classic Magnus, hitting the line alongside Senorita Dorotea and ahead of Hammarmill who you would think would start very short in this field. Can tag the leader here from the gate with a cutaway on offer, dangerous if he can return to that form from two back.
Desert Vixen already a winner in this grade fresh and is much better suited over the 1000/1100m trips with her short, sharp burst of acceleration she possesses. Unless they go right back to last, think the map looks quite awkward here for her, but she can certainly win with luck in-running.
Lady Tornado is ever consistent and brings some strong CL1 form with her. Pike sticks and drawn for another great run in transit, no surprise if she goes on with it, this is just a step up from what she has been facing.
Suggested Bet: Regal Access to win, could entertain a back/save with Sabino for some insurance.
Race 7 MAGIC MILLIONS WA 3YO TROPHY 1200m
Selections: 2 – 4 – 7 – 6
Maktastic’s WA debut was super. 1st up at the mile, punched the breeze throughout on a strong tempo and was only edged out very late by a very nice filly in Fine Touch. Draw looks very sticky on paper, but think with some positivity there isn’t a great deal of speed engaged here, Gaerth can roll him across to sit over the speed and if he can get there without doing too much work, really like his chances. Drops 2kgs as well after Gaerth’s claim, well placed.
Another Chino looks a genuine staying type and can come to hand very quickly after going 1st up no trial into a 3yo mile event. Jarrad Noske back in the saddle and back in some very good form, looks a progressive 3yo staying prospect.
Comealilbitcloser a perennial bridesmaid, can Paul Harvey be the key to returning him to the winners stall? Will continue to take him on until he does so but very honest and the form he is in is more than good enough to win a race of this nature.
Tizzle Top perhaps a little underwhelming in her first couple of starts for the new yard in Alan Mathews but one thing is for sure, the more ground the better for her.
Suggested Bet: Maktastic to win.
Race 8 DRUMMOND GOLF HANDICAP 1400m
Selections: 2 – 6 – 8 – 10
Starring Knight and Awesome Rival come through the same CL1 form reference for this behind Deetea and think clearly that is the strongest form reference for this race. Starring Knight is a horse who trialled prior to his 1st up run and off that I thought gee this horse is in for super prep. While Awesome Rival finished off hard and beat him home there fresh into 2nd, Awesome Rival is a real get back/run on type of horse and always has been which has proved costly for her at times. There doesn’t look to be any genuine early speed engaged in this race and in his final trial before his 1st up run, Alan Kennedy really kicked out Starring Knight and he led them up easily in that trial in what was one of the more impressive performances of that morning. With some positivity here from Taj, I think he can get across here to a prominent position and most importantly, give himself a head-start on key danger Awesome Rival. Improves 1st up to 2nd up, will certainly need a good steer from the barrier, but quite confident the winner comes from the above pair. Happy to back Starring Knight for a really good result and save with Awesome Rival and lose if anything else beats me. Tough card, I’ll make Starring Knight my best.
Vonsnip gets the Pontiff and was good last start along the inferior cutaway behind See Ya Champ. Maps a treat from the draw and has a turn of foot.
Ihts Closing Inn is coming back in grade from 3yo company and should cross and ride the speed from barrier 9.
Suggested Bet: Starring Knight to win (Best Bet) with a saver on Awesome Rival, keen the winner comes from one of the pair.
Best Bets
Race 4 #7 Kelvin
Race 8 #2 Starring Knight (Best Bet)
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