Ascot 12/02/2022

Conditions

Rail – 9m
Track – Good 4
Forecast – Max 28 degrees, cloud clearing

Race 1 – Amelia Park Plate – 1100m – 12:37pm

1 – Fiorucci Mama
12 – Symphony In Red
2 – Saintorio
3 – Playhouse Patron

Comment: Fiorucci Mama won in a nice fashion at her first ever start. She isn’t penalised in the weights here due to Holly’s claim. She should get to the lead once again and run another good race. Symphony In Red has had just the one trial leading into this race. She’s drawn nicely in barrier 6 and looks to have ability. She should only improve off this run. Saintorio is coming off a win where he also drew wide. Hopefully, that means he can handle barrier 12 here, plus conditions look to suit. If he gets some luck from the wide barrier, he can win. Playhouse Patron finished 4.1 lengths off Fiorucci Mama at his first start. He’s drawn a bit wide here but should be better with one race under his belt.

Suggested bet: Fiorucci Mama, Symphony In Red, Saintorio and Playhouse Patron – each way

Race 2 – TABtouch – Westspeed Platinum Handicap – 1200m – 1:17pm

6 – Rulelee
2 – Alien From Mars
4 – Sunsphere
1 – Native Chimes

Comment: Rulelee is looking to make it 3 wins in a row. She’s placed at this track/distance before (1:0-1-0) and conditions look to suit again here. The only concern is that she is up in class. Alien From Mars did well to finish third first up after going into that race without a trial. She’ll take improvement off that run fitness wise and she has a good second up record (3:1-1-0), plus track/distance record (4:1-1-0). She can win without surprising. Sunsphere improved last preparation recording career best results. He recorded a win first up last preparation and should be fit after two trials. He might be looking for a touch further and the form surrounding his races could be slightly better. Otherwise, it’s hard to fault him. Native Chimes won last start. She drops down in distance here, which is a surprise given her track/distance record (4:0-1-0). With no speed in the race, she should easily find the front and she only has to carry 57.5kg with Holly’s claim. Not without her chances.

Suggested bet: Rulelee, Alien From Mars, Sunsphere and Native Chimes – each way

Race 3 – Jillian Antartis – Forever A Winner Handicap – 1400m – 1:57pm

2 – Trade War
7 – River Rubicon
3 – What About Moi
5 – Bragwell

Comment: Trade War has just found one or two better lately, but the form surrounding those races is great. He has a good track/distance without winning (2:0-1-1) and he’s drawn nicely in barrier 6. There are no excuses for him here and I’m not surprised to see him open that short. River Rubicon looks to have a tonne of ability based off his career results (3:2-0-1). He races at Ascot for the first time, but he should make his mark here. Watch out for him going forward, no matter what the result is here. What About Moi seems to be in for a good preparation after winning first up. I thought he might be looking for further, but that race was over 1200m. He steps up to 1400m here and he only has to carry 55.5kg with Keshaw’s claim. There’s just a small question about his class and consistency. Bragwell often goes close but can’t quite get the chocolates. He can run on to some extent, so it won’t matter if he gets too far back from barrier 9. He’s also proven at this track/distance (6:1-0-2). He might just find one better again.

Suggested bet: Trade War and River Rubicon – each way

Race 4 – Crown Perth Handicap – 1000m – 2:36pm

6 – Born To Rule
1 – Express Time
4 – Time Scale
8 – Requisition

Comment: Born To Rule proved she’s in for another good preparation after winning a trial leading into this race. She’ll have to use some energy early on to get to the front from barrier 12 and she’s actually yet to race at Ascot. However, she has a good distance record (6:2-1-1) and goes well fresh (2:1-0-1). Express Time is looking to make it three wins in a row and is proven at this track/distance (5:2-0-2). She has more experience than my top tip and she’ll get to the front easier from barrier 2. The only concern is that she still has to carry 60kg, even with Laqdar’s claim. Time Scale looked to have needed that run first up and she probably got a bit too far back than she would have liked. She’s drawn wide again, so may have to go back again, plus she’s probably looking for a touch further. She has class on her side though. Requisition finished 2.6 lengths behind Express Time last start. This horse is no stranger to this track/distance (12:3-2-1) and has previously overcome a wide barrier. He’s a good value bet.

Suggested bet: Born To Rule, Express Time, Time Scale and Requisition – each way

Race 5 – Morley Growers Market Challenge Stakes – 1500m – 3:16pm

1 – Trix Of The Trade
3 – Let’sdeal
6 – Fine Romance
2 – Hear Me Sing

Comment: Trix Of The Trade is just a classy horse who is hardly penalised in the weights. His career statistics speak for themselves (6:5-1-0) and the fact that owners were offered $1 million dollars for him. If I was being picky, he races beyond 1400m for the first time, but all of the other conditions look to suit. Let’sdeal is coming off a good win at Mount Barker. He’s up in class here and distance, though given how he raced over 1400m, finishing second to Red Fifty, which is good form to follow, he should see out 1500m. Don’t rule him out. Fine Romance finished second to Trix Of The Trade last start, but only gets 0.5kg on him here. She’s never raced at Ascot or officially over 1500m, but her record over 1400-1600m suggests that she should handle it. She’s also yet to finish outside the top 3 in her career (6:1-4-1). A cerise and white horse at $8 must be respected. Hear Me Sing finished third to Trix Of The Trade last start, but again only gets 0.5kg on him. With not a lot of speed in the race, I suspect that he’ll go forward, as that is where he does his best work. If it’s a leader bias day, watch out for him.

Suggested bet: Trix Of The Trade, Let’sdeal and Fine Romance – each way

Race 6 – Heineken 3 Handicap – 1400m – 3:55pm

3 – Cheval De Vaga
2 – Bruce Almighty
6 – Creator
5 – Resortman

Comment: Cheval De Vaga is just on fire this preparation and remains unbeaten in 5 starts. He’s unbeaten at this track/distance (1:1-0-0), only has to carry 56.5kg with Keshaw’s claim and should easily get to the front from barrier 1. There’s no reason why he can’t win here. Bruce Almighty finished second behind Cheval De Vaga last start and gets 1.5kg on him here. This horse drops back in distance to one that he’s no stranger over at this track/distance (10:2-4-1). He’s drawn wide in barrier 10 but has placed third from out wide 3 starts ago. One to watch. Creator has good form surrounding his last run. He’s up in class and combined with Kristy’s claim, he drops 3.5kg off last start. His track/distance record is one of the biggest thing in his favour (4:2-1-0). He’s a good value. Resortman just seems to be finding a few better lately. He never finishes that far off the winner, and he did run on nicely last start. His track/distance record could be better (3:0-1-0), but he does have class on his side.

Suggested bet: Cheval De Vaga, Bruce Almighty, Creator and Resortman – each way

Race 7 – Belhus Racing Stables Handicap – 1200m – 4:25pm

8 – Secret Deploy
3 – Cristal Dane
4 – How’s The Serenity
10 – Disco Donut

Comment: Secret Deploy has had just the one run for one win. His trial leading into this preparation wasn’t as good as last preparation but it’s hard to ignore his race performance. He’s yet to race at this distance or at Ascot, but ability should get him through. Cristal Dane narrowly tasted defeat last start and the start before that. She only has to carry 55.5kg with Holly’s claim and she’s overcome wide barriers before. Her track/distance record is the only concern (10:0-3-0). How’s The Serenity trialled nicely leading into this race. She has a good first up record (3:1-0-1) and great track/distance record (3:1-2-0). Conditions look to suit, so she should run a great race. Disco Donut is significantly up in class here but he is coming off a win. He steps up to 1200m for the first time but has drawn nicely in barrier 3. Another value bet.

Suggested bet: Secret Deploy, Cristal Dane and How’s The Serenity – each way

Race 8 – Cyril Flower Stakes – 1200m – 4:57pm

11 – Triple Missile
1 – Kissonallforcheeks
2 – Amasenus
4 – Coming Around

Comment: Triple Missile had just the one quiet trial leading into this race. He’s unbeaten first up (3:3-0-0) and is proven at this track/distance (3:2-0-0). He races in listed class for the first time but has a tonne of ability. Kissonallforcheeks brings amazing class to this race, placing third in the Kingston Town. She also has a great track/distance record (2:1-1-0). As a result of her last, she does have to carry 60.5kg and in this quality field, this may just get the better of her. Amasenus put in a good run first up. She has a good second up record (4:2-1-0) and should improve with one run under her belt. She’s also proven at this track/distance (2:1-1-0) and she was racing really well last preparation. Look for her to continue that form here. Coming Around made up good ground on Clairvoyance in a trial which impressed me. He’s placed first up before (4:0-3-0) and at this track/distance (2:0-2-0). He’s coming off a Melbourne campaign and can bounce back here.

Suggested bet: Triple Missile, Kissonallforcheeks, Amasenus and Coming Around – each way

Race 9 – Fit To Travel Handicap – 1600m – 5:34pm

7 – Fashion Queen
9 – Phanta
8 – Ginger Baker
12 – Crescent City

Comment: Fashion Queen finished second last start but did have a few excuses in the stewards’ report. She does have a good turn of foot and she’s placed at this track/distance (1:0-1-0). Barrier 16 could cause some issues, but she has ability to overcome it. Phanta is coming off a good win. He steps up to 1600m for the first time and given that he likes to race at the front, this could leave him vulnerable. He has ability and he can win without surprising. Ginger Baker seems to have appreciated racing in the first few at his past two starts. He has good form surrounding his races and he’s placed at this track/distance (1:0-0-1). He only has to carry 55.5kg with Laqdar’s claim and he can win this. Crescent City can be hit and miss, but he does like to get back in his runs (besides from last start). He’s placed at this track/distance (1:0-0-1) and the fact that he only has to carry 52.5kg with Jett’s claim makes him competitive. He could surprise.

Suggested bet: Fashion Queen, Phanta, Ginger Baker and Crescent City – each way

Best Bet

Race 6 – Cheval De Vaga

Quaddie

R6: 2, 3, 5, 6, 8
R7: 1, 3, 4, 8, 10
R8: 1, 2, 3, 4, 11
R9: 7, 8, 9, 12

Confidence rating

Being back at Ascot has definitely helped my confidence. There are some even races including races 1 and 8. I feel like my top tips should at least place. I suspect Weaponson will run a good race as he’s coming off a win over 1400m, but his previous form isn’t the best, so hopefully, last start wasn’t a one off thing.

Last Week’s Results

R8: boxed trifecta
Winners in top 4: 7/10
Top picks: 3rd, 1st, -, -, 3rd, -, -, 1st, -, –
Best bet: –
Quaddie: No
Profit: -7.6 ($1ew on top tips & $2ew on bb)