Ascot 20/03/2021

Conditions

Rail – 7m
Track – Good 4
Forecast – 37 degrees, mostly sunny

Race 1 – Crown Perth Westspeed Platinum Handicap – 1400m – 12:11pm

3 – Pletto
2 – Bruce Almighty
1 – Scooter’s Machine
7 – Petite La Femme

Comment: Pletto showed a really good turn of foot last start and with the smaller field she should be able to use this to her advantage. She’s knocking on the door for a win. Bruce Almighty is coming off a win and loves this track/distance (6:2-1-1). 60kg is always a big ask though. Scooter’s Machine has really improved at his last three starts and has good form behind Charleton Eddie. Petite La Femme is consistently in the top four.

Suggest bet: Pletto, Bruce Almighty and Scooter’s Machine – each way

Race 2 – Neometals Handicap – 1400m – 12:51pm

1 – Magical Dream
2 – Hot Zed
4 – Alpha And Omega
5 – Allmamoney

Comment: Magical Dream should win this in class alone and only has to carry 59.5kg due to Laqdar’s claim. This is 4.5kg more than last start but understandable given the races she’s been running in. Hot Zed is looking to make it five wins in a row. He’s up in class but unbeaten at this track (2:2-0-0), which makes him a huge threat. Alpha and Omega gets 2.5kg on Hot Zed, where she finished third to him.

Suggested bet: Magical Dream and Hot Zed – each way

Race 3 – Passages Handicap – 1000m – 1:36pm

6 – Requisition
8 – Beau Zoom
11 – Amasenus
7 – She’s Enchanted

Comment: Requisition has been racing really consistently lately and has won at this track/distance before (8:2-2-0). The wide barrier may be his undoing but he can run on. Beau Zoom is first up without a trial but has won first up before (3:1-1-0). He seems to have really appreciated coming to WA based on last preparation’s performances. Amasenus is up in class but coming off a win. The wide barrier is a concern. She’s Enchanted is improving with each run and has placed at this track/distance before (3:0-0-1).

Suggested bet: Requisition, Beau Zoom and Amasenus – each way

Race 4 – Amelia Park – Perth Stakes – 1100m – 2:13pm

3 – Storm Whisper
1 – Ex Sport Man
2 – He’s Gold
7 – Oceanic Rider

Comment: Storm Whisper won a trial convincingly leading into this race and is yet to place outside of the top two (2:1-1-0). Ex Sport Man won the two-year-old Magic Millions, showing a good turn of foot in the process. This could prove valuable with most horses looking to go forward. He’s Gold is coming off a win and seems to have hit his peak. He’ll be giving them something to run down. Oceanic Rider has only had the one race where she finished second and I expect she’ll improve with one race under her belt.

Suggested bet: Storm Whisper and Ex Sport Man – each way

Race 5 – Commit To Change Handicap – 1600m – 2:50pm

8 – Fangio
10 – What About Moses
2 – That’s Funny Az
5 – Our Idyll

Comment: Fangio tasted defeat for the first time last start in four runs (she finished second). She gave the winner a lot of weight there so look for her to bounce back here. What About Moses is consistently in the top four. He’s up in class here but barrier eight doesn’t look to cause any problems and he has a good track/distance record (2:1-0-1). That’s Funny Az has won two races in a row and only has to carry 57kg with Madi’s claim. Our Idyll finished second to That’s Funny Az last start and gets 2.5kg on him here. She may just fall victim to the wide barrier.

Suggested bet: Fangio – each way

Race 6 – Seacorp – Grandstand Cup – 1500m – 3:27pm

1 – Western Temple
10 – Serenity Bay
9 – Mrs Brown’s Boy
3 – Dig Deep

Comment: Western Temple is coming off a win and looks to be in for a great preparation. He also loves this track/distance (7:1-3-1). Serenity Bay has been very disappointing this preparation, placing outside of the top three for the first time, with no real excuses in either run. She returns to Ascot and has a better barrier, so hopefully, she won’t get as far back. Perhaps she can bounce back here. Mrs Brown’s Boy and Dig Deep have the form but lack consistency. Dig Deep should appreciate returning to Ascot and a good track.

Suggested bet: Western Temple – each way, Serenity Bay – place

Race 7 – Ramelius Resources Trophy – 1200m – 4:05pm

4 – Charleton Eddie
1 – Watch Me Dance
3 – Excellent Dream
2 – Ziebell

Comment: This is a race I’m quite excited about, as a few of these horses have form behind Clairvoyance, so I’m interested to see how strong that form is. She’ll like to be facing a few of them in a fortnight too. Charleton Eddie has come back just as good. He loves this track/distance (2:1-1-0) and should be spot on fitness wise being third up. He also only has to carry 56kg with Laqdar’s claim. Watch Me Dance is coming into this race having won the one trial. She probably has the best form in this race and has won first up before (3:1-0-2). She may just fall victim to the wide barrier. Excellent Dream is incredibly hard to fault. He loves this track/distance (3:2-1-0), is super consistent and has a great barrier. Ziebell is a touch hit and miss, but when he’s on, he’s fantastic!

Suggested bet: Charleton Eddie, Watch Me Dance and Excellent Dream – each way

Race 8 – Furphy – Gimcrack Stakes – 1100m – 4:40pm

12 – Story Book
3 – Fatale Femme
10 – Pat’s Got Sass
5 – Pixie Chix

Comment: Story Book has never tasted defeat at trials or her one race (1:1-0-0). It certainly suggests she has ability but I am concerned where she’ll end up from the wide barrier. Fatale Femme’s poor performance last start could be put down to the fact she dislodged a tooth during running. She’s was unbeaten prior to that (3:2-0-0) and she’s amazing value! Pat’s Got Pass is in a simple boat to Story Book in that she’s unbeaten at her one start but has a wide barrier. Pixie Chix has some of the best form and seems to be hitting her stride, but her record isn’t as faultless (5:1-1-1) and she’s also drawn wide.

Suggested bet: Story Book, Fatale Femme, Pat’s Got Sass and Pixie Chix – each way

Race 9 – Vinnies And Rotary Club Of Perth Handicap – 2200m – 5:15pm

6 – Rivalry Galore
12 – The Escort
10 – Interstate
7 – Defiantly

Comment: Rivalry Galore just seems to be getting too far back in his races, though he can run on to some extent. The Escort actually doesn’t mind this track/distance (3:0-1-1). The even field is certainly going to be in his favour, but the wide barrier isn’t. Interstate has just had excuses after excuses in the stewards’ reports. He’s racing at 2200m for the first time and if he gets some luck we could see an improved performance. Defiantly doesn’t have the best form and has a wide barrier, but at least he’s won at this track/distance before (4:1-1-0).

Suggested bet: Rivalry Galore – place

Best Bet

Race 2 – Magical Dream

Confidence rating

My confidence rating isn’t too bad today. Races 3 and 9 are just ones I’d completely avoid though. Races 1, 4, 7 and 8 look to be pretty even too, as you can make a case for many horses. It should be a great day of racing though!

Last Week’s Results

R3 – boxed first four
Winners in top 4- 5/9
Top picks: -, -, 3rd, 1st, -, 1st, -, –
Best bet: 1st
Profit: -9.52