Ascot Selections & Staking Plan: Saturday 23rd October

Cox Plate and a return to trackside for myself, how good. A terrific card of racing from Ascot awaits on what should be a soft 5 deck, potentially upgrading to a Good 4 late in the day if the wind dries the track out. The rail hasn’t looked the place to be so far this season but without a track manager at Ascot its up in the air as to whether they have fixed the issue with the inside pad. Nevertheless, the form is done and keen to get involved on what should be a great day for it.

Race 1 – 12:36PM IRISH DAY PLATE (1000 METRES)

7. Cosmopolitan Girl – 4. Snowdome – 1. Pot Shot – 9. Revitup

Race 2 – 1:14PM TABTOUCH WESTSPEED PLATINUM HANDICAP (1500 METRES)

7. Sweet Strawberry – 3. Castillo De Lago – 2. Call Again – 1. Our Idyll

Race 3 – 1:50PM TABTOUCH BETTER YOUR BET HANDICAP (1600 METRES)

2. Pure Devotion – 6. Speed Dream – 5. Bragwell – 3. Big Screen

Pure Devotion

2nd up here Pure Devotion and the cerise and white always show huge improvement starts 1-2 in a prep. 1st up terribly unlucky, settled down 4 back the fence, travelled into the race very nicely but just could not get any room when she needed it, any luck and she would have won. Extra distance suits, smaller field suits, looks very hard to beat with Pike just parking off them. By So You Think so although unseen on wet ground, shouldn’t be an issue if the track is a little soft although I don’t think it’ll be any worse than a soft 5. Really happy to be with.

3 Units WIN

Race 4 – 2:29PM GUINNESS HANDICAP (2150 METRES)

5. There’s A Thought – 2. Vintage Stock – 9. Antique Jewel – 10. Dancing Jack

Race 5 – 3:14PM CROWN PERTH HANDICAP (1200 METRES)

13. Sniparoochy – 3. Universal Pleasure – 2. Angelic Miss – 11. Testing Love

Sniparoochy

Given the circumstances, I thought it was a great return in the 3YO classic. Drew 12 of 13, did all the work and got caught deep, not her go and the way she fought on was super. On the minimum, can cross to the breeze or potentially cross to the fence and if she can find that fence it could be all over. Has beaten champion 2YO Ex Sport Man and Hoi An over the 1200m and her first trial on a wet track this prep was dynamite. Stable gathering momentum and this looks terrific placement.

3 Units WIN

Universal Pleasure

Nice horse resuming. 1st up. Won 4 on the bounce last prep, 2nd fresh behind Wilchino (arguably should have won) in one of the highest rating maidens you will see. The progressed from a maiden win to a 60+ win in the same prep which very few horses do. The strength of those 4 wins and what he beat has a little question mark for me. Trial was nice, just cruised through the line in very quick time and looked like he could have won it by 4-5. Think they’ll try lead here and hold Sniparoochy in the breeze, or potentially let Sniparoochy cross and take the drop in behind. Either way he’s going to be in a great spot. By Universal Ruler, and they predominately swim, so rain-affected shouldn’t be an issue.

1 Unit WIN

Angelic Miss the danger to the top two. Raced in completely higher grade last prep and 1st up ran 2nd behind Glasgow Girl in one of the highest rating 1200m contests of the season when she had to get going well before the turn to get into the race, it was a monstrous run. Just the one trial before this, closed really nicely without being urged along too much. Gate 4 gives Chris options of whether he wants to hunt a spot a touch closer or just let her settle into it with a smother, regardless he’ll know which backs to follow. Huge chance, just think she might get too far back.

Race 6 – 3:50PM SCHWEPPES HANDICAP (1200 METRES)

1. Hot Zed – 7. Secret Plan – 4. Magical Dream – 8. The Fugazi

Hot Zed

Just looks a proper horse and the market keeps getting him wrong. 1st up in this grade over the short course was a bit tardy away, tracked up 3 deep and just let down like a proper proper horse when not a lot went right in the run and he only looked to be getting warm through the line. The weight no issue, the distance his pet trip, if he wins this he is a live chance in a Winterbottom with no weight. The map is awkward, but if he can come across and find a spot with some cover, he’s going to be seriously hard to beat. Just praying they roll forward.

1 Unit WIN

Secret Plan’s win 1st up was as good as you’ll see, no wonder Pike sticks. Stalked them, ambled up, put them away completely in a couple of strides and Pike didn’t even need to use the stick, hands and heels. This set-up is a little different and it is a step-up in grade, thats for sure. Drawn 10, Pike likely sits last here and has to round all of these up, which in a field of some very good horses may prove very testing material. Loves it wet if its damp still by then. Looks to have finally put it all together, this is his big test.

Race 7 – 4:25PM AMELIA PARK HANDICAP (1000 METRES)

5. Wilchino – 12. Bright Diamond – 1. Vane Tempest – 11. Billy Ray

Wilchino

One of the most promising up and coming sprinters in the WA ranks. Runs time, hasn’t always done it easy and is a winner. Maps to land just parked in behind what looks a frantic tempo here and should get a lovely run for Parnham. Stable have set their sights on the Winterbottom so they clearly have a big opinion and why wouldn’t you. Think he wins on the way to better races. Huge upside.

3 Units WIN

Bright Diamond

If for whatever reason Wilchino plays up on the day or doesn’t fire a shot in parking in behind and absorbing a hot tempo, think Bright Diamond is the one that swamps them late. Will appreciate a smother midfield off a fast speed and being able to let down down the middle of the track for Pike. 1st crack at Ascot and think he so far in his career has run his best races fresh. Wins if Wilchino doesn’t. Chopping out on her.

1 Unit WIN

Race 8 – 5:00PM BREAST CANCER RESEARCH CENTRE OF WA – BELGRAVIA STAKES (1200 METRES)

6. It’sarayday – 15. Arcadia Grace – 4. Liwa – 13. Pat’s Got Sass

It’sarayday

Its just the DF (different form) and think he might be 2nd fav for the Guineas after this weekend. That win at Northam when absolutely nothing went right signalled he’s going to be a big player, especially given the conditions. In that 1100m contest his last 200m almost broke 11 seconds and he was utterly powering away from them on the line. Debut win on a heavy track was arrogant, the wet plays into his hands. Carbery can just park him midfield in a 2-3 wide line from 8 (assuming he steps better) with that cart up with his main danger 3-4 back the fence needing all the luck to go her way. He just looks the one and is going to get the right run I think. Very keen he runs a massive race and the sky looks the limit for him.

3.5 Units WIN

Arcadia Grace, could she have drawn a worse barrier? The only one I can think of is one. She’s mighty talented, and would’ve gone mighty close (probably won) the 3YO classic with even luck but she’s just going to need so much of it to go her way here again. She’s as tardy as they come out of the gates so you can almost guarantee she’s going to settle down 3, maybe even 4 back the fence. That just spells trouble and Pike is going to need so much to go his way to get the splits when he needs it. Draws out, she would have looked the one.

Race 9 – 5:40PM PLATINUM HORSE TRANSPORT HANDICAP (1400 METRES)

7. Comfort Me – 6. Bad Wolf – 12. Creator – 8. Karijini Aurora

Comfort Me

Really like this horse, and think he gets a good set-up here. Last start in that Secret Plan race carried the grandstand 61kgs, sat leaders back in the run, as he went to build his momentum at the top of the straight got completely chopped out, before checking out off heels and really hitting the line nicely, was the perfect prep pipe opener. Think with his gate speed Mitch will boot him out and he can land in the plum spot in running in the 1-1, he drops down 3kgs in the weights, the stable is flying, handles soft.

2 Units WIN

Staking Plan

Race 3 Pure Devotion 3.5 Units WIN

Race 5 Sniparoochy 2.5 Units WIN/Universal Pleasure 0.5 Units WIN

Race 6 Hot Zed 1 Unit WIN

Race 7 Wilchino 3 Units WIN/Bright Diamond 1 Unit WIN

Race 8 It’sarayday 3.5 Units WIN

Race 9 Comfort Me 2 Units WIN

17 Units Staked.

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