FREE: Ascot Selections: Day 1 of The Pinnacles Placid Ark Stakes Day, Saturday 29th October

Day 1 of The Pinnacles is finally open us, very exciting times to be involved in WA Racing. 4 features, 3 Group 3s and a littering of quality throughout the 9 race program. Rail out 6m I’m anticipating a fair pad but cover close to the speed will be the A1 position in running the way the track has been playing of late, particularly on the Saturdays. Good 4 expected after some decent showers throughout Thursday afternoon.

Race 1 – 12:28PM TABTOUCH – WESTSPEED PLATINUM SERIES HEAT 3 (1400 METRES)

11. Sweet Tea – 4. Keytrade – 7. Success Play – 13. Hot Blooded

Very difficult start to the day with a big field and a potentially messy set-up.

Sweet Tea is flying. Huge on opening day when runner up behind Bustler and backed that up with a 3rd behind Big Screen (who has won again since) against the pattern. Barrier 1 a negative given she really can’t step, could be a real ugly watch from four the fence. Even luck she can poke through and blouse them late.

Keytrade has been huge at all 3 hit-outs (including a trial with a heavyweight jock) this preparation and will be looking for that 3 wide suck run with some cover making his run down the middle. Can be a bit of a tougher task earlier in the day opposed to later.

No real interest in the opener.

Race 2 – 1:08PM AMELIA PARK HANDICAP (1600 METRES)

10. Castillo De Lago – 12. Ground Braker – 7. Stylax – 13. Roch Legacy

Castillo De Lago

I have a Castillo de Lago sickness, and although there’s every chance he just hates winning, finds another very suitable race. He was huge last start for a number of reasons. Went in 5 weeks between runs, did a mountain of work to get to the top and ran them along 4L above benchmark on a day where the rail was ice cold. To be beaten only 3L at the finish was a massive effort, now finds a far more traditional set-up off 2 weeks. Drawn for a soft lead from barrier 5 with a light weight, the way Ascot has been playing of late I think Brad Parnham might be able to kick into the bend and try steal a mini-break on this bunch and potentially pinch it.

0.5 Units WIN

If Ground Braker can land one out, one back then he is also right in the game, loved his last start effort when wide throughout behind a couple of gallopers who are flying at the minute in Ginger Green and Brooklyn Pier.

Race 3 – 1:48PM FURPHY HANDICAP (1200 METRES)

1. Oly’s Choice – 10. Category Three – 2. Magic To Exceed – 3. Rockin Rupert

Oly’s Choice could be a freak? Sat three wide no cover fresh without a trial (with 60kgs mind you) in a race run at a very genuine tempo and was still able to sprint over the top of them late with a certain degree of ease. Barrier 13 and 61kgs a leveller no doubt, but he is as progressive as they come and it wouldn’t surprise me if he is quite simply just better than these. One of a number of exciting prospects Brock Lewthwaite has wheeled out recently.

Category Three trialled up nicely prior to a slashing 1st up effort behind Street Parade after settling last in the run. Pike always dangerous on these types from a 3 wide line and gets a huge weight pull on the favourite. 1200m another big tick. Liked the early each way but that has since been gobbled up. View PLAYUP Racing Markets Here

Race 4 – 2:28PM CROWN PERTH HANDICAP (1200 METRES)

2. It’sarayday – 1. Hot Zed – 6. Gemma’s Son – 5. Kenyluck

Very tough, quality sprint where you could make a genuine case for 5-6 runners.

It’sarayday has been terrific in both his previous two feature sprint efforts. Would have preferred Pat keeping the ride he has traditionally had on him (perhaps opted for Panzdown instead?) but in saying that, Holly has developed a good affinity with him but the draw could be a little sticky potentially given how well he jumps.

Hot Zed is just a beauty, the run two back was absurd and although not as impressive last start, drew inside on a cold rail and had to make his run in that lane. 61.5kgs is a lot of weight to carry in a field of this quality however.

Gemma’s Son maps poorly but gets nice weight swings on a couple of key rivals here from his effort two back in the Crawford, Pont riding like a man possessed and handles him very well while Kenyluck a blow-out if allowed to get it cheap in front, all heart.

Would be surprised if I was betting here. View TOPSPORT Racing Markets Here! View PLAYUP Racing Markets Here

Race 5 – 3:08PM LUCKYGRAY STAKES (1800 METRES)

5. Buster Bash – 13. Pure Devotion – 3. Utgard Loki – 11. Holy Enchantment

Buster Bash

The more I looked at this race, the more I convinced myself that Buster Bash although drawn sticky on paper just waltz’s across to the top and dictates in his favoured role, one of the hardest horses in the state to get past when allowed to do so. Black Shadow generally isn’t ridden with aggression 1st up (and has the Pads on) while Bad Wolf the likely only other potential speed horse is re-united with Tash Faithfull and doubt they will have any intent to lead. Paul Harvey gets across the face of them with the main danger Pure Devotion more than likely right out the back. Pure Devotion was terrific 1st up in the Eurythmic but I just can’t see which horse Pike can find the back of from where he gets to in the run to cart her into the race (and a winning position) unless they try and utilise her early and find a spot midfield (in doing so, potentially being parked out deep). I’m not sure she’s good enough to pick up Buster Bash from last if that is the way they go. If there’s a pattern developing early that perhaps the middle of the track is the place to be 3 wide with cover then I’d be happy to chop out on her, but with the set-up, firmly in the Buster Bash corner.

2.5 Units WIN View TOPSPORT Racing Markets Here! View PLAYUP Racing Markets Here

Race 6 – 3:50PM EUROZ HARTLEYS – WA CHAMPION FILLIES STAKES (1600 METRES)

3. Vampi At Play – 1. Laced Up Heels – 2. Penny On The Queen – 12. Admiration Express

Vampi At Play

Absolutely love this filly for Neville Parnham, I backed her to beat Amelia’s Jewel last start in the Burgess Queen and it was in the nicest way possible a sickening watch. Held up the entire length of the straight when she looked to be absolutely bolting on straightening, you could make a very strong case (I will anyway) I think with clear galloping room at the top of the straight they don’t catch her and she wins that race. If you listened to Neville Parnham’s pre-race interview he was very bullish this filly could roll Miller’s unbeaten Jewel, he has a huge opinion of her. Love how tractable she is in that she can hold a position in running and still let rip with that dynamic turn of foot she possesses, you could mount a case she should be unbeaten this preparation after being a good thing beaten on opening day rattling home in the quickest L200m of the entire meeting after being chopped out for a run at a crucial stage. Lands positive, suspect they might chance their arm with an outsider drawn wide and she could lob in that one out one back position, gets the run of the race and while the favourite is very good without a doubt, she will be spotting her a start and need to be very good to catch her.

3.5 Units WIN View TOPSPORT Racing Markets Here! View PLAYUP Racing Markets Here

Race 7 – 4:25PM EUROZ HARTLEYS FOUNDATION – COLONEL REEVES STAKES (1100 METRES)

1. Elite Street – 14. Wilchino – 3. Red Can Man – 10. Miss Conteki

Elite Street

I, much like everyone else, have been eagerly awaiting the return of our state’s best sprinter to the track. Although a different preparation to what we saw this time last year (took part in all the traditional Winterbottom lead-ups), I actually love that he’s been kept a bit fresher and his past 2 1st up efforts have been incredible. Interestingly, the market always seems to take a set against him (Every punter in WA was on in the Northam Stakes, yet he just kept drifting?) so there is even the potential with some good money for other runners here, you get a better price late than the current $3.30 on offer. Rawiller rides him like Weekend Hussler and don’t think Miss Conteki can spot him a 2-3 length head start on straightening, both with even luck in running, and sprint past him. Although conceding a bit of weight, it doesn’t worry me, he’s the best horse in the race and Danny Morton is a genius in how he handles his stable star.

3 Units WIN

If Miss Conteki can spot Elite Street that tactical advantage and get over the top of him late, she is as live a Winterbottom chance as you can get if she wasn’t already, while Wilchino I am convinced is flying. Money came for her 1st up from barrier 16 of 16 with a magnitude of speed drawn underneath over the 1000m, that to me is as good a push that she is going as well as she was when backed into Winterbottom favouritism last year as you can get. Finally draws a gate, finds the top with no weight and it would not shock me whatsoever if she steals a break on them and if a few see some bad luck, keeps kicking.

Race 8 – 5:03PM TABTOUCH-PLACID ARK STAKES (1200 METRES)

9. All Show – 8. Rumour Says – 10. My Bella Mae – 7. Baby Paris

The feature of the day, and to be brutally honest, have NFI. You could make a genuine case for 5-6 runners here.

Tipping perspective, I’m sticking fat with All Show. Ripped her head off last start when the market was all over her in a very slowly run race when Baby Paris clearly had her measure. There’s an abundance of speed here, the added tempo will certainly suit her in rectifying how she raced in the Prelude and O’Donnell has bountiful options from the great draw.

Rumour Says would have won the Belgravia quite simply, but is that the form? Each way looks really good value, especially if Clint lands in a 3 wide line on the back of a horse like Baby Paris or Street Parade. At the end of the day, no matter where Clint lands she will be letting rip late with the tempo engaged in this contest, still very much untapped.

My Bella Mae is a gun, has done absolutely nothing wrong, races tractably, quickens up beautifully and just needs to handle the 7 days to be right there in the finish. Prawns Eleven jumps last week and he’s in that finish with MBM last Saturday, now you’re seeing over double the price? Brock Lewthwaite will have fingers, toes and everything else crossed he can leave the machines and hold a position from that gate.

Baby Paris could very well be the best horse in the race, actually I have a feeling she is. The map is just horrendous. Tried my hardest to get her in but I just couldn’t, Knuckey is going to need to give her the ride of his lifetime but it adds another great element of interest to a cracking contest.

All Show & Rumour Says the two I will most likely end up on, but none of the above would surprise, how good is racing?

Race 9 – 5:39PM R.J. PETERS STAKES (1500 METRES)

10. Devoted – 12. Searchin Rocs – 1. Last Of The Line – 11. Playing Marika

Devoted

Last race of the day, cerise and white favourite, and guess who’s back? Romanticism aside, Devoted was so, so big in the Asian Beau, another horrible hard-luck story and needs to win this race to make his way into the field in next weeks G1 so there is plenty at stake for Bob and Sandra.
Pike takes the ride, finds a field of less depth and anticipate he might throw caution to the wind, come out positive and try and find a spot midfield from the draw, these are the tactics I’d love to see and although it increases the chance of him being posted, trusting the big race riding magic of Sir William to assess the situation as it unfolds. If they do opt to play it safer and drop out, far from worst case, think he could tag a horse like Speed Dream into the race 3 deep with cover and barring horrible luck like he found last start, very confident he can blast the Pike in the last punters out a winner, ready to go to another level this prep. Happy to be on black figures.

5 Units WIN

Staking Plan

• Race 2 Castillo De Lago 0.5 Units WIN
• Race 5 Buster Bash 2.5 Units WIN
• Race 6 Vampi At Play 3.5 Units WIN
• Race 7 Elite Street 3 Units WIN
• Race 9 Devoted 5 Units WIN

14.5 Units Staked.