FREE: Ascot Selections: Wednesday 12th October

10 races to sink our teeth into for the midweek return to Ascot meeting. Rail out 12m and terrific conditions generally mean it will pay for those able to settle forward of midfield in running but will be keeping a keen eye for any pattern early.

Race 1 – 12:09PM INDIGENOUS TENNIS & LEARNING RTSA HANDICAP (1200 METRES)

8. Ex Sport Girl – 9. Mystic Jane – 4. Make Your Point – 5. Swim Through

Ex Sport Girl

A few small plays I’m happy to have at their prices in the opener. She was posted deep fresh in what should prove to be a very strong maiden reference, thought she was super how she fought on through the line. Although not an ideal draw here, you need only go back 2 starts and she’s finished 2L adrift of 3YO Classic winner Snowdome, All Show and Swear To God. With some luck from the gate, I think she goes very close here and $7 is enough to have something small on. Interesting that McGruddy has opted for the stablemate it appears?

1 Unit WIN

Mystic Jane

Another over my price here is Mystic Jane, who was unsuited heading back to the 1000m last start when she sat in the breeze outside All Show and was able to hold on to win the race of the chasing brigade, with the first two across the line there in a race of their own. The start prior was unlucky not to have finished closer to Laced Up Heels (one of the runs of the race in the 3YO Classic) and beat home Baalbek (impressive subsequent winner at Northam last Wednesday) and thought she got stronger through the line there, suggesting up to 1200m is a box ticked. Thought she mapped for the run of the race here, so at the quote am also happy to be on small.

0.5 Units WIN

Make Your Point

McGruddy hops off Ex Sport Girl to take this ride, very good push they have an opinion of this horse. Showed really good gate speed at trials before missing the step on debut. Definitely looking for 1200m and potentially even further and if they begin better McGruddy can hold a terrific spot here from the gate, didn’t mind the way he got home late on debut, $15 is overs.

0.5 Units WIN

Race 2 – 12:44PM MACA LIMITED MAIDEN (1200 METRES)

11. Forever Classic – 9. Nunes – 3. Invincible Strike – 5. Just A Rumour

Race 3 – 1:19PM MURLPIRRMARRA CONNECTION LIMITED MAIDEN (1200 METRES)

16. Miss Drakova – 12. Fluro Neuro – 7. Cosmic Chaos – 13. Debonnaire

Miss Drakova

Much like Bustler and Vampi At Play on Saturday, Miss Drakova looks incredibly well-placed. 3yo on the minimum in an all-aged maiden, form through last prep reads up super (particularly 1L off Top Of The Pops which is some of the strongest 2yo season form we’ve seen) and the recent trial was terrific coasting to the line under a hold in slick time. Parks up over the speed here and can be too strong for them.

The scratching of Kosta’s Crown has seen her trim right up to $1.80-1.90 in betting, black figures here and I’m still happy to get involved.

4 Units WIN @$2.00+ BSP View PLAYUP Racing Markets Here

Race 4 – 1:57PM DP & LK PATTEN HANDICAP (1200 METRES)

4. Diamond Blue – 7. Red Hot Goods – 1. Lucky Landing – 2. Bigdayonit View TOPSPORT Racing Markets Here! View PLAYUP Racing Markets Here

Race 5 – 2:37PM SWICK MINING SERVICES HANDICAP (1200 METRES)

5. Exceltrain – 3. Final Authority – 1. Capricorn Man – 2. Magical Gem

Exceltrain

Exceltrain is over the odds at $5.50 in an open little race. Strong maiden win on debut beating home 4 subsequent maiden winners so that form has more than stacked up. Good speed here, Rawiller parks in behind them from the gate and should get every chance to get over them late, nice map and stable still airborne (will they ever come down?)

1.25 Units WIN

Magical Gem

Magical Gem a little roughie to throw out here at $31+ potentially. Comes through a hot little trail recently when not asked for any effort whatsoever and looked to be doing it easy at the back of the field. Basically every start in his career has been on wet tracks, so wouldn’t be surprised to see him really out-run market expectations here on a dry track with Brad Parnham in the saddle (who has hopefully already booted home a winner or two by this stage of the day).

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

Race 6 – 3:14PM GTT VENTURES TROPHY HANDICAP (1800 METRES)

8. Glenburn Hotel – 2. Gratias Deo – 5. Mr Hollywood – 3. Tuscan Holiday

Glenburn Hotel

Really liked his last two runs and showed last start he can run out a strong 2000m behind Ruby Noir and Kia Ora Jewel who would both start favourites in this. Can hold a better position from the draw in a race with no speed here and has that platform to run a strong 1800m which some of these don’t (or at least are queries at). Big day for the Brad Parnham fans (me)

1 Unit EACH WAY View TOPSPORT Racing Markets Here! View PLAYUP Racing Markets Here

Race 7 – 3:50PM HFM: TIGER, BIG D & JOCK HANDICAP (1000 METRES)

2. Stars Aplenty – 6. No Dice – 8. Night’s Mystery – 1. Rockin Rupert

Race 8 – 4:25PM PARVATE COLLECTIVE HANDICAP (1800 METRES)

2. He’s A Lucky Lad – 9. Count Grundy – 8. Ghobella – 7. Recalled

Race 9 – 5:00PM THE QUOKKA SLOT APPLICATIONS CLOSE 26 OCT HANDICAP (1400 METRES)

4. Mystical Babe – 7. Vitalize – 11. Aiyza – 1. Stellar Vista

Race 10 – 5:40PM WESTERNTRILOGY.COM.AU HANDICAP (1400 METRES)

1. Pray Again – 3. Roch Legacy – 6. Tiff’s Lad – 8. Without Reg

Pray Again

Interesting one this, because most might feel they missed the boat. The early punters took $16 (not me, wasn’t quick enough) and then $12 disappeared and then $8.50 disappeared and before you know it he’s a $4 favourite at the time of writing which is exactly the price I marked him. That was quite simply the wrong price, and am still more than happy to be on if he gets back out from his current quote.

Nothing went right for him last preparation, you can completely pen both starts and his recent trial suggests (although he trialled similarly prior to last prep) that he has come back in superb order for a stable that is really starting to warm up. Won a very strong maiden in his initial campaign before stepping into a CL3 and belting them to the tune of 2.5L, not many horses can do that and I think this Playing God gelding has an abundance of ability, just perhaps hasn’t put it all together yet. Can follow Mong Khon across from his wide draw who should take him to a spot parked right over the speed and take serious beating. I think anything upwards of $4.80 is enough to have a good bet on him. $16 early punters will be #PrayingAgain to the overs gods.

2 Units WIN @$4.80+ BSP

Staking Plan

• Race 1 Ex Sport Girl 1 Unit WIN/Mystic Jane 0.5 Units WIN/Make Your Point 0.5 Units WIN
• Race 3 Miss Drakova 4 Units WIN @$2.00+ BSP
• Race 5 Exceltrain 1.25 Units WIN/Magical Gem 0.25 Units WIN
• Race 6 Glenburn Hotel 1 Unit EACH WAY
• Race 10 Pray Again 2 Units WIN @$4.80+ BSP

Locked in 5.5 units, with the potential for it to be a 11.5 unit Wednesday if we see our bet prices again in races 3 and 10. Good luck if following.