The $1.5 million Group 3 The Gold Rush (1400m) headlines a 10-race card at Ascot on Saturday. Defending champion Western Empire is back to seek consecutive victories in the race. Overpass seeks redemption after narrowly missing in the Winterbottom Stakes, and Northerly Stakes winner Cosmic Crusader is on the quick back in a ripping edition of The Gold Rush. The rail is out three metres and they will be racing on a Good track with hot temperatures of 33 degrees expected on race day.
Trent Orwin brings us his free preview and Ascot racing tips from Western Australia's metro meeting on Saturday. And don't forget to head to our racing tips page for racing coverage from all around the country this Saturday.
Ascot Racing Tips: Saturday, December 13th 2025
Race 1: Bisley Workwear Handicap (1800m) – 11:54am (2:54pm AEDT)
(1) Hoba West can hopefully kick us off with a winner in this Rating 66+ Handicap. Prepared by Summer Dickson, the six-year-old gelding is deep into his campaign with three wins from his last five starts. Was a last start second behind Forever Boy which reads well and can lead from barrier one with jockey Austin Galati. Should prove hard to catch.
(7) Mississippi Dawn is a last start winner over course and distance and she should get a nice run throughout. Whether she can reel in Hoba West remains to be seen, but she has won three races from 10 career starts and should get better with more racing under her belt.
(4) Starwalker has been around the mark lately, finishing fourth behind Mississippi Dawn at his most recent run. He was 2.1 lengths behind Hoba West on November 8 and not expecting him to turn the tables – looks a place chance.
(1) Hoba West WIN
$2.70 (3 Units)
Race 2: Mrs Mac’s Plate (1400m) – 12:31pm (3:31pm AEDT)
(8) Ninetymilestraight is in top form, finishing in the money in all five runs this prep. Was runner up in the Listed Sir Ernest Lee-Steere Classic (1400m) won by dominant favourite Hot And High. Carrying just 54kg looks perfect here from gate two and should map really well. Ticks a lot of boxes in the race and the price on offer looks great.
(1) Artistry In Motion captured his second career win last time in a Class 1 event as an odds-on favourite. After drawing widest, Lucy Fiore may look to press forward to try and take up the running or sit outside the leader, and the three-year-old gelding should be fighting out the finish.
(7) Hard Solo should leave the gates well and take up a prominent position in the race. She tackled the Group 2 WA Guineas (1600m) won by King Of Light and has raced in Listed company in the past few months also. Likely to appreciate this grade and can run a big race.
(8) Ninetymilestraight WIN
$4.60 (1.5 Units)
Race 9: The Gold Rush (1400m) – 4:58pm (7:58pm AEDT)
(10) Cosmic Crusader was brilliant winning the Group 1 Northerly Stakes (1800m) over Watch Me Rock and Western Empire. Prior to that, he won the Listed Carbine Club Of WA Stakes (1400m) by 2.5 lengths. Michael Grantham’s five-year-old gelding’s record over 1400m is strong with five attempts for three wins and two minor placings. Hopefully he can land a good spot midfield and prove hard to hold out.
(1) Overpass is the class and makes a rare appearance over 1400m, a distance which has produced two starts for no placings. He was narrowly beaten in the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) but his class should take him a long way.
(11) Rope Them In beat home Cosmic Crusader in the Group 3 Asian Beau Stakes (1400m) won by Watch Me Rock and that form line has continued to hold up this preparation. The Steve Wolfe-trained gelding had 61kg on that occasion so meeting Cosmic Crusader at level weights (7kg swing) is huge. Looks right in this.
(10) Cosmic Crusader WIN
$3.40 (2 Units)
