With the big races over in the east of the country now finished up, all eyes turn to Western Australia for their Spring racing carnival. The group one Railway Stakes highlights the card at Ascot today along with the running of the WA Guineas and WA Stakes. There are some cracking fields assembled with some exciting up and coming local horses all on show.
There is a little bit of rain forecast Thursday and Friday but sunny come race day so I expect an improving surface come the time of the key races.
Billy Bestford is back once again to bring you his best bets and race previews for all the key races.
Ascot Racing Tips: Saturday November 19th
Race 5
Interestingly (13) Baby Paris lines up here after being scratched at the gates last week in the Placid Ark Stakes. She was the short-priced favourite there off the back of three impressive wins this prep. While not ideal to miss that run I think it adds great intrigue to this race and I think she looks a very backable price. Doubt we have seen the best of her yet and she loves racing here at Ascot. Should get a nice run up on speed and track the favourite everywhere she goes. I’d be surprised if she doesn’t shorten right up from the current $3.70.
(1) Amasenus looks a huge price and while he hasn’t been at her best this prep, I think she is ready to show something 4th up and out to 1200m. She has four wins from nine starts at this trip. Hopefully with some luck she can track something into the race and looks a chance to run into the placings.
(5) Sniparoochy is another in-form horse who looks progressive enough. She is also gunning for a fourth straight win and will make all her own luck up on speed. Out to 1200m looks ideal where she has five wins from eight starts. Would assume this race has been a target for this prep.
(2) Angelic Miss resumes and she has a very good fresh record. Trials have been good and think she is going well enough to win this. There looks plenty of speed on in this race so Parnham should be able to smoke the pipe out the back and let rip late.
Value: (1) Amasenus - $26 (0.25 units)
(13) Baby Paris
$3.90 (1.5 units)
Race 6
(7) Devoted was beaten by the track bias last week when getting back and storming home to run 3rd. A win there would have seen him gain a start in the Railway Stakes so you’d think he is well placed in this as a consolation. Draws a bit nicer here for Pike and on the quick backup I expect him to be very hard to beat.
(5) Minsk Moment joins the Durrant stable from Chris Waller and he has to be respected after some strong form in Melbourne this prep. Struggled in a strong race at Flemington on cup day but the win before that was impressive. A change of scenery might help him.
(6) Let’s Galahvant just doesn’t know how to run a bad race and on the quick backup from last week he should be respected. Expect they will be positive from the gate and dropping to 1400m suits.
Didn’t see the best of (14) Billy Ain’t Silly last prep but a recent trial was very good. On his best day he is right up to a race like this and the Ascot 1400m is his bread and butter. Three starts from three wins at this track/trip.
Also Backing: (5) Minsk Moment - $10 (0.5 unit)
(7) Devoted
$3.30 (2 units)
Race 7
Keen on (15) Amelia’s Jewel to bounce back to winning ways in the WA Guineas here. She was really getting warm late on last start but the leader just had it too easy and kept kicking. It was an enormous run and while she burnt the punters there, I think she can help them out today. The first up win was incredible and she draws for every favour in running. 3rd up she will be peaking today and has been set for this all prep.
(6) Bustler will be a very competitive danger and has really come from no where to stamp himself as one of the better 3yos in the state. He will be chasing five straight wins here and is yet to taste defeat. Expect he will be tracking AJ wherever she goes and is probably the only horse in the race who has the turn of foot to match the fav.
(16) Linden Lady is one of the few horses in this field with a win over the mile. Pike goes on and can run a cheeky race at a price.
(3) All The King’s Men very nearly held on to beat Bustler last week when leading throughout. He is a very good horse in his own right and you know what you’re going to get from him. Will be up on speed and is the horse the other two will have to run down.
(10) Upper Limits has been in good form and probably the best roughie to throw in your exotics.
Out to 1600m might see (1) Snowdome regain some of his best form and if he can run the trip then he will be right in the finish.
(15) Amelia's Jewel
$2.30 (3 units)
Race 8
Not a classic Railway Stakes by any means this year with no real ‘top-liners’ coming over from the East. With that in mind I think (7) Alaskan God looks a good bet down in the weights and drawn wide for Parnham. The wide draw will be key for the horse to settle out the back and let rip with his very good turn of foot. With five wins from seven, this horse clearly knows how to find the line and should strip fitter off the first up effort. He’s an exciting horse and deserves a group one.
(9) Ironclad is another horse I want to have something on and comes to WA off the back of two good efforts in Melbourne. You know he will run a strong mile and he draws a perfect gate for Neindorff who follows him over for the ride. 3rd up now I expect a peak effort and his best is good enough.
(16) Trix Of The Trade was doing best work late on over 1400m 2nd up. That was off the back of an impressive fresh run and he looks like he will eat up the mile here. If the gaps come at the right time I think he will be in the finish.
(10) Karli’s Karma has come back in terrific order and she looks set to peak with three good runs under the belt. Not sure I could get her as short as the current $7 though.
(2) Yonkers brings some strong Sydney formlines for a race like this. Not sure how well he will be suited dropping from 2000m to 16000m but trust Waller to have him ready to go.
(15) Treasured Star beat a few these home in the key lead up race but draws the carpark today. Is going to need some Pikey magic from out there but has to be a chance off the last start win.
Also Backing: (9) Ironclad - $13 (0.5 unit)
(7) Alaskan God
$4.45 (1.5 unit)
