The Group 1 Railway Stakes takes centre stage this Saturday at Ascot. With the Group 2 W.A. Guineas also featuring on the bumper card of racing, the Perth spring carnival continues to heat up! The $1,000,000 ‘The Gong’ will attract punters to Wollongong, while Cranbourne hosts their exciting and intriguing cup meeting! Join our experts as they outline their best bets on a super Saturday of racing!
Ascot Race 7
#13 Super Smink
Ascot RACE 8
#7 Alsephina
Alsephina is knocking on the door this campaign! Both runs this preparation have been visually brilliant, and with better fortune, she arguably could remain undefeated for the spell. She steps out to her pet distance on Saturday, and with only 53kg in the saddle, she comes into all winning conversations. From barrier seven, the talented five-year-old mare can sit midfield with cover, and if she is presented with her run at the right time, I expect her to greet the judge before her more fancied rivals.
Roots gets her chance to become a Group 1 winner. The consistent Press Statement mare was brilliant in victory last start at Rosehill, and she looks ready to produce a peak performance for the preparation. The step out to the longer trip is advantageous, and I suspect she has the fitness edge on the majority of her rivals. The carpark draw is the primary concern.
Suggested Bet: Alsephina @ $4.60
Kembla Grange Race 7
#1 Cepheus
Kembla Grange Race 8
#9 Hard To Say
Hard To Say is airborne at present. The Exceed And Excel gelding keeps climbing the ladder, and he thoroughly deserves his shot in this strong and competitive $300,000 event. His latest victory at Randwick broke the oncourse clocks, and he arrogantly put his rivals to the sword a long way from home. If he can find some cover from the wide gate and does little work during the middle stages, I expect him to figure in the finish. This is his acid test!
Insurrection can bounce back after a failed first-up tilt. The Russian Revolution gelding covered most of Sydney in the run, and it was a horrible watch for favourite punters. Despite the torrid passage in transit, the enigmatic four-year-old showed resilience and still bravely hit the line hard. I suspect he would have significantly benefited from his latest outing, and from the perfect inside draw, he can make amends.
Suggested Bet: Hard To Say @ $11.00
Cranbourne Race 8
#6 Rich Fortune
Rich Fortune was good without winning fresh at Bendigo. The Rich Enuff mare is undefeated second-up and looks well suited to dropping back to 1000m. She strips fitter, and I suspect she will camp on the leader’s back if she can jump cleanly from barrier two. Her best form reads incredibly well for this event, and I expect her to be crunched late in betting. The 54kg is a luxury for a mare of her ability and stature.
Midwest is ready to peak. The Zoustar gelding has been good without winning this campaign, and he finds his pet distance on Saturday. From barrier six, he will roll forward and take up his favourite role as race leader, and if he can cheat the clock during the middle stages, he may prove hard to run down. The early speed battle could be his undoing.
Suggested Bet: Rich Fortune @ $6.00
Cranbourne Race 9
#9 Foxy Cleopatra
Foxy Cleopatra was brilliant fresh behind the talented Skew Wiff at Flemington. The American Pharoah mare traditionally races well second-up and is undefeated at the mile. The lightly-raced four-year-old can occupy the box seat throughout, and if Craig Williams pushes her into daylight before the final furlong, I expect her to run down her rivals late. She looks one of the better bets on a tricky program.
Euphoric savaged the line at his latest outing. The Sebring gelding went into most punters’ black books, and he looks well placed here despite the significant jump in grade. The 54kg is a luxury; if he gets the tempo on top of the speed to suit, he will storm home late. His racing pattern and style will always require an element of luck.
Suggested Bet: Foxy Cleopatra @ $4.00
