The Group 1 Northerly Stakes takes centre stage this Saturday at Ascot. With the Listed G.A. Towton Cup also featuring on the monster card of racing, the Perth spring carnival is sizzling! The time-honoured Ballarat Cup will attract punters to the Central Highlands of Victoria, while Randwick hosts their exciting Group 2 The Ingham meeting in old Sydney town! Join our experts as they outline their best bets on a super Saturday of racing!
Ascot Race 4
#4 Black Fantasy
Ascot RACE 8
#5 Dom To Shoot
Dom To Shoot is ready to explode third-up from a spell. Both runs of this preparation have caught the eyes of punters, and he is now ready for the 1800m at Group 1 level. His record at the track must be respected, and he traditionally performs well at this stage of his preparation. From barrier one he will save every inch of ground in the run, and if the gaps appear as they run for the judge, he will loom to win. His racing pattern and style will always require an element of luck. Over the odds!
Zaaki heads to Western Australia after a terrific Group 1 Champions Stakes performance at Flemington. The forever young Leroidesanimau gelding was brave in defeat, and the drop back to the 1800m could prove a winning move. From barrier ten, he will roll forward and pilot the field, and if the rising ten-year-old doesn’t burn the candle early, he can pinch another time-honoured feature. His recent winning record is the primary concern.
Suggested Bet: Dom To Shoot @ $13.00
Ballarat race 7
#12 Spicy Margs
Ballarat Race 8
#8 Foxy Cleopatra
Foxy Cleopatra looked the winner in the Cranbourne Cup. She was grabbed on the wire. However, she lost no admirers. The talented American Pharoah mare is ready to peak, and the 2000m is in her wheelhouse. From barrier twelve, she will sit in the running line with cover, and if Craig Williams presses the go button at the right time, I expect her to greet the judge before her rivals.
Young Werther is racing in great spirit. The Tavistock gelding was luckless last start in a hot-form race at Flemington, and he meets easier opposition here. From barrier four, he will receive the run of the race, and if he manages to carry the grandstand weight throughout, he can notch up another victory for the campaign. Class runner!
Suggested Bet: Foxy Cleopatra @ $4.80
Randwick Race 7
#2 Detonator Jack
Detonator Jack is flying! The Jakkalberry gelding is very genuine, and his win last-start in The Gong was breathtaking and effortless. He is undefeated at the mile and should be rock-hard fit at this stage of his spell. His camp are training winners for fun at present, and he already has a successful association with Jason Collett. From the wide gate, he will drift back and watch the race unfold, and if he can stay in touch with the peloton during the middle stages of the race, he will gobble up his rivals late. Hard to toss!
Vilana was good late to line at Caulfield last weekend. The Hallowed Crown entire is ready for the longer trip, and I suspect this $2,000,000 Group 2 event has been a long-range target. From the middle gate, he can sit in the one out one back position, and if he puts his best foot forward, he can return to the winner’s enclosure. He needs to put another victory on the board.
Suggested Bet: Detonator Jack @ $4.00
Randwick Race 8
#6 Waihaha Falls
Waihaha Falls was good; it was fresh without winning. The Sacred Falls gelding strips fitter after his recent return to racing, and his second-up record must be respected. He can sit closer in the run from barrier three, and the current track conditions play massively in his favour. He loves the track and distance and has been well-supported since markets opened. Big watch!
Insurrection was an impressive last-start winner at Kembla Grange. The Russian Revolution gelding is building an enviable career record, and he will likely be the leader on Saturday. Any further rain would strengthen his case, and Zac Lloyd has a perfect record aboard the enigmatic four-year-old. His record at the distance is the primary concern.
Suggested Bet: Waihaha Falls @ $8.00
