The Group 1 Railway Stakes is the feature event this Saturday at Ascot. With the Group 2 W.A. Guineas also featuring on the stunning card, all roads lead to the wild west! In New South Wales we head to Wollongong for the $1,000,000 Group 3 ‘Gong’. Can Gringotts defend his title, or will the grandstand weight leave him a sitting duck late? In Victoria, Cranbourne host it’s annual cup meeting with the $1,000,000 Meteorite ensuring a huge local crowd is front and centre.
Ascot Race 8
#1 King Of Light
King Of Light has one hoof on the W.A. Guineas trophy. The Earthlight gelding remains undefeated, and I suspect he still has further improvement to come for the current preparation. His victories in the Belgravia and Fairetha have been first-class, and he meets the usual suspects on Saturday. The step out to the mile will suit, and his powerful turn of foot is outrageous. Hard to toss!
Rock Fest is the major danger to the short-priced favourite. His current form is near perfect, and the longer trip will suit his racing pattern and style to a tee. He handles all track conditions, and he looks super progressive. From barrier eight he will slide back and find his feet, and if he is within striking distance as heads turn for home, he will play a major role in the finish.
Suggested Bet: King Of Light @ $1.80
Ascot Race 9
#8 Diamond Scene
Diamond Scene is over the odds. The So You Think gelding was a resilient winner of the Eurythmic Stakes fresh, and I suspect he will take plenty of improvement from his determined performance. His second-up record speaks volumes, and I expect him to occupy the box-seat from a perfect inside draw. The 54.5kg is a luxury, and he deserves his shot at this level. His record at the trip is the primary concern.
Watch Me Rock will have plenty of supporters after producing an impressive last start victory in the Asian Beau Stakes. The Awesome Rock gelding looks well placed in this company, and the big boy is building an impressive career record. The talented five-year-old has an incredible winning record with William ‘The Wizard’ Pike aboard, and the low draw puts him in the mix. He may need some luck getting off the dulex as they run for the doctor.
Suggested Bet: Diamond Scene @ $13.00
#3 Zealously
Zealously looks extremely hard to beat. The Harry Angel gelding smashed on-course clocks fresh at Warwick Farm, and his second-up effort behind Rey Magnerio at Caulfield reads extremely well for this event. The four-year-old turf burner loves the 1000m scamper, and he is ideally draw on the pole. The 54kg could prove decisive, and I suspect he will start as an odds-on favourite. Clearly the one to beat!
Barber can cause an upset first-up from a spell. The Exceed And Excel gelding improved dramatically last preparation for his new camp, and I expect him to be cherry ripe for Saturday’s $300,000 event. His victory in the Takeover Target was enormous, and his best performance here would prove too strong. Acid test!
Suggested Bet: Zealously @ $2.30
Kembla Grange Race 8
#3 Estadio Mestalla
Estadio Mestalla is a jet. His win fresh at Randwick was first-class, and his performance at Broadmeadow in the $1,000,000 Hunter was noted by most punters and experts alike. The Galileo Gold gelding has impressively won two out of his past three outings, and the form around him is irresistible. The consistent seven-year-old looks well placed in this company, and a victory here would book him a ticket in the Group 2 ‘The Ingham’. He has a tendency of drawing a gate in another suburb.
Gringotts is ready to defend his title. The Group 1 star meets similar opposition to last years’ edition, and he is arguably racing in a better vein of form. His recent win in the Big Dance was dominant, and I suspect this has been his main target race for the spring. The 61kg pegs him back to the field, and he will need to ping the lids perfectly to take up his favourite role. The early money is significant, and he looks poised to strike again. Major player!
Cranbourne Race 8
#15 Sabaj
Sabaj was a popular winner at Flemington at his latest outing. The Manhattan Rain gelding was a good thing licked first-up at Randwick, and I suspect the enigmatic four-year-old can continue on his winning ways here. He comes in extremely well at the weights, and the camp are training winners for fun at present. The mile suits at this stage of his campaign, and he showed the punters recently that he handles all racing surfaces and conditions. The carpark draw is the biggest deterrent.
Warnie returned to the winners’ circle at his latest outing. It was a deserved victory for the Highland Reel gelding who had been racing well without a lot of luck. The step out to the 1600m suits, and I suspect he has the fitness edge on the majority of his rivals after a lengthy and solid preparation. The grandstand weight and carpark draw are among the primary concerns.
Suggested Bet: Sabaj @ $3.00
Cranbourne Race 9
#5 Zou Sensation
Zou Sensation is a model of consistency. The Zoustar gelding was an impressive winner two starts back at Caulfield, and he was game in defeat at his latest outing at Flemington during Melbourne Cup week. The drop in trip is advantageous, and I suspect he will pilot the field with a clean break from the barriers. The gritty six-year-old should be rock-hard fit at this stage of his campaign, and he will look the winner as they cut the ribbons. I fear this may be an afterthought.
Nadal was too bad to be true at his latest outing. The unpredictable five-year-old didn’t give a yelp travelling down the famous straight-six-furlongs at headquarters, and he has been scratched more times than a mosquito bite during the spring. He won this race last year in a canter, and his best form would again see him figure in the finish. A super sprinter on his day, however; the goldilocks principal applies here.
Suggested Bet: Zou Sensation @ $5.00
