Expected weather: Showers. Likely storm clearing 15°C
Expected track rating: Soft5 – Soft6
Rail position: 3m
Race 1 - 12:33pm Amelia Park Beef Plate (1000 Metres) – Full Field
OVERVIEW: Of the 11 to line up, four are first starters (Captain Stirling, Let Me Live, Pokemon Pete and Ask Lisa) and four have won previously (Cognac, Kentoo, Hard Of Heart and Mizlecki). Mizlecki will start as favourite and looks hard to beat at a glance. Speed in the race looks to come from noted leader Cognac, first starters Let Me Live and Captain Stirling, Hard Of Heart and expect All Square to push forward this time around.
8. MIZLECKI oozes class. The win on debut at Ascot over 1000m was breathtaking and the recent second behind Illustrious was good when ridden ice cold. William Pike stays on and the filly looks hard to beat.
3. HARD OF HEART won his only race start at Ascot on 29 October 2017 over 1000m after leading all of the way. The recent barrier trial at Lark Hill over 950m on 19 June was what you would like to see if you are keen on punting him.
1. COGNAC has won at his past two starts, when leading, and comes into this with good form. He will settle in the top two in running and should give a good kick in the straight. A place chance at best.
2. KENTOO hasn’t come back as good as he left after winning last preparation. His two runs this this time in have been fairly plain after settling on the rail on both occasions. With the wide draw and a bit of sting out of the track, the son of Kendel Star can flow into the race and use the turn of speed he showed when winning on debut at Ascot on 4 February. Back to 1000m suits.
SUGGESTED SELECTIONS: 8-3-1-2
SUGGESTED BET: 8. Mizlecki – WIN
Race 2 - 1:13pm Sign On Handicap (1000 Metres) – Full Field
OVERVIEW: In what looks to be a race in two on paper between Belter and High Conviction, expect the speed to come from My Laina, Patapus and Dia De La Raza. Pike, who rides High Conviction, is likely to let the filly jump and find her feet before deciding whether to go back or forward.
5. HIGH CONVICTION has had a year away from competitive racing but is a filly which could arguably have won last year’s Karrakatta Plate. The daughter of Snitzel trialled well at Lark Hill over 950m on 19 June behind another smart mare, Galaxy Star. Whatever Pike decides to do from the widest barrier, she should just be winning.
1. BELTER won impressively last start, when first up, after sitting three-wide without cover. He looks fit and ready and should be prominent in running from barrier three.
2. TOP OF THE CLASS should improve after a nice effort last week behind Karlakee Miss over 1200m. The drop back to 1000m should suit the daughter of Star Witness and she can poke through to run another nice race.
3. SLIK SAM was sound first up and has enjoyed a three-week break leading into the race. Don’t be surprised to see Joseph Azzopardi sneak up and hold a forward position from barrier four.
SUGGESTED SELECTIONS: 5-1-2-3
SUGGESTED BET: 5. High Conviction – WIN
Race 3 - 1:53pm David Grays Aglink Handicap (1300 Metres) – Full Field
OVERVIEW: Another short-priced favourite in Galaxy Star is expected to win quite comfortably. Lockroy looks the likely leader after leading all of the way last start when the blinkers were applied. Hopetoun may have to follow him over to find a spot in running. Expect Uptown Funk, Galaxy Star, Grey Enigma and Sharpbob to all be prominent in running.
5. GALAXY STAR is a few classes above these. Her recent trial at Lark Hill over 950m was fast when clocking 56.74 under Maddison Brown on 19 June. Pike rides on raceday and looks hard to beat.
6. SHARPBOB has been in great form at Northam recently and won impressively last start after taking a sit and finding awful bother in the straight. The soft track and inside draw should see him get a lovely run into the race at big odds.
1. GREY ENIGMA was caught wide three weeks ago when beaten by stablemate War God. From the inside draw and with the break between runs, he should get the run of the race behind the speed and finish off strongly.
3. SAKER was woeful prior to his let up. The freshen up back to 1300m should suit the son of Commands and the breed handle the soft going. One to run a drum at odds.
SUGGESTED SELECTIONS: 5-6-1-3
SUGGESTED BET: 5. Galaxy Star – WIN
Race 4 - 2:28pm Old Mate's Sports Bar & Eatery Handicap (1400 Metres) – Full Field
OVERVIEW: On a day where it could be another Pike procession, the dominant hoop has the ride on another likely favourite in Profit Street. Speed will come from Baraki Beats and New Time. The former will be loaded last after being scratched at the barriers on 17 June and being granted permission to go in after all others.
1. PROFIT STREET carries 60kg and stretches out to 1400m for the first time in his career. Out in distance looks to suit and the wet track expected will only enhance his chances. With Pike on, he looks hard to beat despite the impost of 60kg.
3. WAR GOD is the obvious second pick in the race. The son of War Chant finally broke through for his first win this preparation when beating Luke’s Gold, which has since come out and won in equal grade. He will be running on strongly.
5. BLACK DYNAMITE has had genuine excuses at his two runs this preparation when finishing outside of the placings on both occasions. He was caught three-wide first up when sixth behind Just Act Natural over 1200m at Ascot before being unable to make up ground on a day which suited those on the speed over 1000m at Belmont. The soft track expected will suit the son of Alfred Nobel.
7. ABBASSO strikes a soft track for the first time since moving to Western Australia, which he has been crying out for as four of his five career wins have come on rain-affected ground. Each-way all day.
SUGGESTED SELECTIONS: 1-3-5-7
SUGGESTED BET: 1. Profit Street – WIN
Race 5 - 3:04pm Events At Ascot Handicap (1600 Metres) – Full Field
OVERVIEW: Two former Godolphin-owned and trained gallopers from New South Wales, Cruachan and Macavity, square off in a 1600m affair with many progressing gradually through their grades. Come On Board looks the obvious pacesetter after leading all of the way last start and outsider Cash Count is likely to slide forward from his wide gate to sit prominently in running. Discoville is fifth up and has been known to race handy in the past. Tempo set may be slow to moderate.
3. CRUACHAN impressed at his West Australian debut last start at Pinjarra on 15 June over 1406m when winning comfortably in class five company. Out to 1600m suits, as he is out of a Zabeel mare, and the soft track is a bonus with his record on rain-affected ground reading two starts for a win and placing. Is the leading chance and a progressive type.
8. NELSON'S FLIGHT was backed into favouritism last start when running on for second behind Come On Board over 1650m. Pike keeps the ride and won’t let the leaders get too far away.
2. COME ON BOARD led all of the way last start with thanks to a beautifully rated ride from Peter Hall. He stays on and should get an easy lead. Expect improvement again.
4. MACAVITY has had nearly a month off between runs since finishing fifth behind Airlie Sun in the WA Day Cup at Northam over 1600m. He tracked up nicely and followed the eventual winner the whole way before being hampered in the straight by Schooner. He can improve here.
SUGGESTED SELECTIONS: 3-8-2-4
SUGGESTED BET: 3. Cruachan – WIN
Race 6 - 3:40pm Crown Towers Handicap (1600 Metres) – Full Field
OVERVIEW: Another tough one metropolitan win last year race to sort out. There looks to be good speed inside from Middle Earth, Phantom Choice and Northern Lyric but the leading trio on settling down are likely to be Kimbo’s Girl, Hedlander Boy and Travellin’, which are all drawn in barriers nine to 11. Pace looks to be genuine and fast.
10. AIRLIE SUN was not pretty watching for punters last start when he didn’t even get a crack at the winning post in the straight behind Jetoomy. Drawn wide in 12 looks to suit as he can go back, get cover and finish off on the soft track, which he has a great record on. One at nice each-way odds.
11. FIRE DETONATOR has a blistering turn of speed. After settling in last position at his two most recent outings, he flashed home on both occasions to record blistering last 600m sectionals. The soft track should suit the son of Kendel Star also.
1. TRAVELLIN' is a tough middle distance horse having his eighth start this preparation. He will put himself on the speed and will be there plugging away in the finish. He has only finished outside of the top three twice this preparation. Jim Taylor has him flying.
7. ROUGHEAD won impressively last start in three-year-old grade. He hasn’t put a foot wrong this preparation and should be able to take on the older horses with confidence after a solid foundation this preparation.
SUGGESTED SELECTIONS: 10-11-1-7
SUGGESTED BET: 10. Airlie Sun – EACH WAY & 11. Fire Detonator – EACH WAY
Race 7 - 4:15pm Strickland Stakes (2000 Metres) – Full Field
OVERVIEW: It’s Scales Of Justice’s race to lose according to betting markets. The Group One winner will lead comfortably as there doesn’t look to be any other on-pace runners. He will do his own thing out in front as a moderate clip and will be hard to run down.
1. SCALES OF JUSTICE should be winning quite comfortably after conquering the Hyperion Stakes last start with ease. A Group One campaign over east awaits.
5. ZARANTZ flashed home in the Hyperion to record the fastest last 600m sectional of the race, 34.25 seconds, and was low flying late. He looks the only danger to Scales Of Justice, if any.
2. IHTSAHYMN’s last win was this race last year. Out to 2000m at weight-for-age is right up his alley. Expect an improved performance.
3. DISPOSITION has queries around whether he can run out this extended trip of 2000m but now is the time to find out. Having run second twice at Group One level in Victoria, he can match up here on class.
SUGGESTED SELECTIONS: 1-5-2-3
SUGGESTED BET: 2. Ihtsahymn – PLACE
Race 8 - 4:50pm Get The Tabtouch Handicap (1200 Metres) – Full Field
OVERVIEW: A lot of punters see this race as a match race between cerise and white runners Bold Success and Show Honey. Bells Tower went back last start from the awkward draw and ran on well but, with the advantage of the inside gate here, he will go back to what works for him which is sitting on the speed. Pirate’s Fortune will roll forward from barrier 10 and Atlanta Blue, just inside of him, will probably follow him through for a spot behind the leaders. Humanity is the query, after failing last start when on the speed, they may go back and ride for luck from the wide draw. Tempo appears to be genuine on paper but a midrace steady would not surprise.
13. SHOW HONEY drops back to 1200m against the older horses after being disappointing last time out over 1600m against the other three-year-olds. This filly will enjoy getting her toe into the ground with only 52.5kg on her back.
6. BOLD SUCCESS trialled superbly well but did burn punters last preparation after being beaten when well in betting on three occasions. Looks to get the run of the race from barrier two.
7. ACE'S WISH’s last two efforts in inferior grade have been outstanding. She won nicely two starts ago when dead-heating with the smart Harry Thomas in class three company. Last start she ran on well behind Detango to only be beaten 1.5 lengths. The Bruce Watkins-trained mare will give another honest account of herself.
8. COOL IMAGE was just nabbed last start by Sharpbob at Northam but isn’t far away from a win. Form, when two lengths off Luke’s Gold thre starts ago, reads well for a race such as this.
SUGGESTED SELECTIONS: 13-6-7-8
SUGGESTED BET: 13. Show Honey – WIN
HAVING A BET?
BEST BET: Race 1 – 8. Mizlecki
BEST VALUE: Race 6 – 10. Airlie Sun
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