For the second Wednesday in a row, the outsider of the field was victorious in race one after Rock Or Bust won the previous week at $81. This time it was FIRE ANT for rider Lisa Staples and trainer Tracey Diedrich. The filly by Scandal Keeper came from near last to grab Reykjavik and Dazzling Poet in the shadows of the post.
REYKJAVIK was excellent to the line after enjoying a comfortable run in transit. DAZZLING POET was forced to breeze outside of the leader and was chasing most of the way. He did well to stick on for third, beaten under a half-length.
YENDOR went too fast out in front and knocked up in the early part of the straight.
Race 2 - 1:22PM PERTH RACING INSTAGRAM MAIDEN (1500 METRES)
THE WINNER
Lucy is back! Lucy Warwick provided $21 shot My Kind Of Music with the run of the race, just off the speed, to give young trainer Brock Lewthwaite his first city victory. TABtouch opened the My Atacanta filly up at $81 on Tuesday and was found by our very own Adam McGrath.
THE GOOD
LITTLE RED ROMAN and TRADE SEARCH stuck on well after leading up the 16-horse field. The likes of CLEVER DICK, SPEEDY JUSTICE, LATAKIA FRIARS, ONE WORD REVIEW, GRAND CADEAU and DELANTERO will not be maidens for much longer.
THE BAD
COULD BE QUEEN sat three-wide and was only beaten just over two lengths. Favourite punters lamenting after the first two races.
FASTEST LAST 600M
ONE WORD REVIEW – 35.06
Race 3 - 1:57PM KIRIN MEGUMI HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
THE WINNER
AMALIEMOO was given a positive ride, from barrier 10, by Clint Johnston-Porter. Porter settled the tough filly outside of the leader before Bill’s O’Reilly pressed forward to give the eventual winner cover. The filly by Reward For Effort held off the late challenges of Kingdom And Empire, Ferngrove and Amalfi Lass.
THE GOOD
AMALFI LASS is a serious filly heading towards the WA Oaks. Watch for her to be nearly winning next start.
THE BAD
Favourite FINAL SALUTE got too far back in the run and ultimately found himself with too much to do in the straight. He will be better for the run though.
FASTEST LAST 600M
AMALFI LASS – 35.24
Race 4 - 2:37PM DEL BASSO SMALLGOODS HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
THE WINNER
Another tough and gutsy effort saw GENERAL HUSSON get the job done for the third time in his 14-start career. He led all of the way and kicked strongly when Gangbuster threw down the gauntlet in the straight.
THE GOOD
GANGBUSTER and JUST LIKE FIRE are both in for big preparations. GANGBUSTER is by Blackfriars so a WATC Derby wouldn’t be out of the question while JUST LIKE FIRE has WA Oaks written all over her.
THE BAD
JACK IRISH was a $41 chance in betting but pulled very hard in the run. Now that the freshness is out of his legs, he should go well second up.
FASTEST LAST 600M
JUST LIKE FIRE – 34.94
Race 5 - 3:15PM AMELIA PARK LAMB HANDICAP (2200 METRES)
THE WINNER
A very good staying performance from BLUSTERY saw the six-year-old mare take her record at Ascot to eight starts for two wins to go with her four placings. She won comfortably in the end with thanks to a great ride from Brad Parnham.
THE GOOD
LET’S TWIST put in an enormous performance for second after having to breeze outside of the leader, Bowl A Doosra. She fought on well in the straight and never gave up to the line. DAGORLAD was crunched late in betting and ran on well for third.
THE BAD
BOWL A DOOSRA’s poor record at Ascot continues…
FASTEST LAST 600M
DAGORLAD – 36.50
Race 6 - 3:55PM PENFOLDS HANDICAP (1200 METRES)
THE WINNER
WICKED HUNTER finally broke through this preparation with thanks to a gun ride from Steven Parnham. He placed the gelding behind the leader from barrier one and was never in doubt when the run came at the 250m mark.
THE GOOD
TWELVE ROUNDS stuck on well for second after leading from barrier nine. REGAL MOON ran home strongly for third after settling well back in the field. ZEFIRO had to change course back towards the inside of the track but still found the line well for fourth. And CARD KNIGHT, despite having little luck in the straight, was excellent first up to finish midfield.
THE BAD
Favourite REGAL MOON got out late and worked home nicely. That does not help favourite punters though.
FASTEST LAST 600M
REGAL MOON – 34.28
Race 7 - 4:30PM CROWN TOWERS HANDICAP (1600 METRES)
THE WINNER
MEDOM shocked everyone after winning the third race of his career in impressive fashion at $41. The blinkers were applied and that seemingly affected the vast turnaround in form.
THE GOOD
SONNEN was huge first up for third after sitting three-wide and on the speed without cover. It was also great to see CELTIC WIZARD return with a nice fourth after falling last start.
THE BAD
$2.10 Favourite THUNDERBOOM did not look to have too many excuses after finishing fifth.
FASTEST LAST 600M
MEDOM – 35.31
Race 8 - 5:10PM GET THE TABTOUCH HANDICAP (1800 METRES)
THE WINNER
NICCOLODEON was not expected to end up first past the post. Punters were not alone in thinking the three-year-old couldn’t win as trainer Gary Crispin went on holidays earlier in the week. Jason Whiting picked up the rid from Shaun McGruddy who wasn’t feeling well.
THE GOOD
CAMBO jumped from barrier 16 and stuck on well for second after sitting near the speed. MUSICAL ART, KHAWAJA, LOLONG and BIG CABBAGE all finished off well as there was only long neck between the first five runners across the line.
THE BAD
PARADINI did not finish off as well as many would have expected and there was no excuses recorded in the stewards’ report.
FASTEST LAST 600M
MUSICAL ART – 35.39
PERFORMANCE OF THE DAY
GENERAL HUSSON’s tough effort in race four was the performance of the day. Gangbuster challenged and looked as if he would go straight past General Husson, but the Husson Lightning gelding stuck on strongly to hold off the challenge.
RIDE OF THE DAY
Brad Parnham’s well-timed and strong ride on BLUSTERY was brilliant. Blustery looked as though she may have been pulling down the riverside of the course so Parnham let the mare stride three-wide at the 750m mark and ended up outstaying favourite Let’s Twist.
#AscotGoodTimes
Post-race interviews are brought to you by RWWA.