The second Super Saturday will be seen at Ascot this weekend as the Perth racing carnival continues with the running of the $500,000 Group l Kingston Town Classic (1800m). Classy local Luckygray dominates betting after a luckless second in the Railway Stakes (1600m) when beaten by Mr Moet, who pulled off a huge betting plunge and is lining up here as well.
The other key race is the $125,000 A.J. Scahill Stakes (1400m). Classy mare Power Princess will press for favourtism after a close second in the Winterbottom Stakes (1200m). Three year old Luke’s Luck looks to be the main danger.
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Race One: Westspeed Handicap 1000m Form Guide
Back Me: Weak race to start the day. I’ll go with Karratha Crossing. Was a readymate juvenile during the Winter with a win and two placings from three career starts. Trialled nicely recently at Lark Hill recently and in a race which has little depth, she goes on top.
Don’t Back Me: Karaka Diamond will be short due to the Pike factor, but after his brilliant debut win, he didn’t do much in two subsequent runs. Happy to leave him out here fresh.
Big Danger: Tacash found it a bit tough on debut in a hot race at this track, then went to Pinjarra and was very good in leading all the way to victory. He can roll forward from the good draw and prove to be a worthy rival over the sprint trip.
Roughie: Buhn Lert is very limited in terms of ability but she is always thereabouts and must be included in exotics given she is three kilos below the minimum.
$500 Karratha Crossing Free Bet
Race Two: Tabtime Sprint (80) 1000m Form Guide
Back Me: Good race here. I think the topweight Highly Toxic does look hard to beat here. Has had three runs this preparation, with a failure at Moonee Valley in August before being freshened and being outclassed in the Colonel Reeves behind Barakey. Then last start he was very stiff in defeat. He sat behind the speed and never really saw daylight. He drops in weight and if he brings his best form, he’ll go very close to winning.
Don’t Back Me: Beach Express was quite impressive first up. But the concern is that he generally races flat second. He does look very well placed here, but stats don’t lie hence he won’t be getting my money.
Big Danger: Excelorada meets Beach Express 1.5kg better at the weights for a length defeat. This horse has won second up in the past, is drawn beautifully and the stable is firing.
Roughie: Megem’s Boy will win one of these races sooner rather than later. He caught the eye (again) last start and even though barrier one is a slight disadvantage, he could fill the placings with some luck.
$500 Highly Toxic Free Bet
Race Three: G.A. Towton Cup 2200m Form Guide
Back Me: Looks to be only three winning hopes- Moonlight Bay, Global Flirt and Malaika. Leaning towards Malaika given she was a shade unlucky not to beat Moonlight Bay in the Tatt’s Cup. All she needs is a clear run and she’ll give this a mighty shake.
Don’t Back Me: Anything to beat the three horses mentioned.
Big Danger: Moonlight Bay, as I said above, was a lucky winner of the Tatt’s Cup. But in saying that, she is a winner and mares that are in form, stay in form. Definite threat.
Roughie: Big class rise for Global Flirt, but he has been quite impressive in his last two starts, which have both resulted in wins, including a dominant win last week in a handy race.
$500 Malaika Free Bet
Race Four: Tabozbet.com.au Handicap (74) 1100m Form Guide
Back Me: Ready Raider was outstanding in winning at this track/distance last week. He sat last, hooked out wide and let down powerfully. Barrier one means he can sit closer to the speed without doing any work and he appears to be awfully hard to hold out.
Don’t Back Me: Teen Idol is a nice gelding, but he is first up since February. Just think he might need this run under his belt.
Big Danger: Darci Time broke his maiden status in great fashion at Bunbury. He sat outside the speed, took control upon straightening and won eased down. Time wasn’t flash, but on face value, he was impressive.
Roughie: Grand Platz is one of those horses that are superstars in trackwork and at the barrier trials but fail to deliver on raceday. In saying that, he gets a great chance here given he has the inside barrier and drops significantly in class.
$500 Ready Raider Free Bet
Race Five: A.J. Scahill Stakes 1400m Form Guide
Back Me: Very keen on the three year old Luke’s Luck. Found the 1600m too far in the Guineas when finishing fifth behind Academus. The drop back to 1400m looks perfect and the WFA scenario suits him perfectly. Clear top pick.
Don’t Back Me: Dual group one placegetter Power Princess will be the favourite, but I have grave worries about her running a genuine 1400m. I am not sure if the pace will be on for her to sprint from the back.
Big Danger: Westriver Kevydonn looks set to get the easiest lead in the world here. Has been outclassed at his past two starts but he does appear well suited in this line up and the 1400m is up his alley.
Roughie: Niblick pulled his head off in the R.J. Peters yet still kicked on for third, then he went to the Railway and was outclassed when finishing well back. He could be the big improver here at odds.
$500 Luke’s Luck Free Bet
Race Six: Aquanita Stakes 1800m Form Guide
Back Me: Western Blaze looks like a highly promising gelding for Grant Williams. Beaten by Placid Ark Stakes winner Miss Bux first up at Bunbury, then came to this track and after pulling early, he sprinted hard when in the clear and recorded a high quality win. In a race that doesn’t have a great deal of depth, I’ll put him on top.
Don’t Back Me: Raising Dubai will be winning a race like this in the not too distant future, but I feel he probably lacks the killer punch to beat the major players in this event.
Big Danger: Rebelson put two great victories together before running in the Guineas and working home well when finishing sixth. The 1800m should suit and despite the fact there probably isn’t much speed in the race, he has the class to overcome it. Note he is the emergency in the Kingston Town Classic.
Roughie: Bippo No Bungus won’t be a roughie…she’ll probably be favourite. But her form is first class. Probably should have won the Guineas, but the bob of the head didn’t go her way. She looks perfectly placed here.
$500 Western Blaze Free Bet
Race Seven: Jungle Dawn Classic 1400m Form Guide
Back Me: Miss Vinnoire deserves to win a race this preparation and she won’t get a better chance than right here. She was freshened up before running in the Jungle Mist when sitting off the speed and charging late and just failing to pick up Peggie’s Dream. Bossy takes the ride and he should have her in the perfect position.
Don’t Back Me: Upon This Rock purely because the record of Gai’s horses when she is away is horrendous. Cannot have her.
Big Danger: Mabel Grace improved last start without winning. She is starting to get back to her best and this is the right race for her to return to the winners circle. Huge threat from the inside barrier.
Roughie: Keep an eye on Tiffany Yellow. She was quite dominant last start and although she is facing a steep rise in grade, she can mow them down if the pace is on in front.
$500 Miss Vinnoire Free Bet
Race Eight: Kingston Town Classic 1800m Form Guide
Back Me: Take the best price you can for Luckygray and watch him win another group one. He was very stiff in the Railway and really should have won the race. But he was forced back to last and peel out to near the centre of the track. 1800m is a slight concern, but if he is held up until the final 300m, he’ll just simply blitz this very weak field.
Don’t Back Me: Anything to beat Luckgray. He is a clear standout.
Big Danger: Playing God has a great record at this track and was the dominant winner of this race last year. He ran a corker in the Railway and will definitely appreciate the rise to 1800m.
Roughie: Ranger raced well when first up in the Railway. He just needs clear galloping space. Rosie Rocket was three and four wide with no cover in the Railway but still had the tenacity to run third. You could also include Mr Moet, Wall Street, Fuddle Me Duddle and Chester Road.
$500 Luckygray Free Bet
Race Nine: Racing Radio Handicap (74) 1200m Form Guide
Back Me: Checkpoint is a little beauty. He sits on the bunny and just keeps giving. He showed that last start when sitting outside the leader and kicking strongly to win by over a length. He again should get a soft run and prove hard to beat to finish what should be an outstanding afternoon of thoroughbred action from the West.
Don’t Back Me: Akhedasset is a handy sprinter who is racing well, but I have doubts about him running a strong 1200m second up and there does appear to be pace around him.
Big Danger: Sir Hallowell is the clear class factor in this race. Has great overall records at the track, the distance and when racing fresh. Barrier one, beautifully weighted and can sprint hard off a hot speed to win.
Roughie: Leanonus is generally thereabouts in these sort of races. He doesn’t quite perform as well in town as he does at the provincial tracks, but he should definitely be included in exotics given he has no weight on his back and has a handy gate.
