3 minute read
The Northerly Stakes is the feature at Ascot on the weekend as we begin the trek to the Summer Carnival.
However the first race to look at is the RS Crawford Stakes for the sharper sprinters and it is a good race.
There are not many you can put a line through so there might be value out a bit wider in the shape of Flirtini.
Last year she was contesting some of the best sprints out West and picked up the Miss Andretti amongst some other good efforts.
She does get back in the field but often she is in big fields and so gives away big starts. That is a bit mitigated on Saturday with ten runners.
The vast majority of the field are first up so no advantages to others there and with the speed on she can charge the last bit and give a sight.
The highlight is the Northerly and some of the good locals resume perhaps on their way to Railways and even Perth Cups in time.
This can be an upset race as we saw last year when the trifecta from that race all go around here too.
With that in mind we'll go looking for value and Dance Music is a mare who has not known how to run a bad race for a long time.
Competitive in short course races up to 2000m, she loves to ride the speed and that could well be a nice spot here against many resumers.
You can see her jumping from wide and working to the lead and then stacking them up before scooting on the corner.
She may be good enough to hold on but should still give you a run for an each way ticket.
BEST FROM THE WEST
EACH WAY PLAY (1): Race 7 #3 Flirtini @ $8.00
EACH WAY PLAY (2): Race 8 #11 Dance Music @ $9.50