3 minute read
Racing returns to Ascot this Saturday where the three-year-old's are the main attraction.
Racing heads back to Ascot this weekend with the Natasha Stakes and the J.C Roberts Stakes for the three-year-old's the highlights.
With racing in the west beginning to ramp up as The Quokka is just over a month away, both features serve as a lead up to the Oaks and Derby respectfully.
The Natasha Stakes may be the more interesting of the two, with no filly being a standout over the middle-to-longer distances just yet.
Seven of the 8 runners in Saturday's event come through the Ascot 1000 Guineas where Own The Queen continued to build her impressive record with a one length win over Miss Skyhigh, and it looks a race between those two this weekend.
While Own The Queen meets her rivals worse at the weights for Saturday's assignment, the daughter of Awesome Rock usually puts herself in a good position in running and wasn't stopping at the line over 1800m a fortnight ago.
The only horse finishing faster than Justine Erkelens' charge that day was her main danger, Miss Skyhigh.
While the sire of Miss Skyhigh is noted sprinter Harry Angel, the filly is bred on the same cross as G1 winner Tom Kitten, which bodes well for Miss Skyhigh seeing out the 2200m journey.
Miss Skyhigh may not have had the best of opportunities to show what she's really made of, and now stepping out in trip from an inside barrier, everything points to her putting her best foot forward.
The fresh blood comes in the form of the Luke Fernie-trained Kinellins Legacy, who has already ticked the 2200m box with a dominant maiden win two starts ago. She had the race shape against her last time over this course and distance but was finishing quickly under Chris Parnham. She creates plenty of interest.
It's a similar story for the boys where the quinella from the Lex Piper Stakes head the market.
A Lot Of Good Men was only a half-length off Russian To The Bar a fortnight ago and fired in a protest to try and overturn their positions across the line.
The Trevor Andrews-trained colt was superb over this track and trip against the older horses in the G1 Northerly Stakes and with a favourable swing in the weights, it's easy to see why he's the early favourite.
I'm keen to continue the three-year-old theme heading into the Best and Next Best of the day, albeit away from the feature events.
In race 7, the Colin Webster-trained WUBIN GOLD appears a progressive filly who can claim a 1 Metro Win on her way through the grades.
The daughter of Shooting To Win bumped into a fit and in-form galloper first-up but ran a similar ratting to what she did on debut before improving quickly second-up.
While there are a few nice types in the race, Wubin Gold may be the best of them and if she can replicate the improvement shown in her debut campaign, she'll take plenty of beating.
In the last event of the day, ROYAL TORONADO looks well placed dropping out of Stakes company and into a BM66+.
He was one of the fastest finishers in the Lex Piper Stakes a fortnight ago and finds what looks an easier race on Saturday.
Royal Toronado is currently price outside Cosmic Crusader who also ran in the Lex Piper.
Cosmic Crusader led the field there but weakened badly to finish 1-1/2 lengths behind Royal Toronado at the finish.
While Cosmic Crusader ticks a few boxes, Royal Toronado beat him fair and square a fortnight ago and I think the Grant & Alana Williams-trained gelding can do the job again on Saturday.
The bet365 Best From The West
Best Bet - Race 7 Number 8 WUBIN GOLD @ $3.40* with bet365.
Next Best - Race 9 Number 9 ROYAL TORONADO @ $4.20* with bet365.
*Prices correct as of 1:45pm, March 14th.
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