3 minute read
Scott Embry provides his best bets for the Thoroughbred meeting at Ascot on Saturday, 30th March 2024. Brought to you by the TABtouch Blog.
RACE 1
GODS GATE is the half-brother to successful older stablemate Ghost Who Walks and off the strength of his recent 4L trial win you would think he'll be very competitive on debut. Looks a ready made professional and can bounce out to put himself in a position from an ideal draw. Open and even 2 year old contest and he looks a key player. AT YOUR SERVICE has been eye-catching at both runs to date and is screaming out for 1200m. She finally gets out to what looks a more suitable distance and if she finds a back to follow she'll be flooding home late. SHOW THE WAY trialled well behind a nice one at Belmont recently. KIMBERLEY ROSE never got into the contest on debut. Forgive.
Numbers: 7 – 10 – 2 – 12
Suggested Bet – GODS GATE WIN
RACE 2
NORICH is absolutely flying this preparation. He won a C3 1000 leading throughout first-up but it's been his runs in defeat since that have really impressed. Third behind Bleecker Street from the breeze at 1200, third to Golden Fighter and Sonoftheboss in a 60+ 1000 from off the speed and most recently a luckless fifth beaten 1.5L when searching for clear galloping room for the majority of the straight. In career best form. ULTIMATE COMMAND is another who has returned in career best form. She's on the 7 day back-up after a narrow defeat at the hands of progressive mare Think Of God. Hard to fault. RUSSIAN SNIPER gets it cheap 3 back the fence and has a turn of foot. BUSTERS FREE won first-up no trial last prep.
Numbers: 4 – 1 – 2 – 3
Suggested Bet – NORICH WIN
RACE 3
INSYDE SUCCESS slipped at Bunbury last start and on a leader dominated program over 1000m that was game over for him. Thought he actually did a good job to pull out deep and run past a few late in the race and his sectional breakdown was excellent (fastest L400 & L200 of the race). Better suited at 1200m and Shaun McGruddy returns to the saddle. Good race for him. SNOW PRINCE beat the older horses in a 66+ last start and looks well placed and well weighted after the claim for Keshaw Dhurun. SONOFTHEBOSS looked all at sea once crossed last start. Doubt they hand up again for a long time. ON PATROL a sneaky place chance.
Numbers: 3 – 1 – 2 – 8
Suggested Bet – INSYDE SUCCESS WIN
RACE 4
ALMIGHTY CLASS was a good thing beat first-up. He was held up nearly the entire length of the home straight and somehow burst through in the concluding stages to get within a short half head of the winner who had a full head of steam swooping down the centre. Very few horses have the ability to pick up and sprint without momentum like that and while defeated at a short quote his following probably only grew. He'll be popular here – just needs a good steer from a tricky alley. LACED UP HEELS will have to concede him 3kg in weight which is an ask, however, her run in the Bluff Knoll was unbelievably good. Her L600 was almost 4L quicker than anything in the entire field. Phenomenal return. ICE PICK NICK did everything possible wrong last start and still went close. STREET PARADE can lead this.
Numbers: 5 – 1 – 4 – 3
Suggested Bet – ALMIGHTY CLASS WIN
RACE 5
ANOTHER STRIKE and BONDI'S FUTURE went to the line locked together last start in a 3 year old 0MWLY 1600 at Belmont Park and now they meet again at Ascot over 1800m taking on the older horses. Thinking that the 3 year olds at the bottom end of the weight scale may have more upside than the others and happy to follow that as a form reference. ANOTHER STRIKE gets a 1kg pull in the weights and a set of visors to keep his mind on the job. BONDI'S FUTURE has turned a corner at his last two and the way he fought back off the 3 day back-up gives you confidence he'll run out 1800. WHY ME had to make a mid-race move around them last start. PAIGEY'S TURN was able to sprint right away in the Ladies Bracelet last start.
Numbers: 8 – 9 – 10 – 3
Suggested Bet – ANOTHER STRIKE WIN
RACE 6
WUBIN GOLD is a little ripper. She was brave first-up at 1200m with 59kg and then toyed with them in a 60+ Graduation over 1400m second-up. She now rises up to a mile for the first time and heads up in grade into a 66+ but she's only got 55kg on her back and she looks like she'll get a very similar run midfield with cover. Love the way she quickened in the home straight. See no reason to jump off the bandwagon. SOWAR and KNOT SECRET come through the same race and there was only 1.3L between them on the line. There's a natural 2kg weight swing in favour of Sowar who has grown a leg since joining Mitch Pateman. KNOT SECRET rarely runs a bad race. TIN CHOOKS put on a clinic last start at the mid-weeks.
Numbers: 9 – 6 – 1 – 3
Suggested Bet – WUBIN GOLD WIN
RACE 7
THOMAS MAGNUM raced way outside his weight division in the Bluff Knoll carrying 55kg at SWP (more weight than Oscar's Fortune). Did a great job to beat half of them home and he's dangerous if he finds the right back to follow. Always need eachway about a horse like him – but we're getting it here. TRIPLE JAY trialled like a horse who would be very hard to beat first-up and no doubt many punters got excited to see his nomination in this 66+ 1000m – enter bar plates. Natural red flag with any shoeing change but he's lightly raced, progressive and goes well fresh. SHELL BELL bolted in down the straight last Sunday but looks like she'll have to work hard here. RUPERT'S EMPIRE was a strong win three deep the trip last start.
Numbers: 5 – 4 – 9 – 8
Suggested Bet – THOMAS MAGNUM EACHWAY
RACE 8
OWN THE QUEEN is looking to complete the Ascot 1000 Guineas – Natasha Stakes – WA Oaks treble and it would take a brave person to suggest that she's not the one to beat again. Has been the dominant filly throughout the series and from barrier 9 Troy Turner can drop her out and allow the race to unfold in front of him for the first mile before injecting her into the race. She's got point to point speed and the likely sit and sprint profile of a race without any speed only enhances her chances. STARATING ran second to her in the Natasha Stakes but meets her 2kg worse at the weights going from SWP to SW conditions. MISS SKYHIGH has blinkers, has Pike and is trained by the best Grand Final conditioners in the State (country?). KINELLINS will stay all day.
Numbers: 1 – 2 – 4 – 5
Suggested Bet – OWN THE QUEEN WIN
Same Race Multi – Own The Queen (Win) + Starating (Top 3)
Own The Queen and Starating ran the quinella in the Natasha Stakes (2200) and heading into a Set Weights Group 3 feature Own The Queen actually meets all the runners from that event 2kg better at the weights for beating them home. Makes her awfully hard to beat. Starating can sit back with her and they'll make their runs together.
RACE 9 Best Bet
FAST FLICKER was simply dominant last week over 1400m in a Westspeed Platinum. She sat rearwards and covered them in a matter of strides before being eased down to an effortless 1.6L victory. She's now won 5 from 10 and her trainer Tony Triscari is the real deal – last 365 days: 11 winners from 36 runners at 30.6% strike rate and a whopping 87.55% profit on turnover. She's the kind of mare you just keep following until she gives you a reason not to. PRINCESS IN RED is well placed on the minimum and should get a nice run midfield with cover in a capacity line-up. SPECTACULAR PARK makes a big leap from a maiden into a 60+ Graduation but stays out of trouble. HEMLOCK STONE faces his toughest test to date.
Numbers: 5 – 16 – 14 – 10
Suggested Bet – FAST FLICKER WIN
Quaddie (Race 6 – 9)
1,6,9
4,5,8,9,10
1
5
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