Ascot hosts a nine-race card on Saturday with the Starstruck Classic and the Gold Rush as the features for the day. The first race commences at 3:33pm AEDT and the last concludes at 8:32pm AEDT. The rail is True after being out 9m last weekend and conditions are set to be Good. Shannon Buckley brings you his three best bets for the day for free below!
Ascot Racing Tips: Saturday, December 14th 2024
Race 2: Bisley Workwear BM66+ - 1000m - 4:08pm (AEDT)
(1) Final Siren $2.40: 4YO gelding who is resuming today and boasts a pretty tidy record. He loves a sprint and is 2 from 2 when resuming. Draws well and gets a nice 2kg claim. Deserves to be favourite.
(3) Bopping Blue $4.20: Nice value runner early in the day at Ascot. He comes through the JOKER’S GRIN form lines which should stack up nicely here. He was a dominant winner first-up over 1000m at Belmont when he camped OSL and then put them away inside the final furlong to score by 2.3L (fastest L200m split of the race). He went to this track/trip second-up and was a solid fourth behind JOKER’S GRIN et al after sitting OSL on an even tempo (only collared late / DIVINE BELIEF and ALL PLAY since won again / JOKER’S GRIN since good in defeat). He stepped out to 1200m LS and led at a solid tempo but felt the pinch inside the final 100m to finish 2.7L behind GENEROSITY who’s a very smart type on her day. I think dropping back to 1000m is a big tick along with getting Chris Parnham back aboard. I think he can fly the gates and land up on speed from a low draw too. If they don’t go mad in front, he’ll be very hard to get past and looks over the odds compared with FINAL SIREN. Go well
(9) Oracle Son $9.00/$2.40: I backed this fella last start at Bunbury and he was an absolute moral beaten, horror watch. Heads to metro grade now and will need to be travelling as well as he was last start to give this a crack. Each way hope.
(3) Bopping Blue
$4.20 (2 Units)
Race 3: Mrs Macs BM72+ - 1200m - 4:48pm (AEDT)
(3) Twains Angel $2.40: 4YO Mare who was unbeaten prior to this prep and has been a little disappointing. Will need to get back to her best here. Draws wide, but gets Chris Parnham into the saddle which boosts confidence. Capable of winning.
(6) Keep Attacking $3.20: He’s another great value bet! What a consistent preparation he’s had with 7 placings from his last 9 starts. He was a dominant winner three-back over 1200m at Belmont when he beat his rivals by 2.5L even after over-racing through the middle stages (fastest L200m split of the race). He went to this track/trip two-back and landed worse than midfield from a sticky gate before being held up at a key stage and rattling home to just miss COSMIC CRUSADER who had one of the runs of the race (good form race as COSMIC CRUSADER, WUBIN GOLD and MISS FLIRTACIOUS all since won). He had a 6-week freshen leading into LS where he stayed at this track/trip and was very good in defeat running third to MISS FLIRTACIOUS in a photo finish (fastest L200m split of the race). He meets MISS FLIRTACIOUS 3kgs better at the weights out of that race, he draws a lovely gate for CJP (who jumps off THOMAS MAGNUS to ride him), he maps to settle closer in the run, and he loves 1200m. Looks a great chance
(8) Paddy’s Flyin’ $23.00/$4.50: Roughie of the field who was scratched last weekend and looks a blow out hope here. Has won fresh before and is a 1200m winner. Light weight, sniff.
(6) Keep Attacking
$3.20 (2.5 Units)
Race 8: 7Plus Sport Gold Rush - 1400m – 7:57pm (AEDT)
(1) Western Empire $4.80: 7YO who was terrific on return and than flat last start in the Winterbottom Stakes. Has had a two week break and tends to go well 3rd up. Best is good enough, but nil market support is concerning. Expect him to bounce back.
(4) Bustler $11.00/$3.30: On the quick back up from last weeks Northerly effort where he only just missed a spot in the minors. He should be fitter again and looks suited back in trip. Each way.
(14) Super Smink $5.00: I can’t let her go around without having something on. We were super keen on her chances in the G1 Northerly last week and the market agreed as she was very well backed from double figures into $4.50. Unfortunately, things didn’t pan out and she got shuffled right back before being held up for large portions of the straight (forgive). I’m convinced the horse is flying, so I’m going to stick fat. I don’t think the drop back to 1400m on the quick back up is any disadvantage, particularly as some of her best runs have been over the trip. Parnham sticks with her over WIND AND THE LION and she draws another lovely gate. I’m banking on her jumping a little better this time and settling midfield or better. If she’s close enough and gets clear air at the right time, she has the best TOF and can win.
(14) Super Smink
$5.00 (1.5 Units)
