Ascot hosts a nine-race card on Saturday with the Westspeed Platinum Sires Stakes & Ted Van Heemst Stakes as the features for the day. The first race commences at 3:33pm AEDT and the last concludes at 8:40pm AEDT. The rail is out 4m the entirety – selections are for a GOOD track with very hot conditions predicted – watch and monitor if possible.
Ascot Racing Tips: Saturday, December 21st 2024
Race 3: Westspeed Platinum Cup BM66+ - 2100m - 1:09pm (AEDT)
(1) Kisses From Kelly $3.90: 5YO Gelding who has return in good order with a hard luck story first up and then he was sensational winning over 2200m last start. Goes well third up and loves this trip. Demands respect.
(3) Henchard $12.00/$3.20: Best roughie of the day! He was enormous two-back over 2100m when he towed the field up behind KERMAN’S ROCK who set a fearsome speed (15.1L above average to the 600m mark) before going past him and beating home most of the swoopers who had race shape in their favour. He then went to 2200m LS and looked to have something to offer before being held up for majority of the straight. He still managed to finish within 1.9L of KISSES FROM KELLY who had the run of the race. He meets KISSES FROM KELLY 2kgs better at the weights today, and I think he can settle midfield from a good draw. Dropping back to 2100m is no disadvantage and he goes best on dry tracks. Looks overs
(6) Rocking Society $2.80: The favourite of the race who has been well supported and has also returned nicely this prep. Nice win 3rd up and ready to go on with it.
(3) Henchard E/W
$12/$3.20 (0.5U/1U)
Race 4: Epona Classic BM66+ - 1200m - 1:44pm (AEDT)
(1) Divine Belief $2.80: She’s returned in great order this prep and looks well placed again. She beat home all bar JOKER’S GRIN first up over 1000m who really had to knuckle down late to get past her (good form race with 4 subsequent winners including BOPPING BLUE who was terrific last week). She stayed at 1000m LS and had an easier time in front before giving a good kick to win comfortably (TWAIN’S ANGEL since ran well last week to KEEP ATTACKING). Getting out to 1200m is the obvious query, but if we look back to this time last year, she was an arrogant winner over 1100m scoring by 2.9L eased down. I think she can lead from a good gate in a race that looks devoid of much speed on paper, and she gets in well at the weights after the claim. I’m scared stiff of RISSOLES who looks like a promising mare, but I’m not sure where she gets to in the run or if there’s enough tempo to allow her to sprint past DEVINE BELIEF. If she can see out the extra 100m, then she looks very hard to beat. Happy her way
(3) Malkar Pindari $20.00/$4.40: 5YO who was terrific 1st and second up and then been well beaten since. We know her best is good enough and she can have an explosive turn of foot. Watch the market. Blow out hope.
(4) Janny $5.50: 4YO mare who has been terrific last two runs winning in style. Query is the drop back in distance and Pike is off due to injury. Chance.
(1) Divine Belief
$2.80 (3.5 Units)
Race 6: Ted Van Heermst Stakes - 2100m – 2:54pm (AEDT)
(1) Numerian $3.30: He comes through one of the key lead in races behind LIGHT INFANTRY MAN in the G1 Northerly Stakes over 1800m where he was a forgive run, in my opinion. He sat outside a strong tempo and was forced to race 3WNC for large portions of the event, but he held on well to finish within 3L of the winner (he was less than 1L off SOCKS NATION who had the drop on him). Before that, he was sound first-up over 1800m in the G3 Craven Plate when he worked through the line OK (looked like he needed the run). He draws a perfect gate to sit right behind the leaders, he’ll take good improvement from his last run, stepping out to 2100m is a positive, and he’s incredibly well weighted under these conditions (he should be giving IN GOOD ORDER and RUSSIAN TO THE BAR 12 and 14kgs respectively). Should go close.
(2) Casino Seventeen $9.50/$2.50: 7YO who won well first up and then has been a little flat since. Fitter again and is worth thought at an each way price. Nice booking of Nunes.
(6) Russian To The Bar $10.00/$2.50: We were on last start and it was a sensational win. Rises in class now, but off last start he is worth thought again. Each way.
(1) Numerian
$3.30 (2.5 Units)
