Ascot hosts a nine-race card on Saturday with the Northerly Stakes as the feature for the day. The first race commences at 3:29pm AEDT and the last concludes at 8:30pm AEDT. The rail is out 9m for the entirety and conditions are set to be Good. Shannon Buckley highlights his best bets for the day below!
Ascot Racing Tips: Saturday, December 7th 2024
Race 2: Swan Draught 1600m BM78+- 4:08pm (AEDT)
(2) Fast Flicker $5.00: 5YO mare who is racing well and is going at a 50% strike rate. Probably prefer her over a shorter trip. Draws well and will still give sight over the mile.
(5) Russian To The Bar $3.60: We were with him LS when he was very good in defeat, and he looks well placed again today. He landed midfield after jumping on terms with them and then angled off heels to hit the line nicely to finish within 0.3L of FAST FLICKER who sat OSL and was suited by the slow tempo. He beat home KESHI BOOM and gets a 2kg weight swing on FAST FLICKER out of that race. Before that, he was given no hope behind MOJO RHYTHM when INVESTMENTSTRATEGY absolutely walked in front (10.2L slower than average to the 600m mark) yet he finished alongside that runner and was only beaten a length (good with race shape against). He gets out to 1600m on a dry track today and arrives fourth-up hitting peak fitness.
(7) Keshi Boom $2.45: 4YO who made a strong impression early in her career and has been finding it hard to hit the winners list since. Suited here fourth up and Pike remains in the saddle.
(5) Russian To The Bar
$3.60 (2 Units)
Race 7: G.A Towton Cup 2200m - 7:15pm (AEDT)
(2) Buckets Ridge $4.60: He looks a nice play in an open race with several winning chances. He was a good winner three-back over 1650m at Belmont when he sat in behind CAPTAIN PLUTO before getting over heels turning for home and out staying him, even with 60kgs on his back (good through the line / good gaps behind). He had 6-weeks between runs before stepping out in the Northam Cup over 1600m where he was a very good winner coming from well back in the field to pick them all up (fastest 6-400m and 4-200m splits of the race / 4thfastest L200m split of the meeting). He stepped out to 1800m LS and was firm in the market (SP’d $3.60), but he was forced to snag back from a wide gate and never looked a winning chance behind DIAMOND SCENE (happy to forgive). He finally draws another good gate plus Willy Pike sticks with him over key rivals SIMPLY and STARRY HEIGHTS. I think he can map much closer in the run from a good gate and improve sharply getting out to 2200m. If we go back to last prep, he went from 1800m to 2200m and won the Melvista Stakes easily. Happy his way
(3) Diamond Scene $4.40: Early market favourite who stormed home last start to win. Looks suited out in trip. Draws a sticky gate so will need some luck in the early parts. Peak fitness fourth up. Main danger.
(11) Simply $6.50: 4YO gelding who won three in a row before being caught wide most recently. If you are happy to forgive that run he looks another top hope. Loves this distance and is still hard fit. Value.
(2) Buckets Ridge
$4.60 (1.5 Units)
Race 8: Northerly Stakes 1800m – 7:55pm (AEDT)
(2) Attrition $4.60: Favourite for the Northerly who was enormous two runs back and then had no luck most recently. If we see a similar run to what we saw two back he is a big shout.
(14) Super Smink $5.50/$2.15: She is absolutely airborne this prep! She flopped out last from a wide gate over 1200m in the Black Heart Bart Stakes first-up before savaging the line to just miss MOOD SWINGS (fastest 4-200m and second fastest L200m splits of the meeting). She went to 1400m second-up in the G3 Eurythmics Stakes and was again forced back from a wide gate before hitting the line hard to finish within 1.1L of COMFORT ME who had one of the runs of the race (fastest L200m split of the race). She finally drew a gate in the G3 Asian Beau Stakes over 1400m two-back and was able to settle just worse than midfield before getting clear air down the straight and putting them away (fastest 4-200m and second fastest L200m splits of the race). They stepped out to 1600m in the G1 Railway Stakes LS and she was enormous in defeat. She went back from another wide gate before reeling off some sizzling late sectionals to finish within 0.8L of PORT LOCKROY (fastest 4-200m and L200m splits of the race / second fastest L200m split of the meeting / home in 33.62 and 10.94secs). They draw a much better gate today, so I think they can utilise it to map closer in the run. Chris Parnham retains the ride, she has a great record at Ascot, she goes best on dry ground, and I think she’ll stay the extra trip. Great each-way bet
(16) Storyville $4.60: 3YO Filly who is absolutely flying at the moment. Chasing a hattrick of wins now and asserted dominance in the Group 2 WA Guineas last start. Pike stays on and will give this a red hot crack. Top hope.
(14) Super Smink E/W
$5.50/$2.15 (1.5U/2U)
