Ascot will host nine races on Saturday with the main attraction being the Group 2 WATC Derby for the three-year-olds. The opening race is scheduled for 11:54 am (1:54pm AEST) and they are expected to race on a Good 4 track. Here are my best bets for the meeting!
Ascot Racing Tips: Saturday, April 19th 2025
Race 1: SEACORP HANDICAP (1000 METRES) – 11:54am (1:54pm AEST)
(4) Black Ora claimed an easy victory first up from a spell in a small field of five at Pinjarra Scarpside. Prepared by Adam Durrant, the three-year-old filly returns to town where she boasts a pair of placings from two attempts, and this looks a very suitable race for the daughter of Playing God. Hopefully she can settle in front of one or two rivals here and run over the top of them late with William Pike aboard.
(1) Keep Ita Mystery was excellent last start with the three-year-old gelding winning over track and distance in quick closing splits. The increase in weight sees the booking of apprentice Brayden Gaerth as the pair will jump from the outside gate which could prove to be a little tricky. The horse is in excellent form and looms as an each-way chance.
(2) Daytona Pete begins his third career campaign after a successful second prep that saw him capture the Westspeed Platinum Sires Stakes (1200m) back in December. He has had a trial in preparation for his first up assignment and looks a key contender.
(4) Black Ora WIN
$2.90 (3 Units)
Race 4: WESTSPEED PLATINUM AUTUMN SERIES HEAT 1 (1200 METRES) – 1:44pm (3:44pm AEST)
(4) Let’s Talk jumped well to sit behind Pin Deep at his first up run as he gained the upper hand close to home to deny his stablemate Military Power. He takes aim at back-to-back victories now stepping up from the 1000m which looks a natural progression for his campaign to take this heat of the Westspeed Platinum Autumn Series. Looks the horse to beat once again.
(1) Hymns Of Eladdair will carry the top weight of 60kg in the race, but the weight is not likely to cause any issue after he carried 60.5kg to win a Class 3 Handicap over 1400m. Should settle midfield and has strong claims in the event.
(3) Bondi Plunge was second last time out, and the map should be pretty kind here as Brad Parnham jumps aboard. The four-year-old mare is a winner of two from four when racing second up from a spell and should be cherry ripe for this heat.
(4) Let’s Talk WIN
$2.50 (3 Units)
Race 6: SCHWEPPES WATC DERBY (2400 METRES) – 3:00pm (5:00pm AEST)
(4) Machine Gun Gracie is the dominant staying filly in Western Australia with consecutive wins in the Listed Natasha Stakes (2200m) and Group 3 WA Oaks (2400m). She won both by a combined 6.72 lengths and clearly rates on top. This year’s WATC Derby features three geldings and four fillies, and the girls are led by Machine Gun Gracie and Funchal. Machine Gun Gracie leads or sits if something makes a move, and she can capture the Oaks-Derby double.
(6) Funchal was put into the race last time by William Pike in a surprise move that was daring in a bid to upset Machine Gun Gracie in the Oaks. It didn’t quite work out, but the performance was still good as she finished second, beaten 3.28 lengths. Pike probably won’t pull the same card twice and Funchal should work home strongly in the Derby.
(1) Sail Session notched the hat-trick in the Listed Melvista Stakes (2200m) defeating Maxwhooshtapin and Net Zero who both line up again. The Daniel Morton-trained gelding will be giving Machine Gun Gracie a head start and we will see if he can step up again to make it four on the bounce.
(4) Machine Gun Gracie WIN
$1.70 (4 Units)
Race 8: BELHUS RACING JOIN A RACING SYNDICATE HANDICAP (1000 METRES) – 4:20pm (6:20pm AEST)
(1) Ginnivan had a winning streak of three come to an end when finishing sixth at his first run back from a spell. The Jim Taylor-trained four-year-old gelding led them up in the Rock Magic Stakes (1000m) before getting tired late to finish 2.16 lengths from Jokers Grin. He will press forward from gate seven in a bid to lead once again as apprentice Bayden Gaerth picks up the ride. Looks value at a price here.
(3) All Play was last seen winning over 1100m back on January 18. That was his third straight win for the Trevor Andrews and Shaun O’Donnell combination. Should get a perfect run from barrier two and will be hard to hold out late.
(7) Toropa is another resuming and she was last seen finishing fifth in the Listed Jungle Mist Classic (1200m) won by Baby Paris who was fifth in the Rock Magic. Toropa has won five of her nine career starts and has had a stable change to Stephen Miller.
(1) Ginnivan WIN $8.00 betr 1 unit
$8.00 (1 Unit)
