Bets Bets for an action-packed day of racing from Ascot. Catch all the action live and free on 7Plus and Racing WA.
The Pinnacles are just around the corner and on the eve of Ascot's carnival, a mouth-watering card has been assembled.
Ascot is rated a Good 4 as of Thursday morning and while there are some showers around on Thursday, perfect conditions are forecast leading into and on Saturday.
The Luckygray Stakes (race 6, 1800m) will give punters one of the first pieces of the puzzle for the Perth Cup on New Year's Day.
Buckets Ridge comes up the early favourite with the progressive four-year-old coming off a brilliant win in the Northam Cup.
A son of Pride Of Dubai, he was placed in the Derby over the Perth Cup distance of 2400m and he looks as though he can build on his peak rating as he stretches out in distance.
Michael Grantham's runners Frigid and Diamond Scene both shape as though they can run better races in the Luckgray, with Kalgoorlie Cup winner Starry Heights also adding interest into the race.
The W.A. Guineas picture will become clearer as well on Saturday with the Fairetha Stakes for the three-year-old's race seven on the card.
Neville Parnham's hype horse September Born will line up again after an eye-catching defeat first-up in the Belgravia Stakes.
While he has drawn wide again on Saturday, the blinkers are applied for the first time and it's hard to see anyone from the Belgravia turning the tables.
Fresh blood could cause an upset though, with Olympic Park for Michael Grantham and Peters' Investments coming up as the second favourite and there is a comparison to make.
By Racing and Sports measure, Olympic Park ran a faster time on the card than the Belgravia that day, with the Grantham-trained runner storming over the top of his rivals.
Both gallopers look very exciting for the future and it should be one hell of a race come 7:30 (AEDT).
We should mention too – you can catch all the action from Ascot, and every WA race meeting, live and free on 7Plus and Racing WA!
Now over to the best bets...
Going to pin down FIRST BEACH in race four as my Best Bet of the day at Ascot.
The up-and-comer has been superb this time in work, putting up strong figures when winning at Geraldton last time out.
Geraldton to Ascot doesn't sound ideal, though this fellow has stacks of upside, showing good improvement from fresh to second-up and further advancements are expected now, particularly with Pike hopping in the saddle.
Richanco is a deserved favourite, though a read of the sectionals would say he had every chance last start. He is fitter now, but this looks a similar set up to last start and I think First Beach will be close to him turning for home and the Grantham-trained gelding can bring up the hat-trick.
I didn't touch on the Lee Steere Stakes (race eight, 1400m) earlier as I'm making ZIPAWAY the Value Play of the day.
Last year's Guineas winner was engaged to race last Saturday, but was saved for this today and it looks a nice race for the four-year-old.
He's trialled well in readiness for today and his best rating came in his only effort in Open company in the Northerly when narrowly beaten. That hints that the step up from his three-to-four-year-old season won't be a bridge too far.
He rates similarly to his stablemate Bustler who ran well in this race last year before going on to win the Railway Stakes and with that race only a fortnight away, he should be forward enough to run a big race in the Lee Steere Stakes.
The Racing WA Best From The West
Best Bet: Race 4 #9 FIRST BEACH @ $4.60*
Value Play: Race 8 #8 ZIPAWAY @ $9.50 & $3.00*
Also backing: Race 5 #11 DEAMBER @ $7*
*Prices correct as of 3:30pm, November 7.
