After WA’s feature day on Saturday we bring you a preview of two midweek races from the West. The moveable rail will be out 15 metres with a cutaway in the straight, meaning every horse should get their chance in the straight.

Ascot (WA) preview

Race 3 — 3yo Handicap, 1500m (5.35pm AEDST)

This race showcases a number of horses who are likely to be on a WA Derby preparation in the Autumn. It looks to be a very competitive race with a number of key chances.

Those who backed 6 NEWTON PRINCE first up will know how impressive he was. He got into quite an awkward position that day after jumping slowly but he forced his way through the field in the straight and won impressively, pulling away late. The step up to 1500m off a two week break is ideal.

We expect that 2 AIR COLORADO will race much closer to the speed today than he has at his previous two starts this preparation. He won his debut start back in winter when racing on speed and those tactics from barrier 2 today are likely to be beneficial.

The top weight, 1 CUT SNAKE, is undefeated from two starts and can’t be left out of consideration. He looks a versatile horse running on from the back when winning first up, then sitting on pace when winning last start over the 1600m. His win last time out was very strong, the drop back to 1500m is a slight concern as he looks to be wanting further at this stage of his career and a few others might have a better turn of foot late.

The State’s best jockey Paul Harvey jumps aboard the Ben Pearce trained 3 VITAL EDITION. He has run on strongly at his last two starts and will be doing the same again today. He has drawn a wide barrier so will need some luck, but with the cutaway in the straight today, he might not have to come so wide for his run.

4 ALREADY FAMOUS and 9 PURE METEOR will race on the pace and with the rail out at the 15m position can kick on the turn and be in the race for a long way.

We are happy to have 6 NEWTON PRINCE on top here who looks a very promising staying 3yo type. 1 CUT SNAKE and 3 VITAL EDITION look the hardest to beat and the two likely leaders should prove hard to run down.

Race 8 – 3yo+ 52-64 Handicap, 1100m (8.35pm AEDST)

A full field of 14 will tackle the final event of the day over 1100m. There are three horses engaged who have trialled recently and we are keen to follow through their preparation.

This first of those is 11 SAKURU. She returned with a soft trial win two weeks ago when rolling forward and looks set to run a big race first up today. From her four career starts to date she has been in the money three times and looks to be a horse on the up. From a middle barrier she should be able to settle in just behind the leaders and looks hard to beat.

If there was ever a horse you would like to own it’s 2 SARABI. He never runs a bad race and has finished in the placings at 12 of his 20 starts despite only winning 2 of those. He is jumping from the car park today with 59kg so it looks a tough ask but with the cutaway in the straight he might loom up behind them and wait for a run to appear.

Jim Taylor’s mare 8 KEEP ON DANCIN’ has had two trials recently and looks set to be near peak fitness for this assignment first up. A noted front runner who should continue this pattern from an inside barrier.

12 SOLDIER’S LASS took a long time to make it to the track, but when she eventually did she was very impressive winning down the straight at Pinjarra first up. She has obviously had her injury problems but if she can stay healthy she looks to have a great deal of ability. She will drop back and be running home strongly.

3 SNIDE REMARK broke his maiden last start when running on strongly and is a good chance if he can reproduce that run and 13 TIFF’S SPECIAL is a front runner who has been recently freshened up. She will give a sight towards the lead.

We were impressed with the trial of 11 SAKURU and are happy to be on her first up today. She should enjoy a lovely run midfield and anything around an each way price would seem reasonable. The dangers are our other blackbookers 8 KEEP ON DANCIN’ and 12 SOLDIER’S LASS along with strong last start winner 3 SNIDE REMARK.

The Trial Files’ selections

Ascot Race 3
6 NEWTON PRINCE (Win)

Ascot Race 8
11 SAKURU (Each-way)