Saturday horse racing tips: Gold Coast, Ascot

Trial Files
Jan 10, 2014, updated Jan 11, 2014

Haven’t yet experienced Magic Millions week? It is a must do.

The week reaches its high point with the Magic Millions race day on Saturday and we have previewed the Magic Millions Cup, which is Race 7 on the card. We also bring you a preview of the two-year-old race at Ascot where there are a couple of horses from the trials we are keen to follow.

Screengrab

GOLD COAST Race 7 — Magic Millions Cup (1400m)

Speed likely to come from the bottom weights here. We all saw how quickly 13 NUMBER ONE GUN can go last start with the 5yo gelding running the first 1000m of the 1400m event just 0.02 outside the 1000m track record time. No surprise to see Schofield come under sanction for that ride. Today from barrier 9, no doubt he will again be up there.

From barrier 13, Collett may have to push forward on 11 SNITSKY. He does have the speed to cross but may have to work to find the lead. 12 THE WHITE HOPE also goes like last week’s pay and he can kick up inside them.

This is a good race and we have two blackbookers engaged. 6 VELROSSO had a typical Chris Waller trial in which the 5yo went super under no pressure. That should be a good tune up for him and should see him run a nice race here. He wasn’t disgraced first-up over the unsuitable 1000m and goes well with a run under his belt. With Oliver on from barrier 7, we’re expecting him to be highly prominent. He did ride 6 VELROSSO at his first start and it was for a win. The interesting factor is that he hasn’t raced over 1400m for 14 months as he was focusing on shorter sprints but he definitely can figure here.

Our other blackbooker here is 13 NUMBER ONE GUN. He had plenty of race fitness going into that trial but went very nicely, beating a smart field in good time. His racing pattern and natural speed leads to him often being a good trialler but he is definitely in good order. A lot has been made of his last run — notably, the ride by Schofield. Given the early sectional times run, his effort to run second was full of merit. While this is harder, and he doesn’t look suited at the weights given he is a 79 rater and a non-metropolitan winner, he can go forward and definitely give a good sight.

Another one coming off a good trial is 3 CLUB COMMAND. He hasn’t trialled since the 2nd of December but looks like Moody has set him for this race. He flies fresh, has a super career record and looks very set to run a good race. This trip suits and barrier 11 shouldn’t be too bad. Expecting him to run a good race and at the $12 offered he looks a nice each way hope.

2 LUCKY HUSSLER is another that must come into consideration. He was super first-up when accounting for Morning Captain and 1 STARTSMEUP before slightly disappointing second-up. We say disappointing but he still managed to run 4^th and willing to forgive that run slightly nevertheless.

Chances also to 7 DOUBTFILLY and 12 THE WHITE HOPE.

A tricky race but really thinking that 6 VELROSSO looks hard to beat. Around the $3 mark offered at the moment does look short enough. The $12 offered each way about 3 CLUB COMMAND looks very good value and expecting him to run well. Could happily play around these two in multiples or back them both.

Screengrab

ASCOT Race 1 — Westspeed 2yo Plate (1000m)

The juveniles step out for a 1000m dash today and there are two horses coming off the trials in this field we think have the ability to be top line horses for the features in the Autumn, 11 SILVER TRACE and 10 MOLTO ALLEGRO.

1 LIGHTNING RUN was a surprise winner on Perth Cup day holding off the more favoured KAMBALLIE. He sat in a perfect position that day in the first four in running. He will have his work cut out for him from barrier 15 with the 2kg rise in weight today and it’s hard to see him as a winning chance.

The placegetters behind 1 LIGHTNING RUN on Perth Cup day were 5 KAMBALLIE and 4 MYSTICITY and both ran good races. 5 KAMBALLIE should be suited better by being ridden off the pace today, while 4 MYSTICITY may have to work early to settle in her usual position towards the front.

Steve Wolfe’s 2 ZIPLINE is having his fourth run within a month which is a heavy workload for a 2 year old. He has been around the place at all of his starts and has been finishing strongly. He drops back from the 1100m to the 1000m; he will need the speed on the break his duck.

The two we are very keen to follow from the trials are 10 MOLTO ALLEGRO and 11 SILVER TRACE. They both trialled on the same day, albeit in different heats and both were very impressive. When you look at the times on the day, 11 SILVER TRACE went approximately 10 lengths faster. 11 SILVER TRACE also produced a good 400m jump out previous to that and looks a very good 2 year old. A slight concern is the wide barrier but she looks to have class on her side.

10 MOLTO ALLEGRO gave his opponents a belting in his trial and can produce a similar performance here. He trialled in the blinkers and they have kept them on here, which is encouraging. From a perfect middle barrier he should be able to settle midfield and finish strongly.

11 SILVER TRACE and 10 MOLTO ALLEGRO both look to be very exciting two years old. We are happy to be on 11 SILVER TRACE today and our only reservation is her wide barrier. Regardless of that she looks to have class on her side and can debut a winner. 10 MOLTO ALLEGRO looks hard to beat with the blinkers on and 5 KAMBALLIE is the next best.