It was another great day on Saturday, continuing a very good run for readers of The New Daily. Winners in recent weeks for readers include Hussy By Choice, Son Senoras, Testamezzo, Wandjina and Fiddlers Elbow to go with those from last Saturday, with Lankan Rupee winning the Oakleigh Plate in dominant fashion while Terravista and Albrecht ran the quinella as recommended and expected.

Today we have a look at a couple of races from Ascot, leading into the WA Autumn Carnival.

The field for Race 1 at Ascot today. Full fields and form available at http://www.risa.com.au/

Ascot Race 1 — 2yo NMW (1000m)

A reasonably competitive midweek two-year-old event here as the youngsters start their campaigns towards the $500,000 Karrakatta Plate on March 29.

One we think has gone really well at the trials leading into this event is the Simon Miller trained 9 FULD’S BET. The wide barrier is not ideal but if he can jump well and go forward he will prove hard to beat. Being on pace over the 1000m at Ascot with the rail out 12m is never a disadvantage.

2 SETTLERS CREEK tuned up for this with a nice 400m jump out last week and has drawn ideally. He wasn’t too far away at his debut runs in October last year and with natural maturity and the addition of blinkers we can see him running a big race here.

Team Luciani’s first runner in this, 6 NASTAR started favourite over Django on debut but was just very plain that day. Has drawn well but he will need to show a decent amount of improvement from that debut run.

The Dan Morton stable is flying with their two year olds and another one that looks to have ability debuts today, being 10 ORADOL. He sat just off the pace in his trial and from barrier seven we expect him to do similar today. William Pike has chosen this ride over a few others in the race so we expect her to perform very well.

The Luciani’s second runner, 13 PRETE A PARTIR was scratched from the hot race on Saturday for this and looks much better placed. Pike has jumped off to ride 10 ORADOL though, having ridden both horses at the trials. The other runner with a blowout chance is 12 WARRINGAH BLUES who has shown a hint of ability at his trials.

We have been impressed by 9 FULD’S BET at his recent trials and are happy to back him today. Had he drawn a barrier we would have been very keen, but with the wide draw an each way bet is the best option. Dan Morton’s two-year-olds are flying and 10 ORADOL looks the hardest to beat.

The field for Race 6 at Ascot today. Full fields and form available at http://www.risa.com.au/

Ascot Race 6 — 3yo 1MW (1500m)

You may look at this race and think it is a fairly ordinary middle distance one metro win race — however, it will be a key pointer for the three-year-old classics during the Autumn. Many of these horses hold either a WA Derby or WA Oaks nomination and we are keen to see how some of them perform.

Outside of 2 CESC and 4 STREET BANDIT there isn’t much genuine pace on paper, which should see the likes of 3 BLUE PALACE and 4 JACK HIGH pushing up to try and take forward positions.

4 JACK HIGH scored a very convincing win on debut in maiden class at Pinjarra over the 1400m and takes the next step in his attempt to reach the WA Derby. The wide barrier is not perfect, but he there is a lack of speed in the race so he should push forward and try and take up a reasonable position.

It is unusual for an Adam Durrant-trained runner to resume without trialling but that is the case with 3 BLUE PALACE here today. She bolted in first up last campaign over 1600m, but did have two trials leading into that. She is a classy filly and won’t be too far away.

Another we didn’t mind the trial of recently is 1 VITAL EDITION. He ran first up in the Challenge Stakes last Saturday and was beaten a fair way. We are not willing to jump off him yet and the fact he is running again before stepping up in distance indicates he may have been a run short last week. He should be able to settle midfield and finish off strongly, with longer distance races in mind.

Fred Kersley has an interesting hand here with his two fillies, 14 DECREED and 17 O’KATIE, both who trialled last week. 14 DECREED showed her ability in two starts last preparation when finishing strongly on debut over 1400m then stepping straight into the WA Champion Fillies and finishing midfield behind Miss Rose De Lago. 17 O’KATIE trialled brilliantly in October last year and we were waiting for her to debut then. It seems the stable gave her another spell and she again trialled very well last week. They are both likely to be on their way to the WA Oaks so may not be fully wound up for the 1500m today, but both look to have decent ability.

12 FLYING FORCE finished off like an absolute train last time and with the wide barrier will need to drop back again. If some pace is injected into the race, look for him to be flying home.

17 O’KATIE is a filly that really interests us, and while a competitive race like this over 1500m on debut may be a tough ask, on the strength of her trials a small each way bet is appropriate. Be cautious though as if she is targeting a WA Oaks as we predict she may not be fully wound up today. It also may pay to take the $41 in the WA Oaks futures market as being by O’Reilly, we think the 2400m of the Oaks will be right up her alley.

THE TRIAL FILES’ SELECTIONS
FOR WEDNESDAY’S RACING

• Ascot Race 1 – 9 FULD’S BET (each way if available)

• Ascot Race 6 – 17 O’KATIE (small each way, WA Oaks Futures)

• Sandown Race 2 – 11 RELDAS (each way)

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