Hoops tips for Ascot 7th March

Greg Hooper | Metropolitan Racing | Wed 7 March, 2012

RACE 1 - WESTSPEED PLATE 1000m

No. 1 CULPRIT - For a midweek juvenile event this race does contain depth. I'll stick with (1) CULPRIT whose trials were outstanding leading up to his debut which ensured he went around as a short priced favourite. Although beaten, his effort was solid as he bumped into a couple of smart ones. From his better draw he should find the front and be the one to run down. There are few first starters who have really impressed in their trial performances. Including (10) NOVARDAL who has trialled on three occasions for two big runs. From barrier 1 I think she should get a dream run and if she runs up to her trials she has serious claims. (12) SOLDIER'S LASS really impressed in her recent trial win. She makes her debut for the powerful combination of Pike/Morton and if she can get some luck from her wide draw I expect her to be flooding home late. (11) SKY PRINCESS was another trial winner and although on face value not as impressive as the other couple I wouldn't be surprised to see her put in a strong debut performance.
Numbers - 1, 10, 12, 11

Suggested Bet - None recommended

RACE 2 - twitter.com/perthracing HANDICAP 1000m

No. 3 THE PUZZLER - I'll stick with (3) THE PUZZLER on the strength of his first up win when he led from go to whoa. He showed good speed, kicked clear early in the straight and was able to hold off the fast finishing Straleta. There was a space to third which indicates the form out of the race should hold up. (4) TEXAN makes his W.A. debut for the Adam Durrant stable. He has showed solid form in N.S.W including a very good win at Gosford a year back when he sat over the speed and powered away from his rivals. If there is money for him then it should be respected. (7) MAGNIFICENT PAIR resumes from almost a two year lay-off. She showed ability in her two-year-old career and she was asked for little in a recent trial. (1) IBRAHIMOVIC is an honest galloper who resumes from a spell and is suited at this level.
Numbers - 3, 4, 7, 1

Suggested Bet - None recommended

RACE 3 - AUSDRILL KARRAKATTA PLATE ON 31 MARCH HANDICAP 1600m

No. 3 LUNAR IMAGE - I'm happy to be on (3) LUNAR IMAGE in this event on the strength of his good first up effort when he closed strongly on a day that had a clear bias towards horses on the speed. From barrier 2 I think he should be able to settle much closer to the speed and be very hard to beat. I'll give (8) SUNDOWN CLOWN another chance despite his ordinary effort at his last start. Although he met trouble in the straight and had to be restrained he was not travelling well enough to play a part. From his wide draw I expect him to ridden back which might see him reproduce his best form. There was good money for (9) JACK THE SPARROW in Saturday company last start and he ran OK. Back to midweek should suit and he has solid each way claims. (1) AVEC MON AMI is an honest mare and from her good draw she should get all the favours again and be in the mix.
Numbers - 3, 8, 9, 1

Suggested Bet - Lunar Image each way if odds permit

RACE 4 - facebook.com/perthracing HANDICAP 1800m

No. 2 DOMINICUS - This race really lacks depth with plenty of gallopers engaged who are battling for form. For that reason I'll go for (2) DOMINICUS to make it back-to-back wins. There should be strong speed in this race and which will suit his get back run on style. (10) FOXY COMMNADER had a big return to form last week when she was sent to the front, ran along and gave a really good kick. If she can reproduce that effort she certainly has claims. (7) BALBONI was awful last start and nothing was mentioned in the steward's report but presumably he wasn't right. If he can find his previous form he's in the mix. (4) CIRCLE OF STARS was restrained from his wide gate last start and never got into the race. Ridden closer I think he can play part.
Numbers - 2, 10, 7, 4

Suggested Bet - None recommended

RACE 5 - WESTSPEED HANDICAP 1200m

No. 11 THAT MEANS HORSE - This looks a fairly even race with a number of winning chances. (11) THAT MEANS HORSE trialled in a terrific fashion before his first up effort. However, things didn't go to plan when he parked wide throughout and never got into the race. He was the taken to Bunbury, led and gave a good kick in the straight to run a close up second to a couple of talented gallopers. Paul Harvey goes on which is a significant engagement and if he can find the front and control the speed I think he is the one to beat. (6) SMART AS A FOX resumed from a spell with a good effort in a strong Saturday race. This is a nice drop in grade and if he gets some luck from his draw he has good claims. (3) AVE THE SNIP resumes from the spell and if he finds the form he showed in his last campaign he certainly is in the mix. His recent trial win was solid. (1) IZJALU is a consistent type who should get all the favours from his nice draw.
Numbers - 11, 6, 3, 1

Suggested Bet - That Means Horse each way if odds permit

RACE 6 - WESTSPEED HANDICAP 1200m

No. 4 AMPED - This does appear a wide open race with at least half a dozen chances. I'll go for (4) AMPED to make it back to wins. She was given the gun run just behind speed at Bunbury and came clear for a relatively soft win. The runner up won well on Sunday. Paul Harvey sticks and from her draw she should get another soft run. (7) EL COSTA MAR should be the big improver. She was caught wide last start and understandably faded in the straight. Her previous win at Albany was dominant when she was able to lead. If she can find the front then she has good each way claims. (6) BLUABLE is honest and is nearing a win. We didn't see the best of (1) FOO FOO THE SNOO last preparation although she did put in a big effort fresh. At her best she'd be the one to beat in this race.
Numbers - 4, 7, 6, 1

Suggested Bet - None recommended

RACE 7 - perthracing.com.au HANDICAP 1200m

No. 4 STRALETA - Hopefully it's payday with (4) STRALETA. She has been a moral beaten in both her runs this preparation. She parked three wide no cover and went down by a half head first up. She then made a mess of the start and almost threw Paul Harvey on jumping, settled a lot further back than anticipated and motored home but could only manage another minor placing. With normal racing luck she should break through for a deserved win. (5) COUGAR TOWN was terrific first up but then raced flat at Bunbury. If she could reproduce that first up effort she will be in the finish. I like the way (10) ROSALIE PARK is ticking over this preparation, she was solid first up and had little luck last start. This might not be her race but she will win one shortly. (1) JACKAROO was luckless at Bunbury start, this is trickier but he's in the mix.
Numbers - 4, 5, 10, 1

Suggested Bet - Straleta win

RACE 8 - SKYY VODKA WA OAKS ON 31 MARCH HANDICAP1400m

No. 10 CAPRICOUS LAD - I'll stick with the obvious in the last and go for (10) CAPRICOUS LAD. He does appear to have his hoof on the till and from barrier 2 he should trail the speed and get the gun run. However, backing a horse that could start short and hasn't won a race for over a year is always some concern. (5) NOVEMBER RED resumes from a spell and is suited at this level, he'll probably get back from his draw but I expect him to be finishing powerfully late. (2) RISKTAKER drops back to midweek company which suits and I think she should improve sharply on her last start effort when she finished a long way off them after tracking wide throughout. (6) SUPERNOVA resumes from a spell and last campaign fresh he finished a close second to Senhor Da Gama.

Numbers - 10, 5, 2, 6

Suggested Bet - None recommended