Hoops Tips Ascot Wednesday 21st March

Greg Hooper | Metropolitan Racing | Wed 21 March, 2012

RACE 1 -WESTSPEED 2YO PLATE 1200m

No. 1 STRIKE TWO - This will be last chance for many of these juveniles to sneak into the Karrakatta Plate via the backdoor. (1) STRIKE TWO has been solid in all his three starts to date and from barrier 1 he gets his chance to break his duck. If he jumps well and can box seat he should be the one to beat. (10) SPICE AGAIN has showed enough to suggest she has ability. The blinkers have been removed and if she can jump better and settle in running she can certainly win. Rarely do you see a 4th emergency gain a start but you will see it here with (18) SKY PRINCESS. Her debut win was very good as she tracked wide throughout. From her good draw she get a nice run and has obvious winning claims. I thought (8) NOT A SINGLE DROP was the most impressive of the triallers and William Pike takes the mount.
Numbers - 1, 10, 18, 8

Suggested Bet - Strike Two each way if odds permit

RACE 2 - WESTSPEED 3YO HANDICAP 1000m

No. 12 EL COSTA MAR - I found this a very tough race with a host of chance. I've settled on (12) EL COSTA MAR who I think should get a lovely run from her good gate. She was luckless last start in Saturday class when she was held up for much of the straight but was finishing off nicely once in the clear. There looks to be plenty of top end pressure and she should be able to tuck in just behind it and be ready to pounce on straightening. (11) CAN'T HARTLEY WAIT resumed from a spell without a trial and after showing plenty of early toe she weakened in the straight to miss the placings. The barrier makes it tough but with a little more fitness on her side she looks to have claims. (1) CHICAGO LIGHTS is a nice three-year-old. He has only started once on a non rain affected surface and that produced a dominant win. His recent barrier trial win was soft and had he drawn a gate he would have been my on top pick. (5) HALDEMAN is the big watch in the race. Paul Harvey teams up with Shane Edwards and this horse was asked nothing in a recent barrier trial. There are certainly a host of other winning chances.
Numbers - 12, 11, 1, 5

Suggested Bet - El Costa Mar each way

RACE 3 - COTTESLOE LADIES PROBIS CLUB HANDICAP 1400m

No. 3 BLUABLE - My original selection, Gaps In Me Knees is scratched so I've settled on the obvious choice, (3) BLUABLE. He broke his maiden tag in a nice fashion last start. He enjoyed the strong tempo set up front and descended on his rivals on straightening. From barrier 4 he should get a nice run again and will go close. I think the big improver is (6) BARELY A CABERNET. He was doing his best work late two starts back and last time out was caught wide and battled on fairly. From barrier 2 Shooter McGruddy will likely have him tucked away on the fence getting a very cheap run. (14) DA VERRAZZANO improved sharply at her most recent outing when she rocketed home behind Bluable. If she repeats she can win. (2) STAR MAK resumes from a spell and he did recently trial in a good fashion.
Numbers - 3, 6, 14, 2

Suggested Bet - None recommended

RACE 4 - PERTHRACING.COM.AU HANDICAP

No. 2 HEAD FOR HEIGHTS - This is a very hard race to line up as there are so many different form lines to match up. I'm not convinced (2) HEAD FOR HEIGHTS is a stayer but back to mid week level he'll get his chance to win over a trip. From barrier 4 he should be able to slot in just behind the speed and from there his class should see him go very close. (1) HACKETT'S HEART doesn't have the best strike rate but he is consistent and his effort in the Esperance Cup was good. He'll get back but should finish strongly. (8) CLASSIQUE IVORY should improve sharply. His win in maiden company was good and then last start he had plenty of excuses when he was never able to get into race won by Rohan. (9) PRINCE CHARMING drops substantially in grade from the T.J. Smith and his run in that race was solid, he clearly has winning claims.
Numbers 2, 1, 8, 9

Suggested Bet- None recommended

RACE 5 - FACEBOOK.COM/PERTHRACING HANDICAP 1100m

No. 10 AMPED - Another tough race with a host of winning chances. I'll go for the three-year-old filly (10) AMPED. She worked double time last start and was only found wanting late in proceedings. The blinkers come off which will hopefully help her settle better and if Paul Harvey can work some magic from her tricky draw she'll give plenty of cheek. (1) GIVE ME MONEYHONEY is bursting to win a race and from her ideal gate she will get her chance to breakthrough. She was beaten a very smart mare at Bunbury. (5) COUTURE CHICK resumes from a spell for Dan Morton. If she found the form from last preparation she is a big player. (3) BOXO'CHOCOLATES will probably be looking for further but she trialled well and should be doing her best work late.
Numbers 10, 1, 5, 3

Suggested Bet - None recommended

RACE 6 - TWITTER.COM/PERTHRACING HANDICAP 1100m

No. 5 GREY JABIRU - We finally get to a race where it does looks a bit more cut and dry. I think the two main chances are (1) FULL STEAM AHEAD and (5) GREY JABIRU. I'll go for (5) GREY JABIRU as he has the advantage of a run underneath his belt this preparation. I thought the effort was very good as he got back, had to weave a passage in the straight but still finished off strongly. A repeat effort sees him go very close in this field. (1) FULL STEAM AHEAD has really impressed in both his wins at Geraldton. Paul Harvey goes on for his city debut and I think he looks the main danger. (2) CORPORATE PRO resumes from a spell and he did win well first up last preparation. He was asked for little in a recent trial. (6) PAINTED is limited but suited in this company.
Numbers 5, 1, 2, 6

Suggested Bet - Grey Jabiru win and Full Steam Ahead save

RACE 7 - THE WHEELCHAIR SPORTS WA HANDICAP 1400m

No. 12 STRALETA - This looks another very wide open event. (12) STRALETA is in career best form and I'll put her on top despite the horrible draw. She did draw wide last start but The Pontiff took that out of the equation when he found the front with her almost immediately after jumping. This field does contain much more depth but I think she is a mare on the rise who should be able to handle the slight step up. (2) KIMBERLEY COWBOY is always a chance in midweek company. You can put a line straight through his last start when he never saw daylight. The wide draw suits as he should be able to work over and settle outside the leader. (13) CAPRICIOUS LAD just keeps finding ways at getting beaten. He started a warm favourite last start but had no luck after being trapped on the fence. He lacks a killer blow in his races but he gets his chance to break a long run of outs. (6) MONEY FOR CASH is in good form and he has solid each way claims.
Numbers 12, 2, 13, 6

Suggested Bet - None recommended

RACE 8 -THE FRANK PRONTA HANDICAP 1600m

No. 4 STRAWBERRY BEAU - I'll go for (4) STRAWBERRY BEAU in the last. He's galloper with plenty of ability and is always a chance in this grade. Joseph Azzopardi did a great job on him last start when he missed the kick, was hemmed in on the fence but able to push out into open room on straightening and the horse did the rest. The wide draw suits as he should stay out of trouble and finish powerfully. (7) CELTIC ROCK has her hoof on the till. Her last start effort when tracking wide throughout was a cracker. 2 wins from 19 starts is the query. The bar plates came off (2) MOMENT OF LOVE last start and he was a different horse. He sat over the speed and gave a big kick. He was beaten by a talented animal. (1) GO JORJ had the run and got the job done at Pinjarra. From barrier 1 he should get the same run again.
Numbers 4, 7, 2, 1

Suggested Bet - Strawberry Beau each way