Ascot will take centre stage this weekend with a superb nine race card on offer, headlined by the running of the $1.5m G1 Winterbottom Stakes.
A full field will assemble for the second last Group One event of the calendar year with Sydney visitor Overpass looking to defend his 2023 Winterbottom title and remain undefeated in the west.
The track is currently rated a Good 4 and the rail will be out 7m for the entire circuit.
We’ve given the form a rigorous going over and provided our top plays in each race below.
Race 1 - 3:34PM AEDT
One Metro Win Handicap (1800 METRES)
War Matters (11) has been racing in good form and looks set for a peak performance.
The Darren McAuliffe-trained War Chant gelding broke through for his first win two starts ago when charging to the line over 1600m here for a half-length victory.
Last start he settled back over a mile and worked home strongly despite being held up to finish 1.7 lengths fourth to Border Force who he meets better at the weights.
He’s been strong through the line so the rise in distance should suit and I think he can settle closer from a good gate.
1 Unit Each Way – War Matters (11)
Race 2 - 4:09PM AEDT
BM72+ Handicap (1800 METRES)
Royal Toronado (6) is on the quick back-up after an eye-catching effort over 2100m here last Saturday.
The Grant & Alana Williams-trained gelding settled in a different postcode but was provided a classic William Pike ride to save ground and sprint home to miss the win by a nose.
Two starts back he produced an impressive turn of foot to put his rivals away quickly over 1600m here to win by half a length.
The drop back to 1800m suits and The Wizard sticks.
2 Units – Royal Toronado (6)
Race 3 - 4:49PM AEDT
One Metro Win Handicap (1200 METRES)
Comic Hero (5) is on the quick back-up after finishing a length sixth over this course and distance last Saturday.
The Simon Miller-trained gelding raced three-wide the trip but still found the strength to find the line powerfully.
That followed a fast-finishing neck third when resuming so he should be ready to show his best third-up.
The last time he was having his third run back in a preparation, he won over this course and distance and in this class.
1 Unit – Comic Hero (5)
Race 4 - 5:28PM AEDT
REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP: ROAD TO ASCOT (1200 METRES)
Regional horses come to town for the Road To Ascot Final and it’s a wide-open affair!
I’m with Safe Hustle (6) who impressed when winning the Geraldton qualifier last start.
The son of Safeguard led the 1200m contest before giving a strong kick to win by two lengths.
That was his second win from his past three starts and it must be noted that he defeated favourite Sure No Something in both.
He’s drawn ideally to enjoy a nice run just behind what looks like a strong speed.
1 Unit Each Way – Safe Hustle (6)
Race 5 - 6:08PM AEDT
BM78+ Handicap (1200 METRES)
Jokers Grin (6) is building an impressive CV with five wins from six career starts.
The Bernie Miller-trained gelding resumed two starts back over 1000m here where he settled back after drawing wide before letting down powerfully to win eased down by a length.
Last start he raced three wide without cover but still let down powerfully to impressively put his rivals away and win by 0.7L over 1000m.
Given how strong he was through the line and with increased fitness, the rise to 1200m will suit and he’ll be hard to beat.
2 Units – Jokers Grin (6)
Race 6 - 6:43PM AEDT
LISTED SIR ERNEST LEE-STEERE CLASSIC (1400 METRES)
Mai Aloha (8) was a sick watch for supporters last start in Listed Placid Ark Stakes but can repay the believers here.
The Grant & Alana Williams-trained filly was jog trotting looking for an opening but never got clear yet was still taking ground off the leaders when finishing 2.8 lengths seventh.
Two starts back, she produced a powerful finish to win over 1200m here easily.
She’s lightly raced so has plenty of upside and the rise to 1400m looks ideal.
She draws the outside barrier which may not be a bad thing as it will help Pikey get her to the outside and show her devastating turn of foot.
1 Unit – Mai Aloha (8)
Race 7 - 7:17PM AEDT
LISTED JUNGLE DAWN CLASSIC (1400 METRES)
Baby Paris (1) returned to her best last start when winning the Listed Jungle Mist Classic.
The daughter of Playing God didn’t just win, she demoralised her rivals by running them into the ground for a two-length victory.
She’ll strip fitter third-up and can handle the rise in distance given she won this race last year with an all the way performance.
From barrier 2 Troy Turner can find the front and prove hard to run down.
2 Units – Baby Paris (1)
Race 8 - 7:52PM AEDT
G1 WINTERBOTTOM STAKES (1200 METRES)
Overpass (1) ventures to west to his happy place after not being suited by the Flemington straight in the G1 Champions Sprint last start.
The Bjorn Baker-trained gelding loves Ascot having won all three of his starts over this course and distance.
He’s won the past two editions of The Quokka as well as this race last year where he sat outside the lead before sprinting hard and fast to win by 1.3 lengths.
His win in the G3 Sydney Stakes demonstrated that he’s in good form.
While the outside barrier isn’t ideal, he has the early speed to cross and find the lead for regular rider Josh Parr.
If there’s any on speed bias which is a possibility with the rail out this far, he could prove awfully hard to catch.
2 Units – Overpass (1)
Race 9 - 8:37PM AEDT
BM66+ Handicap (1400 METRES)
Miss Skyhigh (7) has been racing in super form recently and that culminated in a big win over this course and distance last start.
The Grant & Alana Williams-trained mare finished second by a head three starts back over 1600m here before running on strongly two starts back to finish 1.2 lengths third over 1500m.
She was ultra impressive last start as she went by them in the straight like they were standing still to win by 1.7 lengths.
And if you need some extra convincing, Pike in the last!
1 Unit – Miss Skyhigh (7)