The Autumn Racing Carnival is starting to heat up in the west and we’re set for another exciting day of racing at Ascot this Saturday. The Group 3 Roma Cup will headline the program and it’s a terrific line up for $200k feature.
For more racing and sports previews, visit the Ladbrokes Blog.
Star mare Amelia's Jewel will make her return, as will Group One placegetter Ripcord and Ladbroke's own Quokka slot runner Super Smink.
Three other black type events will be contested on the day, including the Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes for the Fillies and the Listed Perth Stakes for the colts and geldings.
The rail will be out 5m for the entire circuit and the track is currently rated a good 4.
Our Ladbrokes preview can be found below.
RACE 1 - 2:24PM: BOS CIVIL HANDICAP 1MW (2200 METRES)
Flower In the Wind is racing in terrific form and comes here off a gutsy last start victory.
The Sebring mare was always wide without cover in the 2100m event but still let down strongly to score comfortably.
She presents here hard fit and has drawn to get a cosy run.
The sharp rise in the weights is a slight concern but Neville Parnham has elected to keep Steven aboard, rather than claim and she has raced well with big weights previously.
1 unit – FLOWER IN THE WIND
RACE 2 - 3:03PM: MOURITZ AIR CONDITIONING HANDICAP RTG72+ (1000 METRES)
Premium Choice bounced back off a luckless run to get the job done here last start.
The speedy six year old found himself behind a wall of horses for the majority of the straight two runs back and flew late to claim third but everything went to plan last time and went brought to the outside at the top of the straight, he proved too strong.
He's got a brilliant record over this track and trip and whilst the inside draw probably isn't ideal, if he can find clear running in the straight he'll be hard to beat again.
1 unit – PREMIUM CHOICE
RACE 3 - 3:43PM: STUDCO HANDICAP 3YO (1000 METRES)
The Boss Lady resumes.
A winner of three of her five starts, the Street Boss filly was working through her grades with ease before contesting the Group Three WA Champion Fillies Stakes over the mile, where she was solid to the line.
She was doing her best work late in a recent 950m trial and whilst she will improve as she gets out over that bit further, she may just be sharp enough fresh to get the result.
Chris Parnham has partnered her to all three victories and he goes back in the saddle for Michael Lane.
1 unit – THE BOSS LADY
RACE 4 - 4:23PM: TABTOUCH - WESTSPEED PLATINUM HANDICAP NMW (1500 METRES)
Full Of Merit has been racing well.
The daughter of Demerit has performed consistently throughout her career and whilst she does only have the one win to her name, she's always thereabouts and this certainly looks a winnable race for her.
Her past two starts have seen her grinding to the line and Dion Luciani has elected to apply the blinkers for the first time which may just give her that extra bit she needs to get the job done.
Pat Carberry has been onboard at her last two starts and he'll again do the steering.
1 unit – FULL OF MERIT
RACE 5 - 5:00PM: AMELIA PARK - PERTH STAKES 2YO C&G LISTED (1100 METRES)
Bustling was terrific on debut here over 1200m.
From a low draw he was able to settle just off the leader and let down powerfully in the straight to kick away and score by over two lengths.
At his second outing he had no luck at all off the outside gate.
Always wide and exposed, the youngster still chased hard in the straight to finish a clear second.
The son of Frosted looks very promising and will appreciate the step back to up 1200m.
He has drawn a touch awkward but if he can slot in and find cover, he'll be strong late.
1 unit – BUSTLING
RACE 6 - 5:37PM: FURPHY - GIMCRACK STAKES 2YO FILLIES (1100 METRES)
Golden Kathleen could not have been more impressive on debut and she resumes here off an eight week let up.
The locally trained filly had trialled well prior to her first raceday appearance and when stepping out over the 1100m at Bunbury, she travelled up near the speed and let down strongly in the straight to pull away and score easily, with her ears pricked.
She looked to have plenty in hand as she crossed the line so I think she's more capable in a race of this class.
Michael Poy stays in the saddle for Russell Stewart.
1 unit – GOLDEN KATHLEEN
RACE 7 - 6:12PM: OLD COMRADE STAKES LISTED (1600 METRES)
The ultra consistent Sisu Warrior will look to record his first black type victory.
Having recorded five wins and eight second placings from his eighteen starts, there's no doubting his ability and this looks the logical next step for him.
The four year old recorded a determined win two runs back over the 1400m and last start over the mile, he kept fighting strongly to the line under the 59kgs but just found one better on the day.
He'll appreciate the 5kg weight drop and strips that bit fitter, sticking to the mile at his fourth run back.
Clint Johnson-Porter has been onboard in all three runs this time in and retains the ride for Grant and Alana Williams.
1 unit – SISU WARRIOR
RACE 8 - 6:50PM: PKF AS ROMA - AC MILAN CUP WFA GROUP 3 (1200 METRES)
WA's star mare Amelia's Jewel makes her return to the races here in the Roma Cup.
The daughter of Siyouni made it back to back Group Two wins when resuming in the spring, taking out the Let's Elope Stakes before running down Princess Jenni in the Stocks Stakes at the Valley.
She was unplaced in the Group One Toorak Handicap and then headed to Sydney where she was lucky to stay of her feet in The Golden Eagle.
Back to her home town where she's yet to finish out of the top two and she lines up here in good order as she was doing her best work late in a recent Belmont trial.
She remains unbeaten in four first up runs and is two from two over the 1200m.
Pat Carberry has partnered her in all of her WA runs, he goes back onboard for Simon Miller and under weight for age conditions, she'll be very hard to beat.
1 unit – AMELIA'S JEWEL
RACE 9 - 7:25PM: PETERS INVESTMENTS HANDICAP RTG66+ (1200 METRES)
Malkar Pindari resumes.
The four year old daughter of Gingerbread Man has built a very tidy record and put the writing on the wall last campaign, saluting in three of her last four starts before heading to the paddock.
The runner up in the 3YO WA Magic Millions a little over twelve months ago, she's always shown good ability but really put it all together last time in.
She's been placed in all three first up appearances and looks have returned in top order with a recent trial win.
Chris Parnham knows her well and he'll again do the steering for Simon Miller.
1 unit – MALKAR PINDARI
