The 2024 WA Champion Fillies Stakes Day at Ascot this Saturday kicks off Day 1 of The Pinnacles Racing Carnival.
The G3 feature over a mile is one of five black-type races on an action packed nine-race card.
The rail is out 3m the entire course and a perfect weather forecast ensures that racing will take place on a Good 4 surface.
We’ve studied the form and have provided our findings for each race below.
FIRST BEACH (9) is a progressive galloper who was utterly luckless last start in a similar strength race over 1200m here. The Michael Grantham-trained Nicconi gelding looked to be full of running but found himself locked away on the rail and only got clear with 100m to go, at which point he ran through the line powerfully to finish 2.8 lengths eighth. Prior to that he proved too strong when winning first-up at Bunbury and then let down strongly to win easily by 1.5 lengths over 1200m at Geraldton. He’s at peak fitness now and he maps to get a great run with the rise in distance.
SPEAK TO ME (1) looks close to another win after a super effort in a stronger race over 1400m here last Saturday. The son of God Has Spoken enjoyed a nice run on speed before being swamped late by Yarralea to finish a half-length second. That followed an excellent win first-up and close finishes to Regal Statue and the talented Olympic Park. He maps to get the run of the race for William ‘The Wizard’ Pike.
ANTIQUE MISS (2) was absolutely luckless when resuming over 1400m here three starts ago. The Michael Grantham-trained mare bounced back two starts ago when finding the line strongly, before being picked off late by Cosmic Crusader to finish a half-length second. Unfortunately, bad luck returned last start over 1200m here when she was held up badly in the straight and went to the line untested for a 1.9 lengths fourth. Backing up seven days after a run has worked previously in the past and she’ll love the rise to a mile given she’s won three of four over the distance.
JOKERS GRIN (4) picked up where he left off when resuming with a win over this course and distance last start. The Bernie Miller-trained gelding settled back after drawing wide before letting down powerfully to win eased down by a length. That was his fourth victory from five starts and he looks well placed again despite the draw to add to his tally. Patrick Carbery has been aboard in every race and will need some luck, but I believe he’ll be too strong in the run home.
WESTERN EMPIRE (1) will be better over further later in the preparation but based on his two recent trials, he’s ready to produce a bold first-up showing. The Grant & Alana Williams-trained gelding sat on the speed in each of his trials before effortlessly cruising to victory. He’s clearly the class runner in the field and loves racing at Ascot, having won six of 12 starts and placed in five others. William Pike can stalk the speed from barrier 1 before letting him rip in the straight.
FLOWER OF GOLD (4) has been racing in terrific form this preparation and looks well placed in the day’s feature race. The Simon Miller-trained savaged the line in her first two runs back this preparation to win over 1300m at Northam first-up and then here over 1400m second-up. Last start she had to overcome a chequered path in the Listed Burgess Queen Stakes but still let down powerfully to finish a neck third. She’s now at peak fitness and every run this preparation has indicated that a mile will suit.
LUVNWAR (8) resumed last start in the G3 Asian Beau Stakes and produced a super performance. The Michael Grantham-trained War Decree mare finished off strongly but was outsprinted by the fitter Super Smink and finishied second by just under a length. She’ll take benefit from the run and is undefeated in three previous second-up races. Blinkers go on for the first time and she gets the services of top jockey Chris Parnham.
MAGNA’S CHOICE (17) lines up in the Placid Ark Stakes looking to keep his unbeaten record intact. The Trevor Andrews-trained gelding let down powerfully from the back on debut to win over 1100m at Northam by a head. Last start over 1200m at Belmont he sat outside the lead before dashing clear to win by 1.8 lengths. That versality will come in handy with the expected strong speed and unlike many of his rivals, he’s checked off the 1200m box.
TWAIN’S ANGEL (6) tasted defeat for the first time in seven starts when finishing 2.3 lengths sixth over this course and distance last start. The daughter of Toronado suffered from an elevated heart rate and poor recovery so I’m prepared to look past that run given her obvious talent. She can bounce back and did win over this course and distance when second-up last preparation. She’s drawn to get a great run on speed for her regular rider Madi Derrick.