Best Bets for Lee-Steere Stakes Day.
We're right in the swing of things now at Ascot with another ripping card of racing on hand this Saturday.
Some rain early in the week has the track rated a Soft 5 on Thursday morning, meaning a perfect track is on offer for this weekend with fine weather expected right through to race day.
King Of Light comes up the favourite in the Fairetha Stakes after a very impressive performance to win the Belgravia Stakes first-up. The 1200m journey of the Belgravia was the query, but his class and late strength was evident as he and William Pike pulled themselves out of the fire to remain unbeaten.
The late splits were very impressive, particularly his last 200m, which is always a positive sign when the clock backs up the eye. Though he will have to meet some different rivals on Saturday, namely Heeza Phoenix who was also an impressive winner through the Winter months.
The Mitch Pateman-trained gelding comes here off a short break, though he has had a trial where he led and won in good time compared to the other heats on the day.
While Heeza Phoenix comes here with upside and an unbeaten record, the same is said for King Of Light. With improvement expected again now out to 1400m and the strong rating he put up in the Belgravia - equal to the likes of West Star, Super Smink and Amelia's Jewel - the son of Earthlight is clearly the one to beat.
In the Luckygray Stakes, it's the Northam Cup form to the fore with Captain Pluto coming up the early favourite there. He ran strong splits late there when a long way off the leader Red Sun Senstation, who kicked and won from the front. With a rise in trip and a better barrier this time around, it wouldn't surprise to see him sit closer to the lead than we've seen recently.
Red Sun Sensation is an obvious chance through the same formlines as Captain Pluto, while one that creates interest away from them is Filthy Habits.
This gelding is first-up for the Fiore's over 1800m, though he's had three trials in readiness for this event. He's fired fresh in the past, and he's never finished worse than second at this track and trip.
The Luckgray looks a good race and our first pointer towards the Perth Cup, with news on Thursday that Geelong Cup and Moonee Valley Cup winner Onesmoothoperator will be making the trip across. That's the early benchmark set, and we'll see if any of these give the impression they can feature on New Year's Day.
We're yet to touch on the main race on the card, the Lee-Steere Stakes at Group 2 level, and that's because the Best Bet on the card comes up in WESTERN EMPIRE.
This classy gelding is first-up over the 1400m journey for the first time since his return to WA and it looks a recipe for success.
Grant And Alana Williams have run with the 'fresh is best' mentality with this gelding since he rejoined the stable, with his last trial at Lark Hill a month ago.
He ran the fastest time of the day in that heat and beat Watch Me Rock (Asian Beau winner last week) and Bonjoy who have run right up to form.
While he hasn't won first-up since 2021, he was placed in a Joey, a Colonel Reeves over 1100m and ran in The Quokka first-up last campaign, known to be short of his best.
Super Smink is the early favourite off a strong run in the Crawford Stakes, though whether it was tactics or the horse, she ended up much further back than anticipated and couldn't reel them in.
While that form has somewhat been franked since, Super Smink now draws an inside barrier which creates an interesting conundrum.
Do they adopt her usual tactics where she ends up worse than midfield? Then an inside draw is detrimental to her chances. Or can Chris Parnham kick up and hold a spot just off the speed or midfield where he's able to slice through the gaps on straightening, giving herself an important headstart over her main danger?
My thoughts are that they won't mess with her too much with the Group 1 Railway Stakes the target, which brings Western Empire right into contention.
Western Empire finally tackles a 1400m event first-up since his return to Perth and it looks set up beautifully for him, particularly with the strength around his recent first-up ratings.
Earlier in the program, Michael Grantham and Clint Johnston-Porter team up with WESTBOUND for Peters Investments following a dominant win at Geraldton.
The gelding was odds-on right throughout the day but drifted late to jump a $2.10 chance before blowing his rivals away.
He looks a Saturday-class galloper and looks well placed in this event over the mile second-up.
Westbound showed good tactical speed in his debut, allowing him a dream run on the back of the leaders from barrier three.
The brother to Western Empire looks open to plenty of improvement and he can remain unbeaten in race two on Saturday.
The Best From The West
Race 8 #1 WESTERN EMPIRE
Race 2 #9 WESTBOUND
