Ascot best bets & quaddie tips | April 29, 2023
| What | WA Sires’ Produce Stakes Day |
| Where | Ascot Racecourse – 71 Grandstand Rd, Ascot WA 6104 |
| When | Saturday, April 29, 2023 |
| First Race | 11:44am AWST |
The Western Australian Turf Club will host another very competitive nine-race card at Ascot Racecourse this Saturday afternoon, with the highlight event being the Group 3 WA Sires’ Produce Stakes for the two-year-olds. The track is currently rated a Soft 6, but with very little rain on the forecast for Friday and Saturday, we may get close to a Soft 5 or even Good 4 by the time the program gets underway. The rail will go back into the True position, with racing set to kick off at 11:44am AWST.
WA Sires’ Produce Stakes Tip: The Spruiker
The feature race of the day will be the WA Sires’ Produce Stakes over 1400m for the two-year-olds, where nine of the 10 horses come through two races at their last start. Four of the five fillies come through the Group 2 Karrakatta Plate, which was won by Super Smink, and all five of the colts and geldings come through the 2YO No Metro Wins Plate, which was won by Investmentstategy. Super Smink from the Daniel Morton yard is yet to miss the places in her four career starts, while she took out the Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic before winning the Karrakatta Plate last start. Even though she is already odds-on with online bookmakers, there isn’t another runner that looks as though they can turn the tables on her dominant two-length victory, and the added distance looks to only be a positive. If you are looking for a quinella horse, the Simon Miller-trained Wiley Girl was able to sustain a tough run last time out in the Karrakatta Plate and finished off her race strong, indicating that 1400m could be right up her alley.
WA Sires’ Produce Stakes
Race 8 – 
#6 Super Smink (5)
2yo Filly | T: Daniel Morton | J: Chris Parnham (54.5kg)
Best Bet at Ascot: Classic Encounter
In the last race of the day, the Adam Durrant-trained Classic Encounter will return to Ascot for the second time in her career coming off an ultra-impressive 4.8-length victory at Geraldton on April 16. This three-year-old filly has taken her career record to two wins and a second from five starts, with her last-start win being the best performance of her career to date. This daughter of Pierro settled midfield from barrier three, and when the field rounded the home turn, she coasted up the leaders under her own steam before William Pike even pushed the button. Once Pike pushed the button and released the brakes, this filly let down with an explosive finishing burst to power away from her rivals. Pike has retained the ride on Classic Encounter for her second start this campaign, and if he can replicate the ride he performed on her last time, this girl should be winning again.
Best Bet
Race 9 – 
#11 Classic Encounter (3)
3yo Filly | T: Adam Durrant | J: William Pike (54kg)
Next Best at Ascot: It’sarayday
The fifth race of the day will be a RTG 78+ Handicap over 1000m, where the Simon Miller-trained It’sarayday returns from a five-month spell with the benefit of a nice trial win at Lark Hill over 950m. This four-year-old ended last preparation with a seventh place in the Listed WA Carbine Club Stakes, where she was disappointed for a run and didn’t get much luck; however, she only finished 2.8 lengths off the winner. This son of Winning Rupert should get a very nice run in this race, as there appears to be an abundance of speed with the likes of Snowdome, Can’t Be Done, Express Time and Mood Swings all pushing forward to find the lead. This gelding can settle in behind the speed from barrier five and then be saved up for the last crack at the tiring leaders in the final 200m. William Pike will have his first ride on It’sarayday on Saturday, and if he can find the back of the leading quartet off the fence, he should give this guy every chance to win first-up.
Next Best
Race 5 – 
#3 It’sarayday (5)
4yo Gelding | T: Simon Miller | J: William Pike (59.5kg)
Best Value at Ascot: Sessions Peak
The second leg of the quaddie will be a RTG 66+ Handicap over 1600m, where the Colin Webster-trained Sessions Peak will be attempting to record back-to-back wins at the Ascot 1600m having won a Benchmark 64 last start by 1.3 lengths over Guard The Safe. The third horse in that race, Bandalera Beau, has since come out and won his next start. Now that this son of Sessions is racing well at 1600m, he should be getting fitter and fitter after every run. Peter Knuckey will continue his strong affiliation with this gelding as they embark on their 14th race together, seeking a fifth win. If Knuckey can overcome the sticky barrier draw (8 of 10) and find the outside of a runner in midfield, Sessions Peak should be able to replicate his last-start victory with a strong finish down the outside.
Best Value
Race 7 – 
#3 Sessions Peak (8)
4yo Gelding | T: Colin Webster | J: Peter Knuckey (58kg)
Saturday’s quaddie tips for Ascot
Ascot quadrella selections
Saturday, April 29, 2023
- Field
- 1-3-5
- 6-8
- 8-11
Investment: $120 for 100%