Ascot best bets & quaddie tips | February 25, 2023
| What | Detonataor Stakes Day |
| Where | Ascot Racecourse – 71 Grandstand Rd, Ascot WA 6104 |
| When | Saturday, February 25, 2023 |
| First Race | 12:24pm AWST |
The Western Australian Turf Club will host a huge nine-race card this Saturday, with three Listed races on the program – the Detonator Stakes, Ascot 1000 Guineas and Lex Piper Stakes. The track is currently rated a Soft 5, but with very warm weather forecast for Friday and Saturday, we should be racing on a Good surface for the entire day. The rail will be out in the +5m position for the entire circuit, which could play favourable to leaders and on-speed runners. The first race will jump at 12:24pm AWST.
Lex Piper Stakes Tip: Fly Away Home
The first of the three feature races at Ascot will be the Listed Lex Piper Stakes over 1600m for the three-year-old colts and geldings, and we will be siding with the Daniel Morton-trained gelding Fly Away Home. This son of Belardo has been finishing off very well in his two starts this time in, with his last start fourth over 1400m at Ascot on February 11, being the better of his two runs, where he flashed home from dead last on the turn to go down by just over a length. With a hot tempo expected in this three-year-old feature, it should set up nicely for this guy to let down strong on the outside and record his first black type victory of his career. Brad Parnham has ridden this gelding twice for one placing, with all three of the Parnham brothers riding this guy across his 10 career starts. From barrier 11, he should settle at the rear of the field once again and be letting rip down the outside late to stake his claim and play a prominent role in the finish.
Lex Piper Stakes
Race 6 – 
#2 Fly Away Home (11)
3yo Gelding | T: Daniel Morton | J: Brad Parnham (55kg)
Ascot 1000 Guineas Tip: Admiration Express
The Ascot 1000 Guineas will see the top two fillies in the market – Admiration Express and Feels Playful – meet again after they filled the top two placings in the Challenge Stakes last start over 1500m. We were with the Jason Miller-trained Admiration Express when she finished second behind Feels Playful, and we are going to be sticking with her on Saturday where she will be second-up and have stripped fitter for her fresh run. She should be ready to turn the tables on the other filly as they both step up to 1800m for the first time. This daughter of My Admiration was very game first-up, going down by half a length, however, on Saturday she will have a half a kilogram weight swing in her favour, which should ultimately be the factor that sees her flip the script from the Challenge Stakes.
Ascot 1000 Guineas
Race 7 – 
#1 Admiration Express (4)
3yo Filly | T: Jason Miller | J: Lucy Warwick (58kg)
Detonator Stakes Tip: Corn Cob
The third of the Listed feature races at Ascot will be the Detonator Stakes over 1800m, where we will be siding with the Campbell McCallum-trained Corn Cob who is having his third run for his new trainer after finishing second and third at his first two starts. With many of his rivals on Saturday either first-up or looking for further than 1800m, this son of Awesome Rock has found this race at the perfect time for him after coming off a very nice win three starts back over 1600m at Ascot on January 14. Marocchino and Pat’s Got Sass will look to push forward and take up the lead which will give this gelding the chance to take the one-one outside either No Apology or Black Shadow. With Marocchino being first-up, Jade McNaught should look to put pressure on him going around the home turn and try to kick clear in early in the straight and see if the rest of the field can catch him in the concluding stages.
Detonator Stakes
Race 8 – 
#10 Corn Cob (4)
4yo Gelding | T: Campbell McCallum | J: Jade McNaught (55kg)
Best Bet at Ascot: Burnya To Survive
The third race of the day will see Burnya To Survive from the Jason Miller yard return to the races in a RTG 72+ Handicap over 1200m after a two-month spell. This lightly race five-year-old gelding raced during the Perth Summer Carnival where he won both of his starts dominantly, showing that he was back to his best form after he was very underwhelming during his winter preparation last year. This son of Bradbury’s Luck has only been to the races nine times in his career, recording six wins and one placing. There will be four very speedy horses engaged in this race on Saturday, which should see it be run at a strong tempo setting up for this gelding who has a blistering turn of foot, running on from the back of the field. Clint Johnston-Porter will be looking for his first win on this guy at his second ride, and if he gets even luck and that hot tempo that is expected, he should be winning.
Best Bet
Race 3 – 
#5 Burnya To Survive (1)
5yo Gelding | T: Jason Miller | J: Clint Johnston-Porter (59.5kg)
Next Best Bet: Flower In The Wind
The fourth event of the afternoon will see the Neville Parnham-trained Flower In The Wind go around in the One Metro Win Handicap over 1400m second-up after she finished as an unlucky fourth behind Guard The Safe at the same track and trip on February 15. This four-year-old mare was held up as the field went around the home corner and straightened, which saw her lose all of her momentum and have to start another run. When this daughter of Sebring finally balanced up again and made her second run, she flew home and finished fourth only beaten by just over half a length. Now that she goes to this race on Saturday second-up, fitter for that fresh run and drops 2.5kg, this mare should be very hard to beat with even luck this time around.
Next Best Bet
Race 4 – 
#6 Flower In The Wind (3)
4yo Mare | T: Neville Parnham | J: Steven Parnham (56.5kg)
Saturday quaddie tips for Detonator Stakes Day
Ascot quadrella selections
Saturday, February 25, 2023
- 1-2-3-6
- 1-2-3
- 1-7-10
- 2-3-4-7
Investment: $144 for 100%