Ascot best bets & quaddie tips | January 21, 2023
| What | Ascot Races |
| Where | Ascot Racecourse – 71 Grandstand Rd, Ascot WA 6104 |
| When | Saturday, January 21, 2023 |
| First Race | 12:24pm AWST |
This Saturday afternoon we will have another nine-race program at Ascot Racecourse, making it 11 straight weeks of racing at Perth’s premier venue. The track is currently rated a Good 4 and should stay in the Good to Firm region with warm weather forecast for Friday and Saturday. The rail will go out to the +8m position for the entire circuit, which seemed to favour on-speed runners during the Perth Summer Racing Carnival. The first race will jump at 12:24pm AWST.
Best Bet: The Velvet Queen
We will be keeping our powder dry as we wait for our best bets in the final two races of the day, with the best bet of the day coming up in race eight, the Benchmark 84 Handicap over 1500m. Darren McAuliffe will bring his very talented four-year-old mare The Velvet Queen to the races once again, where she is coming off a very close second behind Alsephina in the Group 3 La Trice Classic on New Year’s Day. Before her run in the La Trice this daughter of Universal Ruler was very impressive when she flew home from the back and nabbed the leader in the shadows of the winning post to record a very tight victory at this track and trip on December 24. On Saturday she has drawn barrier two, which doesn’t really suit her get back and run on racing style, but if the track is playing favourable to leaders, she doesn’t have to settle worse than midfield. This mare showed that she can match it with Group and Listed horses at her most recent start, and now that she drops back to Benchmark 84 grade, she should prove too classy for this field.
Best Bet
Race 8 – 
#10 The Velvet Queen (2)
4yo Mare | T: Darren McAuliffe | J: Chris Parnham (54kg)
Next Best Bet: Sentimental Hero
The last race of the day will feature the Michael Grantham-trained Sentimental Hero who was ultra-impressive when winning his last start at this track and trip on January 7. With that last-start win this gelding has taken his record to four wins and three placings from nine careers starts. Now that this son of Al Maher gets into a similar race — still at Benchmark 66 grade — and gets the aid of Taj Dyson’s 3kg claim, he looks very hard to beat once again. From barrier eight, he will have to settle in the back half of the field for most of the 1600m contest, but if the leaders set a good tempo out in front, this gelding will be powering home late once again. On Saturday, this guy will clash with three of his rivals from their last meeting, which he beat quite comfortably then, so with even luck he should be winning again.
Next Best Bet
Race 9 – 
#5 Sentimental Hero (8)
5yo Gelding | T: Michael Grantham | J: Taj Dyson (a3) (58.5kg)
Best Value: Safe Hustle
Our value play of the day comes up in the first race of the day, where eight two-year-olds will do battle over the Ascot 1000m. Our top tip is Safe Hustle, with Chris Parnham jumping back aboard after missing this colt’s last start on January 7. Three of the runners in this race will clash again after racing against each other in the Magic Millions Plate two weeks ago over the track and trip, with Safe Hustle being the best of the beaten brigade. From barrier two we should see Parham settle in the first four and take up the one-one position, before looking to peel off their heels at the top of the home straight and let down with that explosive turn of foot. At $12 with online bookmakers, we will looking to kick off our day at Ascot with a nice winner at double-figure odds.
Best Value
Race 1 – 
#1 Safe Hustle (2)
2yo Colt | T: Neville Parnham | J: Chris Parnham (57kg)
Saturday quaddie tips for Ascot
Ascot quadrella selections
Saturday, January 21, 2023
- 2-3-4
- 2-8-10
- 4-10
- 5-8-9
Investment: $54 for 100%