Saturday’s Ascot best bets & quaddie tips | April 15, 2023
| What | The Quokka Day |
| Where | Ascot Racecourse – 71 Grandstand Rd, Ascot WA 6104 |
| When | Saturday, April 15, 2023 |
| First Race | 11:24am AWST |
The Western Australian Turf Club will host its inaugural edition of The Quokka Day with the $4 million slot race set to highlight a massive 10-race card at Ascot Racecourse. The track is currently rated a Good 4, and even though there is some rain on the forecast for Thursday and Friday, we don’t expect the track to get any worse than a Soft 5. The rail will be in the +3m position for the entire circuit, which should see the track race fair for most of the day. The first race on The Quokka Day will jump at 11:24am AWST.
Check out our $100 betting strategy and preview of The Quokka 2023.
Karrakatta Plate Tip: Live To Tell
The first feature event will be the Karrakatta Plate for two-year-olds, in which we will be backing the impressive last-start winner Live To Tell from the Simon Miller stable. This two-year-old filly has won two of his three career starts, with her only defeat coming at the hands of Brave Halo, who went on to finish fourth in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes in Victoria after winning three straight in Western Australia. This daughter of Territories has won both of her starts since returning from a spell, winning the Listed Supremacy Stakes and the Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes at Ascot over 1000m and 1100m. This filly made up a lot of ground in her most recent start, nabbing Super Smink right on the finish line to win by half a head. Patrick Carbery has ridden her in all three of her starts, and he will ride her again on Saturday, where she is an even money favourite with online bookmakers. We expect Carbery to take Live To Tell to the back of the field again from barrier nine and finish strong over the top of the field to win the Karrakatta Plate in fine style.
Karrakatta Plate
Race 7 – 
#6 Live To Tell (9)
2yo Filly | T: Simon Miller | J: Patrick Carbery (54.5kg)
The Joey Tip: Startrade
The Joey will be run as a consolation race for sprinters who didn’t get a start in the $4 million The Quokka, with a field of 13 runners taking their place in the $200,000 event. We’ll be backing the Daniel Morton-trained Startrade, who will be second-up on Saturday after an unlucky first-up performance in the Group 3 Roma Cup two weeks ago. This six-year-old gelding finished 11th out of 15 in the Roma Cup, but his run shows that he makes up ground on the inside before running up backsides in the final 200m. We believe that if he had clear air and a little luck, he would have finished much closer than six lengths behind the winner, Amelia’s Jewel. This son of Trade Fair will step up in distance to 1200m, where he has won four races and finished in the placings twice in 13 attempts, as well as winning two races and finishing second in five second-up starts. Brad Parnham will ride on Saturday, and if he can get Startrade closer in the run, he’ll be staking his claim late in the final stages of The Joey at a big price with online betting sites.
The Joey
Race 9 – 
#5 Startrade (6)
6yo Gelding | T: Daniel Morton | J: Brad Parnham (58.5kg)
Best Bet at Ascot: Snowdome
Snowdome was our best bet at Ascot last weekend, and we have no hesitation in making it our best bet again this Saturday, as the Neville Parnham-trained colt won by less than a length over 1000m. This son of Rommel will remain at 1000m this weekend as he moves up in grade from a Minimum 66 Handicap to an RTG 72+, but he drops 1kg for this next run. He has drawn the pole again after drawing barrier one and leading in his previous start, and Chris Parnham will ride this talented three-year-old for his third run this preparation. This event appears to have a lot of speed, but with this colt drawing barrier one, he can hold the fence and roll along with the leader or take the box seat if a couple want to go too fast early. Snowdome should be too good for this field, if Parnham keeps him settled and in his comfort zone, with his race fitness giving him an advantage over his main market rivals.
Best Bet
Race 5 – 
#4 Snowdome (1)
3yo Colt | T: Neville Parnham | J: Chris Parnham (58kg)
Next Best at Ascot: Top Of The Pops
Another of our better bets will be Top Of The Pops for Daniel Morton, a runner we have previously backed in this preparation. However, he ran dead last first-up over 1000m, as the trip proved far too short for him. Last start, this three-year-old gelding appeared to have returned to form when he came home from worse than midfield to try to catch a runaway leader, but he ran out of time and finished second by just under half a length over 1200m at Ascot on April 1. This son of Spirt Of Boom appears to be looking for the 1400m, which he will get on Saturday when third-up and at peak fitness in a race of similar grade to his previous start. Clint Johnston-Porter will ride this gelding for the first time, and if he can get him to settle off the rail just worse than midfield, Top Of The Pops will lengthen and run home strongly in the final 300m.
Next Best
Race 10 – 
#3 Top Of The Pops (6)
3yo Gelding | T: Daniel Morton | J: Clint Johnston-Porter (58.5kg)
Best Value at Ascot: Flower In The Wind
The RTG 72+ Handicap over 1800m will feature our value play of the day, with the Neville Parnham-trained Flower In The Wind coming off a very good third-place finish in a Minimum 66 Handicap over 2200m last start at Ascot on March 25. This four-year-old mare went from winning a 1500m Class 3 Handicap two starts ago straight up to 2200m last start, and her lack of fitness showed a little bit in the final 200m as she peaked on her run late, so the drop back in distance to 1800m looks ideal for her. Steven Parnham will continue his strong affiliation with this daughter of Sebring on Saturday after riding her at her last five starts, and if he can settle her at the rear of the field and find the outside in the home straight, Flower In The Wind will be powering home late.
Best Value
Race 4 – 
#8 Flower In The Wind (10)
4yo Mare | T: Neville Parnham | J: Steven Parnham (54kg)
Ascot quaddie tips for The Quokka Day
Ascot quadrella selections
Saturday, April 15, 2023
- 6-7
- 3-4-10-14
- 1-5-6-12
- 3-6-9
Investment: $96 for 100%