Sunday’s Ascot best bets & quaddie tips | March 12, 2023
| What | Ascot Races |
| Where | Ascot Racecourse – 71 Grandstand Rd, Ascot WA 6104 |
| When | Sunday, March 12, 2023 |
| First Race | 12:40pm AWST |
Following the relocated Bunbury Cup meeting on Saturday, Ascot Racecourse will then host a very competitive 10-race card on Sunday afternoon. With no rain predicted for Saturday or Sunday, we should be racing on a Good surface; and although there will be some marking from the meeting on Saturday, we don’t expect it to affect how the track plays. The rail will be moved from the true position to the +3m mark for Sunday’s meeting, which begins at 12:40pm AWST.
Natasha Stakes Tip: Admiration Express
The Listed $125,000 Natasha Stakes over 2200m for three-year-old fillies will be the first of two feature races at Ascot on Sunday, with seven of the 12 runners coming through the Ascot 1000 Guineas form line from two weeks ago. Admiration Express, trained by Jason Miller, is the odds-on favourite with online bookmakers to win the Natasha Stakes, after winning the Ascot 1000 Guineas by four lengths last time out on February 25. Despite the fact that this My Admiration daughter is quite short in the market and must give the rest of the field 4kg, she had both of these factors against her last start and still won by a massive space. The only disadvantage for this filly on Sunday is that she has drawn barrier 12 of 12 and prefers to settle on pace. If Lucy Warwick can push forward and sit outside the leader without doing too much work, we should see this talented filly win again.
Natasha Stakes
Race 8 – 
#1 Admiration Express (12)
3yo Filly | T: Jason Miller | J: Lucy Warwick (58kg)
J.C. Roberts Stakes Tip: Playhouse Patron
The J.C. Roberts Stakes over 1800m for three-year-old colts and geldings will be the second feature event on Sunday, with seven of the 17 runners coming through the Lex Piper Stakes form line a fortnight ago. The majority of the race day at Ascot two weeks ago was difficult to make up ground, but the Bob McPherson-trained Playhouse Patron made up a lot of ground to finish only half a length behind All The King’s Men. Given that this son of Patronize finished so strongly and made up so much ground in his last start over 1600m, he now appears to be ready to step up to 1800m this weekend. This gelding has finished strong from the back in all four of his starts this preparation, finishing in the top three in all four. On Sunday, Joseph Azzorpardi will stick, and if he can settle this guy out the back and find the outside on the home turn, he’ll be finishing strong to stake his claim in the final stages of the 1800m event.
J.C. Roberts Stakes
Race 7 – 
#3 Playhouse Patron (3)
3yo Gelding | T: Bob McPherson | J: Joseph Azzorpardi (54kg)
Best Bet: La Dette
Our best bet of the day will be the Adam Durrant-trained La Dette who is coming off a nice fourth-place finish over 1300m at Belmont on February 8, after breaking her maiden at the same track over 1200m on January 26. This three-year-old filly has now had over a month between her last run and this next run on Sunday, which should do her a world of good after four runs in quick succession. This daughter of Playing God will be dropping back to 1200m, where she has finished in the placings both time, including her maiden win two starts back. Clint Johnston-Porter has chosen to stick with this girl after riding her last start and from barrier three he should be able to settle her in the box seat and get the run of the race. If this filly can get a bit of luck at the top of the home straight and get off the fence, she will be very hard to beat.
Best Bet
Race 5 – 
#8 La Dette (3)
3yo Filly | T: Adam Durrant | J: Clint Johnston-Porter (57kg)
Next Best Bet: Playthatfunkymusic
Playthatfunkymusic, from the Peter Fernie stable, looks ready to run a big race and clinch his second career win after finishing in the placings in his last three starts this preparation. This three-year-old gelding was very good in his most recent start over 1000m at Ascot on March 1, where he was strung up on the fence three lengths off the leader and only got clear with 200m to go, finishing 1.3 lengths behind the winner. Paul Harvey will return to the saddle after missing the previous race, looking for his first win on the gelding after riding him three times for three placings. Harvey will have to push forwards from barrier 11 and look to settle outside the likely leader Kings Flirt, and if he can travel to the corner well, he will have every chance to record the second win of his career.
Next Best Bet
Race 6 – 
#5 Playthatfunkymusic (11)
3yo Gelding | T: Peter Fernie | J: Paul Harvey (59kg)
Sunday quaddie tips for Ascot
Ascot quadrella selections
Sunday, March 12, 2023
- 3-4-5-7
- 1
- 2-3-4-8
- 1-2-3-4
Investment: $64 for 100%