The Gold Rush Day best bets & quaddie tips | December 10, 2022
| What | The Gold Rush Day |
| Where | Ascot Racecourse – 71 Grandstand Rd, Ascot WA 6104 |
| When | Saturday, December 10, 2022 |
| First Race | 11:48am AWST |
The last day of the Pinnacles at Ascot Racecourse will feature a bumper 10-race card which will be highlighted by the inaugural running of the Group 3 The Gold Rush. The track is currently rated a Good 4 and with no rain on the forecast we expect the track to stay in the Good range for the entire race day. The rail will be out 1m position the entire circuit, when racing gets underway at 11:48am AWST.
Check out our full preview & $100 betting strategy for The Gold Rush here
Towton Cup Tip: Neufbosc
In the Listed Towton Cup over 2200m for the stayers, we will be siding with the Neville Parnham-trained Neufbosc, who is coming off a second in the 2100m Listed AJ Scahill Cup at Ascot on November 26. This eight-year-old gelding had been running in races that were well short of his best distance, but once he stepped up to the 2100m last start, he showed his true ability and nearly won at $19 with online bookmakers. On Saturday this guy finds a nice race with a few of his rivals suspect at 2000m plus, and he draws barrier two which should give him a great run in transit. Brad Parnham rode this son of Mastercraftsman last start, and he has chosen to stick with him again, which is another positive for his followers this weekend.
Towton Cup
Race 8 – 
#3 Neufbosc (2)
8yo Gelding | T: Neville Parnham | J: Brad Parnham (56kg)
Best Bet: Alsephina
Our best bet of the day will come up in race seven when we side with the Grant & Alana Williams-trained Alsephina, who has won four of her last five starts this campaign. This lightly race four-year-old mare has only ever had the eight career starts, but she has never missed the placings and she has won six races already. Her last start over 1400m at Ascot on November 19, this girl was very impressive after returning from a two-month freshen up. She now steps up to 1600m for the second time in her career after she won her only start at the distance before going out for a freshen in late September. William Pike jumped on board this mare last start and he rode her to perfection and she won with ease. If Pike can give her another gem on Saturday, she should be winning again.
Best Bet
Race 7 – 
#3 Alsephina (7)
4yo Mare | T: Grant & Alana Williams | J: William Pike (58.5kg)
Next Best Bet: The Velvet Queen
In the last race of the day, The Velvet Queen will be looking to record back-to-back wins after she returned from a three-month spell in great fashion last start with an outstanding win. This four-year-old mare was somewhat of a bridesmaid for most of her last preparation, as she finished in the placings in all six of her runs, but only won the single race. Her racing pattern of getting back and running on doesn’t help this girl and it could be the reason that she has been placed six times and only won the four times. However, her turn of foot is blistering and after winning first-up she should be filled with confidence coming into her second run this campaign. There looks to be a good amount of speed in this race on Saturday, which should give her a chance to find the outside on the home bend and storm down the heart of the track to stake her claim.
Next Best
Race 10 – 
#14 The Velvet Queen (3)
4yo Mare | T: Darren McAuliffe | J: Chris Parnham (54kg)
Best Value: My Marlaina
Our best value bet of the day will come up in race six, where we will be siding with the Daniel Morton-trained My Marlaina who returned from a four-month spell with a strong one-length victory at Northam over 1300m on December 1. This daughter of My Admiration has a very good record at 1200m, recording five wins and five placings from 14 starts, while Luke Campbell has ridden this girl once for a win. With the aid of Campbell’s 3kg claim, this four-year-old mare will only carry 57kg, meaning she will carry the second-lightest weight in the field, even though she is the top handicapper in the race. At $12 with online betting sites, she is well over the odds and we expect to see her shorten on race day.
Best Value
Race 6 – 
#1 My Marlaina (4)
4yo Mare | T: Daniel Morton | J: Luke Campbell (a3) (60kg)
Saturday quaddie tips for The Gold Rush Day
Ascot quadrella selections
Saturday, December 10, 2022
- 3-4-10
- 2-3-5-7
- 1-2-3-14
- 3-4-13-14
Investment: $192 for 100%