Wednesday’s Ascot racing preview & quaddie | February 21, 2024

February 19, 2024 4:53 pm.

What	Ascot Races
Where	Ascot Racecourse – 71 Grandstand Rd, Ascot WA 6104
When	Wednesday, February 21, 2024
First Race	12:02pm AWST
Visit Dabble

Due to the meeting being postponed on Sunday, the Listed Challenge Stakes will now headline a massive 12-part program on Wednesday afternoon at Ascot Racecourse. With Perth going through a historic heatwave, the track is expected to be firm and remain in the Good range for the whole day. The rail has been pushed out to the +12m position for the entire circuit, which should play favourably to on-speed runners. The opening race on Challenge Stakes Day is scheduled to jump at 12:02pm AWST.

Challenge Stakes Tip: Investmentstrategy

Investmentstrategy will return from a 10-week spell with the benefit of two trials under his belt. The Neville Parnham-trained galloper was last seen winning the Listed Lee-Steere Classic over 1400m, where the three-year-old colt proved too strong for Generosity in the final strides. With a lack of speed expected, this son of Playing God can settle in the stalking position and gain the run of the race. If Brad Parnham gets this guy into the one-one position and allows him to build momentum on the outside of runners, Investmentstrategy will let down with a strong finish.

Challenge Stakes

Race 10 – #1 Investmentstrategy (3)

3yo Colt | T: Neville Parnham | J: Brad Parnham (58kg)

+210 with Playup

Best Bet at Ascot: Sass Machine

Sass Machine will return from a six-month spell and will have her first start for new trainers Sean & Jake Casey. The three-year-old filly raced against the best two-year-olds during her first preparation, and she only missed the placings once before going out for a break. This daughter of Maschino has won two trials over 400m in impressive fashion leading into this, and she should be primed for a big run first-up. With Madi Derrick taking 1.5kg off Sass Machine’s back, this girl will be able to find the front and should prove very hard to run down.

Best Bet

Race 5 – #2 Sass Machine (8)

3yo Filly | T: Sean & Jake Casey | J: Madi Derrick (a1.5) (59kg)

+100 with Picklebet

Next Best at Ascot: Fashion Stakes

Fashion Stakes has finished inside the top four in each of her last three starts, including a strong win at this track over 1500m two runs back. Neville and Chris Parnham will combine with this four-year-old mare once again as she seeks a third career victory, and her first at the Ascot 1400m. This daughter of Playing God was slightly held up upon straightening last start before laying out under pressure but still managed a second-place finish. From a wide barrier (12), Parnham will push forward, and if he can settle Fashion Stakes in the first five or six, she will get every chance to win again.

Next Best

Race 11 – #7 Fashion Stakes (12)

4yo Mare | T: Neville Parnham | J: Chris Parnham (57.5kg)

+360 with Neds

Next Best Again at Ascot: Bohemian Diamond

After showing promise on debut, Bohemian Diamond stepped up in distance from 1200m to 1400m last start and ran home from midfield to just miss in a photo finish. This daughter of Maschino will rise in trip to 1600m third-up, where it is expected she will go close to breaking her maiden at the third time of asking. If Steven Parnham can give this girl a quiet ride from barrier eight, settle midfield, and build momentum around the home turn, Bohemian Diamond will be rattling home down the outside in the concluding stages.