02/12/21 Ascot Tips for Kingston Town Stakes & AJ Scahill
-
- Author: James BeesonDec 02, 2021 06:05 PM
- Photo: AAP
Western Empire Rules
It's Kingston Town Classic day at Ascot this Saturday and all eyes will be on boom galloper Western Empire, to again witness his brilliance.
Just how good is he?
The Group 1 feature is well supported by the A.J.Scahill Stakes at Group 3 level, where the likely leader looks set to "ping the lids" and race away with it.
Track Conditions
The Ascot track is currently rated a Good 4 with the rail out 8m for the entire circuit.
Fine conditions are predicted in Perth for the remainder of the week and on Saturday.
Ascot is a large track, which typically presents plenty of opportunites for both on and off speed profiles.
Ascot Race 5 - A. J. Scahill 1400m (G3 WFA)
The Map
There looks to be genuine speed engaged here and you can expect them to burn early.
Massimo (3) could be the most likely to "ping"and take it up, with Vital Silver (6) also out to find an on-speed position early.
Red Can Man (4) and Solaia (2) both have good natural speed and will attempt to go forward then take the sit if they are out-sped.
With a potential warp speed tempo, it could set up well for the run-on profiles of Stageman (1) and Valour Road (7).
The Favourite
Comfort Me ($3.80) comes via the Group 1 Railway Stakes last start, where he placed 2 of 16 behind the potential superstar Western Empire.
He drops back in distance (1400m) and grade here, which are both in his favour.
Clearly the best form horse and he just needs to cope with possible "afterthought" status, to be very hard to beat
Best Racing Tips
I'm with Massimo who simply loves this distance (9:3-4-1) and looks to be much more well credentialed compared to his opposition.
He should "ping" straight to the lead and if he can bluff the others out of challenging early, he may receive some on-pace favours.
Comfort Me has the Western Empire form and although a few come out of the same race here, he finished closest to the boom horse.
If he has trained on since, expect him to be one of the strongest late and he could be the one. Small query as to if he is now over the top, but happy to gamble he's right.
Stageman comes out of the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes over the 1200m, therefore you can expect him to be one of the sharpest in this field.
I expect them to go back in an attempt to save him up to ensure he runs the 1400m right out.
If he gets the right run and a nice tow in, he could unleash hell over the final 100m.
Red Can Man has a touch of class and did run midfield in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield last start.
That's strong form for this!
He also comes via the Winterbottom (1200m), however does love this track and 1400m distance (5:2-1-1). Could be too good.
1st Massimo
2nd Comfort Me
3rd Stageman
4th Red Can Man
Ascot Race 8 - Kingston Town Classic 1800m (G1 WFA)
The Map
Expect a genuine speed in this with the stablemates Trap For Fools (7) and Too Close The Sun (10) both noted front runners.
Searchin' Rocs and Dance Music are likely to tuck in just behind the leaders.
Race favorite Western Empire should look to be slotting in midfield, with cover in the moving line.
The Favourite
Wow! Western Empire ($1.45) could just be anything, following demolition jobs at his past two starts.
At his latest in the Group 1 Railway he was classes above them when winning by 4 lengths.
He should receive a perfect run and can peel from the 3 wide moving line and rush home over the top.
Best Racing Tips
Simply have to be with Western Empire who has a mortgage on this.
Barring bad luck, he can travel midfield throughout, before finding clean air at the 200m mark and braining them all, Again!.
He appears far too good for them and just needs to turn up.
Regal Power can make it a Bob Peters quinella here. He is classy and now up to 1800m looks well suited.
This race would have been the target for him from a long way out, and he should be peaking to show his best on the day.
Kissonallfourcheeks is racing well and is another coming out of Western Empire's Railway.
Although well beaten when placing 3 of 16 last time out over the 1600m, she could improve again now out to 1800m.
Too Close The Sun loves to lead and they may let him go on this occasion, thinking he has little chance.
If they let him get away with "murder" up front, expect he could hang on for a top 4 placing.
1st Western Empire
2nd Regal Power
3rd Kissonallfourchecks
4th Too Close The Sun
