Ascot Vale
Faster Master
A highly competitive group of runners line up for the Ascot Vale, over 1200m on the Saturday. The majority won or placed at their last start, so there is form and ratings to rely on. The field is loaded with some diverse speed talent and an upset result is on the cards.
One of the top rated ones is Heathens, winner last season of the Golden Slipper from the Allison Racing stable, she will be on a mission to build on his reputation and add further to his already impressive stud-value.
Black Sabbath hails from the Bristol Turks stable and showed top-class pace when just run out of it late in the Golden Slipper. He looks to improve on his three seconds in his career so far. He is fit and ready, and this could be his moment.
Burl Ottosen takes the reins on Queen Of Shades who comes in with a big ask on the handicap, but is loaded with class and speed. The daughter of The Queen’s Affair ran a cracker at her only start when running second to Euphoria last Saturday.
Ezekiel Flyer had his first outing for the flying spurs stable in the Sunday heat, where he finished second. There was little wrong with the effort and he may deserve another chance – if fully recovered. Local hope Lucy In The Sky has shown good form at his last few runs and has beaten Heathens and Black Sabbath earlier on in his career.
Top rated and heat winner last Saturday, Moonlight Special is in good form, and he also has a big chance of challenging for honours. Euphoria is very effective on this surface and appears to be ahead of the handicapper – and ready to win his first world cup.
Kattegat travels from Tallin Song. The son of I’ve Soiled Myself is quick and could handle the plunge. Kralice has drawn rather wide but comes in with an outside chance on her very best form. Wrecking Ball runs for the junior’s farms stable, and has always been close to the action, do not leave him out of any permutations.
| # | Form | Horse | Stable | Jockey | Final Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,2,2 | Black Sabbath | Bristol Turks | Bree Vascones | N/A |
| 2 | 3,1,5 | Heathens | Allison Racing | Tashia Bichoupan | N/A |
| 3 | 2 | Queen Of Shades | Ezulwini | !Burl Ottosen! | N/A |
| 4 | 1,2,2 | Ezekiel Flyer | flying spurs | Natashia Stenslien | N/A |
| 5 | 1,2,4,4,4 | Lucy In The Sky | Hareeba | Willow Williams | N/A |
| 6 | 1,3,5,1 | Moonlight Special | Moonlight Stables | !Kayleen Emperor! | N/A |
| 7 | 1 | Euphoria | RCS Locos | Shanta Trautman | N/A |
| 8 | 5,4,3 | Kattegat | New Scotland Yard | Adena Quinnie | N/A |
| 9 | 4,8,5 | Kralice | Yorulmaz | Chase Roddy | N/A |
| 10 | 1 | Arcadia Jazzman | Racing Stripes | !Elli Weingard! | N/A |
| 11 | 23,1,4,8 | Ashur | Mount Olympus Stable | Shantel Scholfield | N/A |
| 12 | 8,1,3,3 | Wrecking Ball | junior’s farms | Karl Wasmuth | N/A |
| 13 | 2,15,1,3 | Queen Of Meereen | WWE STUD | Peter North | N/A |
1. Black Sabbath |
3yo colt from Bristol Turks, Career earnings: $656,950 Overall rating: Acceptable(42) – Mud-lark |
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Born:Fri 27th Jan 2017, bred by Bristol Turks
Lineage:By Smoke On The Water out of Starlett
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Stable comments: -“I’m really looking forward to this race. Black Sabbath was close last time in Slipper and I think I may have addressed the issue. His run in the heat was fine, with ground dead I didn’t really expect any better.
Hopefully Bree Vascones will be able to get the best out of him in the final.”
2. Heathens |
3yo colt from Allison Racing, Career earnings: $928,150 Overall rating: Acceptable(44) – Mud-lark |
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Born:Fri 6th Jan 2017, bred by Troublemaker’s
Lineage:By Dodgers Here I Go out of Compact Pussycat
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Stable comments: -“
3. Queen Of Shades |
3yo filly from Ezulwini, Career earnings: $130,000 Overall rating: Acceptable(40) – Mud-lark |
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Born:Fri 6th Jan 2017, bred by Ezulwini
Lineage:By The Queen’s Affair out of Slow Poison
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Stable comments: -“Queen of Shades performed really well in the heat, which was encouraging. She will have a new jockey on board for the final, though, so it’s difficult to know what to expect. It looks like Heathens and Euphoria will be tough to beat.”
4. Ezekiel Flyer |
3yo colt from flying spurs, Career earnings: $236,832 Overall rating: Acceptable(42) – Mud-lark |
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Born:Fri 6th Jan 2017, bred by Reds Breeding Stud
Lineage:By Cyan Gates out of Lady’s Secret
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Stable comments: -“New addition to the stable and had a reasonable first start. I carry no great expectations into the final. If fit I hope he put in a good show, but likely be as 4yo he might shine.”
5. Lucy In The Sky |
3yo filly from Hareeba, Career earnings: $969,150 Overall rating: Acceptable(42) – Mud-lark |
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Born:Fri 6th Jan 2017, bred by Hareeba
Lineage:By Morpheus out of Spanish Mix
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Stable comments: -“Lucy will appreciate a softer track and calmer jock. Think she is capable of surprising in the final? Ersin’s will be the one to beat.”
6. Moonlight Special |
3yo colt from Moonlight Stables, Career earnings: $690,211 Overall rating: Satisfactory(46) – Stalker |
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Born:Fri 6th Jan 2017, bred by Moonlight Stables
Lineage:By Echoes Woman out of Humble And Kind
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Stable comments: -“Looks like the mudlarks will have their day in the Ascot with the track heading to slow. And with 9 of them in the final, I think I’m safe saying at least one of them will be in the top 3 lol! Moonlight Stables hopes our Moonlight Special will appreciate the long sprint distance and make something happen on the track. He ran a very nice heat, and if his jockey can manage to keep him from surging out to a early lead I think we can see something ‘Special’ happen.”
7. Euphoria |
3yo filly from RCS Locos, Career earnings: $260,000 Overall rating: Satisfactory(45) – Mud-lark |
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Born:Fri 6th Jan 2017, bred by RCS Locos
Lineage:By Dirty Deal out of Samart Jester
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Stable comments: -“
8. Kattegat |
3yo filly from New Scotland Yard, Career earnings: $173,481 Overall rating: Acceptable(44) – Mud-lark |
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Born:Fri 6th Jan 2017, bred by New Scotland Yard
Lineage:By I’ve Soiled Myself out of Tic Bedrock
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Stable comments: -“
9. Kralice |
3yo filly from Yorulmaz, Career earnings: $160,375 Overall rating: Acceptable(44) – Mud-lark |
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Born:Fri 6th Jan 2017, bred by Yorulmaz
Lineage:By Kartalbatur out of Hawks Posh Fairy
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Stable comments: -“
10. Arcadia Jazzman |
3yo colt from Racing Stripes, Career earnings: $240,000 Overall rating: Moderate(34) – Mud-lark |
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Born:Fri 20th Jan 2017, bred by Racing Stripes
Lineage:By Sketch Horse out of Vixen Batman Hine
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Stable comments: -“
11. Ashur |
3yo colt from Mount Olympus Stable, Career earnings: $224,067 Overall rating: Adequate(37) – Mud-lark |
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Born:Fri 6th Jan 2017, bred by Mount Olympus Stable
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Stable comments: -“My thoughts are that I stand very little chance.”
12. Wrecking Ball |
3yo colt from junior’s farms, Career earnings: $758,422 Overall rating: Acceptable(44) – Competitive |
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Born:Fri 6th Jan 2017, bred by junior’s farms
Lineage:By Je Jedd out of Aquilani Sizzling
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Stable comments: -“I’ve been pleased with Wrecking Ball‘s come back from an early injury. But with 10 or so muddies in the field and definitely looking like it will be slow going, I’ll be shocked with a Top 5. Thought about maybe not running here, but hey, it’s the Ascot. Had to be here. If you see me way back, I’m prob on my cell phone with Sinth, asking for advice.”
13. Queen Of Meereen |
3yo filly from WWE STUD, Career earnings: $475,600 Overall rating: Adequate(39) – Fast finisher |
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Born:Fri 6th Jan 2017, bred by WWE STUD
Lineage:By Broken Bones out of Divine Narcos
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Stable comments: -“