The $1.5 million Gold Rush headlines a jam-packed ten race program at Perth’s Ascot Racecourse on Saturday!
I’ve dug deep into the form of every galloper engaged, and you can find my complete The Gold Rush Day Tips below.
Beads takes winning form into the first at Ascot on Saturday and looks well placed to make it two in a row.
The Star Turn gelding has been good this time in, and he was rewarded in a similar contest here last time.
He’s rock-hard fit and with even luck, I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish.
Aiyza has opened a warm favourite in betting ahead of the second on The Gold Rush Day, and I think she’ll justify her quote.
The Darren McAuliffe-trained filly has missed placing once in her last five trips to the races, and was gallant when third, beaten a head in Listed company last time.
This is a drop in class and the perfect opportunity to return to winning form.
Samaria is yet to turn in a poor effort, and she rates as a key winning chance in Race 3.
Samaria filled the minors over 1100m at Northam on debut, and took big improvement into a dominant second-up win here at Ascot.
She has subsequently only just missed in a couple of better races, and she gets into this one well under the conditions and rock-hard fit.
There’s a case to be made for a few of them in this contest, including Rare Encounter.
Rare Encounter’s recent form has been excellent, and she recorded consecutive wins over 1400m and a mile here at Ascot before another credible run in Class 3 company at Belmont last time.
She’s at peak fitness and William Pike rides. With even luck, I think she can deliver on the $5 we’re getting at publish.
Capital Flight makes his return in this race and has opened the market favourite, but he is a horse that tends to improve with a run under his belt, and I’m going to take him on.
Moi Choux has returned two lovely performances this time in and can win again.
Moi Choux was too good for a Class 5 field at Northam last month, and he was unlucky not to repeat that result in a better race here, last time.
Fitter third-up, this looks a nice Saturday target for him.
Hardly Ever is drawn to receive a dream run and can return to winning form.
The Simon Miller-trained mare raced well in some good contests last time in, and she found form around some above-average gallopers.
I thought that there was a lot to like about her resuming effort for fourth in a similar race here a fortnight ago, and she is yet to finish worse than second at this point of her preparation.
Alsephina is an exceptional racehorse and looms as the one to beat in the seventh on The Gold Rush Day.
The Star Turn mare has recorded six wins and two minors from her eight career starts, and she has easily accounted for her rivals in each of her last three.
Her first-up run over 1400m here was excellent, and she’ll only improve getting out to the mile second-up.
Pure Devotion looks a key winning chance in an open edition of the Towton Cup.
It has been a little while since the daughter of So You Think has tasted success, but she’s been competitive in three black type races since resuming this time and has run into some good horses.
She’s in peak order, gets into this well at the weights and is another that is boosted by the booking of William Pike.
Some outstanding horses will contest The Gold Rush, but after his late scratching from the Winterbottom a couple of weeks ago, Vilana is the one for me.
Vilana has been a horse for Godolphin for a couple of seasons now, but he really does look to have returned a better horse this time, winning two of three starts, including The Hunter.
Ben Melham rides and will have options from the rails draw, and I am confident that the horse can record another lucrative win.
I’m keen to stick with The Velvet Queen in the last.
The Velvet Queen has been a consistent performer all year, and she returned a winner here at fortnight ago.
Her second-up record is great and with even luck, I can’t find a reason why she won’t be in the finish.