The Group Ted Van Heemst Stakes headlines the nine-race program at Perth’s Ascot Racecourse this Saturday!
With the time-honoured Perth Cup meeting just around the corner, Perth’s biggest stables and some quality interstate raiders continue to gear up this weekend, and you can find my complete 2023 Ted Van Heemst Stakes Day Tips below.
Watch Me Rock only just missed on debut and can break his maiden on Ted Van Heemst Stakes Day.
The Awesome Rock gelding showed some ability at the trials prior to debuting and hit the line to finish a credible second in the Pinjarra maiden.
With improvement for that experience and getting further out in trip this week, he can begin his rise through the grades.
Only a handful of the nine confirmed starters in Race 2 have competitive experience and plenty of debutants are firm in betting.
I can’t find anything that I am particularly confident in, and I am happy to stay out of this one from a betting perspective.
Snippy Which was fair through the line over 1000m here when resuming and rates as a key winning chance with improvement.
The Snippetson colt stamped himself as one to watch during his first prep, winning on debut at Belmont and placing in a couple of tougher races in the wake.
He’s open to plenty of improvement and something like this looks within his abilities.
Playz With Fire returned to winning form here a fortnight ago and looks capable of making it two in a row this week.
Having finished second in each of her first three runs back from a break, the Playing God mare enjoyed a lovely run under Willie Pike at her latest and got the chocolates.
She’s hard fit and the mile looks ideal at this point of her preparation.
I’m keen to stick with Valency when she steps out in the fifth on Ted Van Heemst Stakes Day.
Valency has been racing in consistent form this time, missing the minors only once in her last seven appearances, and she was unlucky not to get there in either of her last two; both black type feature races.
In peak order and dropping back in class this weekend, she is my best bet on the program.
Only six horses have accepted into the Ted Van Heemst Stakes, including east coast raider Numerian.
It has been a short while since Numerian won a race, but has produced many strong performances this year, including second placings in both the Australian Cup and the Doomben Cup most notably.
He has stripped fitter for three credible efforts back from a break, and this is arguably the weakest field that he has come up against.
I’m confident he can pick off this race on the way to a Perth Cup.
Toni’s Spirit has been racing in consistent form this time in and rates as a key winning chance in this open race.
Toni’s Spirit has found form around some classy opposition this time in, winning the York Cup most notably, while she really hasn’t been far away from the winner in any contest.
She’s another that steps out this week in peak order and should get every chance under regular hoop Michael Poy.
Stormy Tawny’s recent form has been nothing short of outstanding, and this looks a really nice feature race for her.
The Oratorio mare returned to winning form in Class 3 company here early last month and hasn’t looked back, winning each of her two subsequent starts impressively.
She’s hard fit, drawn ideally under in-form hoop Steven Parnham, and I can’t find a reason why she won’t be in the finish again.
Capricorn Man turned in a rare flat effort here at Ascot at his latest appearance, but I am happy to give him another chance in the last on Ted Van Heemst Stakes Day.
The Maschino gelding returned to action for consecutive wins over 1100m and 1200m here at Ascot, but he never looked good in the run last time out and finished towards the tail of the field.
Given that was his first poor run in some time, I’m happy to put a line through it, and he certainly has the ability to bounce back this week.