3 minute read
The Grant Williams trained Fashion Princess proved too good racing up on the speed last start and is expected to notch up back to back victories at Ascot on Saturday.
Proving successful in living up to her solid market support the daughter if Iffraaj always looked the winner and while the margin wasn't overly decisive she is expected to springboard off that effort leading into the weekend.
On career best form she still has a fair bit of improvement left up her sleeve and she should be right at her peak racing fourth up.
Currently installed the 5-2 favourite appears well over the odds as we have Fashion Princess rated closer to an even money chance and can in fact get her into the red.
From the awkward draw she is expected to roll forward and park just off the speed and prove extremely hard to beat.
Progressive three-year-old Respondent proved ultra impressive when upsetting Ihtsahymn last start and given he does meet him two kilograms better off at the weights on Saturday there is little to suggest he can't beat him home again.
While no knock on Ihtsahymn as he clearly one of the more promising gallopers in the West at this point, the fact he does meet Respondent worse off at the weights and has drawn 15 of 17 he does appear to face another tough task on Saturday.
We have the two rated well clear of the rest and have Respondent rated a $2.30 chance and Ihtsahymn rated the 5-2 second pick.
Given $3.5 and $4 is currently available about the two gallopers we are more than happy to play both of them with a strong push for Respondent.
The Jim Taylor trained Petrol Power proved quite disappointing first up and while he has since trialled well at Belmont the current price on offer about the three-year-old appears under the odds.
Installed close to an even money chance on Saturday appears quite skinny as he was rated 18 pounds below his best first up and question whether he can produce his best over 1000m.
His career best form to date has come over seven furlongs and we have rated closer to a 2-1 chance on Saturday and see more value backing the likes of Lenience, Pininci, Aquitania and Grey Cheval.
BEST FROM THE WEST:
BANKER: Race 1 #3 Fashion Princess @ $3.50
PLAY OF THE DAY: Race 6 #2 Respondent@ $4.00
LAY OF THE DAY: Race 4 #6 Petrol Power @ $2.15
