3 minute read

Best Bets for Ted Van Heemst Stakes Day at Ascot.

The Pinnacles have come to an end, but now attention turns to the Perth Cup on January 1 with another key lead up taking place on Saturday afternoon.

The Ted Van Heemst will play a pivotal role for those heading to the Cup, and on ratings alone it appears the much stronger of the two lead ups we'll see this week.

A warm 37 degrees is expected on Saturday with the rail out 4m the entire and the surface currently rated a Good 4 as of Thursday morning.

Socks Nation heads the market in the Ted Van Heemst Stakes and it's easy to see why following a strong run in the Northerly Stakes last time out.

She looks ready to win a race following a few good efforts to start this campaign and she should get her chance from a favourable barrier.

Under the conditions, she gets 3kg off Numerian and while he brings in the higher peak ratings, Socks Nation beat him in the Northerly Stakes last start and meets him better at the weights now.

In Good Order sprinted quickly off a slow tempo last start, running home in some quick splits and he was scratched from Wednesday's A.T.A. Stakes to run in the Van Heemst.

The form stood up on Wednesday as the horse he finished right behind got the job done, so he's worth some thought in the Van Heemst.

You'll be able to catch all of the action live and free from Ascot, and every other meeting in W.A., on 7Plus and Racing WA.

Over to the Best Bets on the card now on a tricky day of racing at Ascot.

Race five is the Westspeed Platinum Sires Stakes and it's an open event, but one with plenty of upside is DAYTONA PETE for the Steve Wolfe barn.

The Great Southerner is a full brother to W.A Legend Red Can Man and looks to be building a handy profile of his own as he comes to town for the first time this campaign.

He's been racing well down the Pinjarra Straight, though his ratings suggest a step up to the 1200m at Ascot won't be a problem.

You can make negative cases for a few of the horses around him in the market and only being four starts into his career, I doubt we've gotten to the bottom of him just yet.

He profiles well for a race like this and if he's got half the ability of his brother, this should be right in his wheelhouse.

Another open to plenty of upside is RISSOLES in the Epona Classic for the fillies and mares (race four).

She was heavily backed first-up at Belmont when back to midweek company and she picked up where she left off, running up to her best figures to get the job done.

The Luke Fernie-trained mare is still a lightly raced mare and she got better as she stepped out in trip last campaign.

She maps for a lovely run and she's worth a nibble at her early price.

Devine Belief is a nice horse who is running strong figures, though the 1200m has to be a niggle. The same could be said for Janny who has been winning strong 1400m races and now drops back to 1200m from a wide barrier.

Rissoles shouldn't be too far away and if she can improve as anticipated, she'll be going close.

The Racing WA Best From The West

Best Bet: Race 5 #6 DAYTONA PETE @ $5.50*

Next Best: Race 4 #11 RISSOLES @ $7*

Don't forget to catch all of the action live and free on 7Plus and Racing WA.

*Prices correct as of 3:20pm, December 19th.