Feature racing continues at Ascot in Perth on Saturday, and the Group 2 Ted Van Heemst Stakes headlines the ten-race program.
Check out my complete 2021 Ted Van Heemst Stakes Day Tips below.
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Westspeed Platinum Plate (1000m) – 4:07pm AEDT
Tip: No. 1 Revitup
Revitup is yet to return a poor effort, and she’ll take plenty of beating again when she takes her place in the first at Ascot on Saturday.
Revitup has made three appearances at the races for two wins and a second placing, and her last-start effort was easily her best to date.
Amelia Park Handicap (1400m) – 4:47pm AEDT
Tip: No. 9 Beat The Bro
Last-start winner Beat The Bro looks to have further claims in the second on Ted Van Heemst Stakes Day.
Beat The Bro has been a consistent performer since resuming this time, and he was rewarded for his condition with a dominant win at Pinjarra last time.
This is a little harder, but he steps out in peak fitness and gets into the race well under the conditions.
Group 2 Ted Van Heemst Stakes (2100m) – 5:32pm AEDT
Tip: No Bet
Two-time Group 1 winner and 2021 All-Star Mile champion Regal Power headlines this year’s Ted Van Heemst Stakes field, and unsurprisingly, he has opened a $1.35 favourite.
I think he’ll win by a street, but I can’t dive in at that price.
Westspeed Platinum Sires Stakes (1200m) – 6:05pm AEDT
Tip: No. 10 The Velvet Queen
The Velvet Queen has been nothing short of outstanding this time, and this looks a lovely target for her.
The Dan McAuliffe-trained filly broke her maiden with ease at Belmont when resuming, and franked that performance with another impressive win at this track and trip last time.
This is another rise in class, but she has plenty of upside.
TBWA Stallion Tender Scheme Trophy (1200m) – 6:40pm AEDT
Tip: No. 2 Apple Schnapps
I’m going to stick with Apple Schnapps in the fifth on Ted Van Heemst Stakes Day.
Apple Schnapps has been a strong and consistent performer throughout his busy preparation this time, and he recorded consecutive wins in races not dissimilar to this one two and three starts back, before filling the minors last time.
With even luck, he’ll be in the finish again.
Epona Classic (1200m) – 7:17pm AEDT
Tip: No. 9 Miss Vasari
The Epona Classic looks to be a pretty open race this year, but I am happy to have something on Miss Vasari.
Miss Vasari has continued to improve with racing since resuming, and she takes her place in this field in winning form, having proven too good for a decent field here last time.
She strikes this race in peak order and Brad Parnham has options this weekend from the rails draw.
Listed Starstruck Classic (1600m) – 7:55pm AEDT
Tip: No. 1 Dance Music
This is a decent drop in class for Dance Music, and I think that it looks the perfect black type target for her.
The War Chant mare completed an ideal return to the races with a lovely win in the Group 3 Northerly Stakes in October, and she takes her place on Saturday following a close-up fifth in the Group 1 Kingston Town Classic.
She’s rock-hard fit and only need to hold her form to win something like this.
Own The Dream 2022 Handicap (1200m) – 8:25pm AEDT
Tip: No. 7 Flying Missile
The consistent Flying Missile will step out in the eighth at Ascot on Saturday, and she can return to winning form.
The Cable Bay filly hasn’t missed placing at her last four appearances, all in black type company and highlighted by an eye-catching win in the Placid Ark Stakes.
She’s rock-hard fit and will take a power of beating.
Better Your Bet Handicap (2100m) – 9:02pm AEDT
Tip: No. 1 Expressionist
I’m going to have something on Expressionist in the penultimate race on Ted Van Heemst Stakes Day.
He simply had too much work ahead of him in the final throws of his race here last time, but Expressionist has returned some excellent performances this time, highlighted by a strong win two starts back.
He gets some relief in the weights under Holly Watson and is drawn to receive a lovely run from gate 5.
Crown Sports Bar Handicap (2100m) – 9:35pm AEDT
Tip: No. 2 Kerman Rock
Kerman Rock is ready to win when he steps out at Ascot on Saturday.
The Snippetson gelding didn’t show a lot in his first start back this time, but he took wholesale improvement into an 1800m contest here last time and dashed late to fill the minors.
He’ll enjoy further improvement into this race and will relish getting out to 2100m.
