Last Group 1 of the Year: We’ve Got You Covered!
Summer racing now finds its rhythm, and this weekend the spotlight belongs to Northerly Stakes at Ascot Racecourse. The traditional 1800m feature anchors a quality card in Perth, drawing proven performers and emerging types looking to stamp themselves heading deeper into the season. Alongside the WA feature, strong supporting races at Ballarat and Doomben ensure there’s genuine depth across the country. As always, we’ve broken down the key races nationwide to find where the form lines intersect — and where the value lies.
🏇 Ascot Race 8 – G.A. Towton Cup (2200m)
📝 Race Overview:
The Towton Cup is a genuine staying test at Ascot, and over 2200m it often rewards horses with fitness, strength, and the ability to sustain a long run rather than produce a short sprint. Tempo generally builds from the mile, which gives on-pace runners a chance to control the race, but those who overwork early can quickly come unstuck late. With a mix of grinders and tactical stayers engaged, race shape and decision-making from the 800m will be crucial.
🔥 Best to Back Tip: FOREVER BOY
💰 Odds: ~$ 4.8
⚡ “Progressing at the right time and looks ideally placed stepping into this 2200m contest. He was strong through the line when winning last start, has proven Ascot form, and maps perfectly to settle midfield with cover before building into the race. His overall strike rate is excellent, and everything about his profile suggests this trip will suit even better. Hard to fault as the horse to beat.”
💎 Best Value Bet: FILTHY HABITS
💰 Odds: ~$ 19
💥 “Likely leader who can take plenty of catching if allowed to dictate. He’s been finding form against similar opposition, stays the trip, and Ascot can be unforgiving for chasers if the tempo is controlled. At a big price, he’s the type who can pinch a break and keep kicking — the right kind of value play in an open race.”
🏇 Ascot Race 9 – Northerly Stakes (1800m)
📝 Race Overview:
The Northerly Stakes is one of WA’s premier middle-distance feature and an important early-summer litmus test, rewarding horses that can balance class with tactical positioning over 1800m. The race is often run at a genuine tempo, with on-speed runners looking to control proceedings while the better closers angle out from the 600m. Horses that travel strongly through the middle stages and sustain a long finish are ideally suited.
🔥 Best to Back Tip: King Of Light
💰 Odds: ~$ 2.5
⚡ “An unbeaten three-year-old stepping into open-age company, but everything he’s shown suggests he’s up to the challenge. He’s dominated his peers with authority, handles Ascot, and keeps producing strong closing sectionals as the trips rise. With Pike aboard and no weight on his back, he maps to get a soft run off midfield before unleashing late. If he reproduces his last two runs at 1600m and 1400m, he’s more than good enough to win this.”
💎 Best Value Bet: Cosmic Crusader
💰 Odds: ~$ 6
💥 “Flying under the radar but racing in career-best form. He surged late in the R.J. Peters before smashing them in the Carbine Club, and his Ascot record is rock-solid. Likely to roll forward or sit close to the speed, he’s fit, battle-hardened, and well suited stepping to 1800m. At each-way odds, he appeals as the major value danger.”
🏇 Ballarat R9 – Ballarat Cup (2000m)
📝 Race Overview:
The Ballarat Cup is a true staying handicap that rewards patience and a strong finish. The long run home allows backmarkers their chance if the tempo is solid, but runners that can build momentum from the 700m often hold the advantage. With a mix of grinders and class runners stepping to 2000m, race shape and timing are everything.
🔥 Best to Back Tip: Saint George
💰 Odds: ~$ 5
⚡ “Has been racing like a horse right on the verge of a win. His last two runs were excellent closing efforts, and the rise to 2000m looks spot on given how strong he’s been through the line. Craig Williams hopping on is a major plus, and if they run this at a genuine tempo, Saint George gets the perfect setup to launch late. Profiles as the safest and strongest betting option.”
💎 Best Value Bet: Firm Agreement
💰 Odds: ~$ 26
💥 “Forgive the latest run where he never truly got into the race. Now fitter fourth-up, he steps to his preferred trip and draws to settle closer than last time. At big odds, he’s the type who can grind into the placings and potentially give this a real shake if the race opens up late.”
🏇 Doomben Race 7 – Magic Millions Pierata Plate (1200m)
📝 Race Overview:
A quality sprint for emerging types, the Pierata Plate often favours horses with early speed and race fitness, especially if the tempo eases mid-race. Resuming runners that can travel comfortably on the pace usually hold a major edge, while closers need genuine pressure to feature late.
🔥 Best to Back Tip: Ninja
💰 Odds: ~$ 3.4
⚡ “Returns off an encouraging trialled-up preparation and brings a profile that screams upside. He’s already proven himself around this level, handles cut in the track, and maps to land right on the speed controlling proceedings. If he’s anywhere near his best, he looks very hard to run down over the sharp 1200m.”
💎 Best Value Bet: Fabulantes
💰 Odds: ~$ 19
💥 “A fitter horse third-up who showed plenty of grit when winning in a small field last start. Likes to roll forward and keep finding, and any rain around only boosts his chances. At double-figure odds, he’s a genuine each-way play if the leaders dig deep late.”
🏇 Doomben Race 8 – George Moore Stakes (1200m)
📝 Race Overview:
The George Moore Stakes is a high-pressure Group sprint where race shape is critical. With multiple on-speed runners engaged, the tempo should be genuine, rewarding horses that can settle midfield with cover before producing a sustained sprint from the 400m. Fitness and the ability to absorb early pressure are key, especially under summer conditions.
🔥 Best to Back Tip: Cabalus
💰 Odds: ~$ 3.7
⚡ “Strong return to form two starts back before struggling in unsuitable heavy conditions last time. Gets back onto a firmer surface here, where his sharp 1200m profile really stands up. He’s strong through the line, maps to receive a perfect midfield run, and carries proven Group-level class. Back on his preferred footing, Cabalus looks primed to bounce straight back.”
💎 Best Value Bet: Epic Proportions
💰 Odds: ~$ 8
💥 “Much better than the market suggests. He’s been building momentum this prep, relishes pressure-speed races, and has been dominant at this trip when able to roll forward. Drawn to be prominent and carries genuine upside if allowed to dictate early. At overs, he’s a legitimate danger if things fall his way.”
🏇 Doomben Race 9 – Widden Stud Mode Stakes (1200m)
📝 Race Overview:
The Widden Stud Mode Stakes is a key summer sprint for emerging fillies, typically run at a fast tempo with plenty of intent early. Speed and race fitness play a major role, but horses that can settle just off the pace and finish strongly down the long straight often have the final say. Any improvement second-up is crucial in a race like this.
🔥 Best to Back Tip: Sylph
💰 Odds: ~$ 5
⚡ “Looks to have come back the right way after a sound run at the level last prep. She found the line well without being fully extended and profiles to take a sharp step forward second-up. Drawn to get cover just off the speed and proven to handle this grade, Sylph looks ideally placed to strike now.”
💎 Best Value Bet: Hi Barbie
💰 Odds: ~$ 23
💥 “Forgive the fresh run where firm conditions didn’t suit. She was much better last prep, particularly in stronger company second-up, and gets conditions more in her favour here. With natural improvement and a midfield map, she looks capable of flashing late at big odds.”
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