The Best From The West - 27th April, 2023

We're back at Ascot with the Sheila Gwynne Classic the feature on a nine-race card.

Best from the West
Best from the West Picture: RacingandSports

 

We're still recovering from The Quokka last weekend after big wins in both the $5 million feature and the Karrakatta Plate.

While the feature isn't up to what we saw last week, the Sheila Gwynne Classic is a competitive race in its own right.

 

Laced Up Heels has opened up favourite at the time of writing after a narrow defeat in The Joey last week.

The daughter of Toronado has been on the week back up twice in her career, improving on one occasion and regressing in the other.

It's worth noting she was on the 7-day back up when running in the Group 1 Australian Guineas, beaten 5.6L, so there's plenty of merit to that performance despite regressing.

She's been kept to sprint trips since that campaign and ran a new peak Racing and Sports rating when beaten in The Joey.

Laced Up Heels brings the best form into the race, but what if she doesn't handle the quick turnaround on this occasion?

Well, Baby Paris is right there and at ther best. 

Her first-up win rated 107 with R&S, a peak figure she's now repeated four times without going any better.

Is now the time Baby Paris can go to the next level? Or, is it a case of 'what you see is what you get' with the Colin Webster-trained mare.

One that appeals at longer odds is Admiration Express for Clint Johnston-Porter and Jason Miller.

After getting to the Oaks 12 months ago, the four-year-old didn't come up last preparation after suffering a fractured knee in the Oaks.

She didn't beat much in her recent trial, but she did it nicely enough to suggest she may be back on track.

 

Jockey : WILLIAM PIKE.
Jockey : WILLIAM PIKE. Picture: Western Racepix.

 

Best Bet of the day comes up in the last (of course) with the Jordan Rolfe-trained DESENNEA.

This lightly raced son of Galah has been good in his two runs back this time in and looks set to peak third-up and out to the mile.

He's a winner third-up in the past and 'The Wizard' takes the ride in a big jockey upgrade. He still has plenty of improvement and upside to come and this looks the perfect race for him to be able to go to the next level.

 

I'm siding with another progressive galloper for my Next Best, that's DIALLING for the Darren McAuliffe stable.

He's stepping out in trip third-up and while the win last start did appear to be a touch lucky when getting the split at the right time, the sectionals underlying that effort suggest he's ready to continue his successful campaign.

After running to a new Racing and Sports peak rating at Pinjarra, the three-year-old looks ready to go again and raise the bar once more.

 

The Best From The West

 

Best Bet: Race 9 Number 1 DESENNEA @ $2.90*

Next Best: Race 7 Number 6 DIALLING @ $5*

 

*Prices correct as of 9:30am, April 26.


Racing and Sports