The weights for the Ascot meeting for this Saturday show that the WA champion Marasco is entered for two events. One is a mouth watering challenge to the current WA sprinting star, Dante's Volonte, over 1200m under handicap conditions. Taking a line through the handicappers rating figures both are weighted fairly with Marasco (114) set to carry 60.0 kg and Dante's Volonte (102) weighted at 54.0 kg. Buried between them is the only other chance at the weights in Megatic (107) who is set to carry 5

The weights for the Ascot meeting for this Saturday show that the WA champion Marasco is entered for two events. One is a mouth watering challenge to the current WA sprinting star, Dante's Volonte, over 1200m under handicap conditions. Taking a line through the handicappers rating figures both are weighted fairly with Marasco (114) set to carry 60.0 kg and Dante's Volonte (102) weighted at 54.0 kg. Buried between them is the only other chance at the weights in Megatic (107) who is set to carry 56.5 kg. The form shows Megatic first up, at this level, would be a better chance at 1400m but I am not about to dismiss him as a chance.

 

What adds to the Tuesday night puzzle is that Marasco is entered at wfa in the 1800m Strickland Stakes where on class and form he has only Tarzi to beat. If fit and in form I would have added Forest Frolic to the equation but his run last Saturday was abysmal showing no fight whatsoever and to win he would have to perform the greatest comeback since Lazarus. To yours truly this is going to be a race where I shall need to consider class (Marasco) against my recent love affair with Tarzi whom I have backed, at juicy odds, in his last two wins. Obviously Marasco will be odds on but Tarzi won't be so what will I do?

 

Before I start stressing too much let's wait and see where Fred Kersley actually runs the champ. If I were him it would be in the Strickland Stakes however he will be second up against an in form fighting Tarzi or will he take on Dante's Volonte? Bring it on at Ascot.!

 

The acceptances and barrier draw have been posted for the Golden Slipper and the BMW. I will defer on the Slipper until Friday but the BMW looks very much like a rematch between Melbourne Cup winner Viewed and the front running Theseo. I took Theseo on last start and burnt my fingers and a few slips of the folding stuff to learn this horse is better than I first thought. I backed him when he won the Epsom and thought his was a particularly strong fighting run but I must admit to having had doubts about his staying ability at 2000m when he just beat Barbaricus in the LKS McKinnon Stakes. When I backed Niconero in the Australian Cup I felt vindicated but since then I have to acknowledge perhaps it was more the 3rd up over 2000m that made the difference and that the Barbaricus run might have been the effort of a tired horse. Viewed certainly can run the distance but can he give Theseo, who will get a soft lead unless Zarita or Mr Tipsy go forward, a start and a beating at wfa.

 

Ah, yes: the Sydney carnival is upon us and I cannot wait until I get the form guide Friday morning.