Ascot Races

The final Group 1 feature of the Ascot Summer Racing Carnival will take place this Saturday, December 4, when the 2010 Kingston Town Classic lights up the track at Ascot Racecourse.

The third richest race to take place in Perth each summer racing season, the $500,000 Group 2 Kingston Town Classic (1600m) final field now features 14 top gallopers following the scratching of #3 Luen Yat Forever due to transportation issues and #8 Almohad after connections drew an unfavourable barrier for Saturday’s showdown.

The clear favourite to win this year’s Kingston Town Classic is Playing God, currently paying $3.80 at Luxbet after firming in from their opening quote of $4.40.

The Neville Parnham-trained Blackfriars three-year-old Playing God is leading the Kingston Town Classic odds after a good barrier seven draw and brilliant recent form at the track winning the Group 2 WA Guineas (1600m) and the Listed Aquanita Stakes (1800m) at their last two starts.

Three other runners in the Kingston Town Classic field are now at single figure odds to win on Saturday with Famous Roman at $7.50, and Trusting and Impressive Jeuney both firming into $9.50 at Luxbet.

Famous Roman has been a slight drifter in the betting markets out from $7, Jim Taylor’s in-form six-year-old proving to be in peak condition after winning the Listed Northerly Stakes (1400m) here in October before scoring group glory in the Group 3 Lee Steere Stakes (1400m) and then backing up with a brave second to Gathering in the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) a fortnight ago.

Drawn a little wider in barrier 11, but set to move in following the scratched horses, Famous Roman is ideally positioned having won the Lee Steere Stakes from barrier nine carrying 59kg, which they are allocated again for the Kingston Town Classic.

Trusting has been backed right in from their opening quote of $11, punters coming around to John Thompson’s Sydney galloper despite their wide barrier 12 draw. A talented Tale Of The Cat four-year-old, Trusting showed promise with an eye-catching sixth in the Railway Stakes and after a look at the Ascot track and impressive work here earlier in the week, is tipped to improve.

Impressive Jeuney also worked well at the track this week, the Darren Mcaullife-trained Jeune mare coming off a fifth place in the Railway. Has good early speed and always puts in a genuine run, is drawn in the far outside barrier however and must carry 56.5kg, a big increase from the 52kg she had last start.

Longer priced horses in the Kingston Town Classic that look excellent value picks to add into your exotics for Saturday include full older brother to the favourite who ran second last year God Has Spoken ($11), Grant William’s improving four-year-old gelding Ranger ($12) coming off a string on good runs including second to God Has Spoken in the Group 3 RJ Peters Stakes, and Grand Nirvana ($21) drawn well in barrier five.

The 2010 GR Engineering Kingston Town Classic is scheduled as Ascot Race 7 on Saturday, due to jump at 7:00pm (AEDST).

For the full odds and betting markets available for the Kingston Town Classic, visit our preferred online bookmaker Luxbet now and if you haven’t opened an account with the yet, make sure you quote the code word BONUS400 when you join to get a free bet valued at 100% of your first deposit!

2010 Kingston Town Classic Final Field, Barrier Draw & Weights