| What | Melvista Stakes Day |
| Where | Ascot Racecourse – 71 Grandstand Rd, Ascot WA 6104 |
| When | Friday, March 29, 2024 |
| First Race | 1:15pm AWST |
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Visit Dabble |
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The Listed Melvista Stakes will headline the eight-race card at Ascot this Good Friday. With no rain forecast in the lead-up to the meeting, it is expected that the track will stay in the Good range for the whole program. The rail will be pushed out to the +12m position for the entire circuit, which should play favourably to leaders over sprint trips. The opening race on Melvista Stakes Day will jump at 1:15pm AWST.
Melvista Stakes Tip: Alaskan
Alaskan produced one of the better runs in defeat in the Listed J.C. Roberts Stakes last start, as the Neville Parnham-trained gelding was made to travel three-wide without cover for the entire trip. Even though he travelled wide and covered ground, the son of Playing God battled on to finish 1.1 lengths behind Lord Vampi in second place. With a better run in transit and Chris Parnham getting back in the saddle, Alaskan should prove hard to hold out at the end of 2200m.
Melvista Stakes
Race 7 – 
#4 Alaskan (8)
3yo Gelding | T: Neville Parnham | J: Chris Parnham (55kg)
Bet with Playup
Best Bet at Ascot: Fly With Caution
After being beaten by Influencing first-up at Bunbury last start, Fly With Caution will step up in trip to 1400m on Friday, and the Robert Witten-trained galloper should have taken a lot of improvement out of his fresh run. The son of Galah settled on speed previously and was only just beaten late by a fitter horse who was coming off back-to-back wins. If Fly With Caution can settle behind the speed off the fence and shows the same turn of foot late, he will play a prominent role in the finish again.
Best Bet
Race 8 – 
#4 Fly With Caution (3)
3yo Gelding | T: Robert Witten | J: Michael Poy (58kg)
Bet with Picklebet
Next Best at Ascot: Beach Pad
Beach Pad will drop back from Listed grade to compete in a Class 1 Handicap, where the Mitchell Pateman-trained gelding will seek to record his second victory at his third start. On debut, this son of Bondi stormed home down the middle of the track from the rear of the field and claimed victory over 1412m before finding Listed company too strong. As he will reconnect with Holly Watson for his second run over 1800m, Beach Pad should get every chance to replicate his debut victory here.
Next Best
Race 4 – 
#2 Beach Pad (10)
3yo Gelding | T: Mitchell Pateman | J: Holly Watson (59kg)
Bet with Neds
Friday quaddie tips for Ascot races
Ascot quadrella selections
Friday, March 29, 2024
- 1-3-4-8
- 2-5-7-10
- 1-2-4
- 3-4-13
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