The Gold Rush: Best bets and preview for WA’s new $1.5m race

The Gold Rush is a brand-new feature race, established in 2022, to be run at Ascot Racecourse in Perth in December. Each of Perth’s three Group 1 races have their own Saturday feature raceday, with The Gold Rush to be run on the fourth Saturday following these. The race will be run over 1400 metres at Group 3 level, with prizemoney of $1.5 million. The race is two weeks after the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes over 1200 metres, so will attract many horses from that race.

The Gold Rush 2022: Alfie’s preview

Map: The speed looks fast here. Massimo should lead and Titan Blinders, The Astrologist, Red Can Man and Karlis Karma will push forward. Vilana will sit in behind the leading bunch.

The Gold Rush: Runner-by-runner

Prices courtesy of TopSport at time of publication.

2 Vilana [$3.80] is a Group 3 winner over this distance and is obviously from the right camp in Godolphin. He’s a deserving favourite.

14 Kissonallforcheeks [$4.60] was beaten by a whisker last start in the Group 1 Winterbottom… I thought it got there! A big chance here.

1 Kementari [$7.50] wouldn’t surprise with a win here… Group 3 is about his level.

3 Elite Street [$11] hasn’t been at his best. He’s rated down so far this prep and also hasn’t won at this distance before.

15 This’ll Testya [$13] is certainly a query at the 1400m but this is a pretty nice price to find out. Each-way chance.

Trainer @PatemanMitchell gave us a close-up look at This’ll Testya’s final hit-out ahead of the first TABtouch Gold Rush!#TABtouch @santassnippets @PerthRacing @_HamiltonCC #ThePinnacles pic.twitter.com/vta18mHYmP

— TABtouch (@TAB_touch) December 6, 2022

4 The Astrologist [$14] hasn’t run 1400m for a while but does have it in him.

7 Red Can Man [$17] ran second in the Group 3 Colonel Reeves first-up.

9 Resortman [$17] is back in class for this and the distance is a tick.

10 Beau Rossa [$20] hasn’t put up a figure that would be good enough to win this since August 2021.

16 Karli’s Karma [$21] ran second in the Group 2 Lee Steere over 1400 metres two starts ago. If she runs to that figure here then I think she’s a place chance.

5 Massimo [$26] is a place chance… this is about his level.

13 Minsk Moment [$34] is up in grade for this and will need to improve again to have a chance here.

I have the rest a fair way off it and can’t see them winning this: 8 Comfort Me [$31], 11 Hot Zed [$41], 6 Stageman [$81], 12 Titan Blinders [$101].

Betting strategy

Top pick Vilana
Best value Resortman

I like Vilana here, the setup looks really good. His last Group 3 win over this distance was off a 28-day break and fourth-up, the same as this. If you want something at each-way odds then Resortman back in class and trip may be more to your liking.

Good luck!