Investmentstrategy to blast through half-a-million dollar barrier in Saturday’s $100,000 Easingwold Stakes

Win, lose, or draw, Investmentstrategy will eclipse the $500,000 career prizemoney mark in Saturday’s Easingwold Stakes at Ascot. But based on recent form, there’s every chance the youngest and least experienced runner in the eight-horse line-up will walk away with the lion’s share of the $100,000 stake. The Playing God four-year-old was marooned out four-wide for the opening 800m of the contest before exhausting plenty of petrol to finally burn up and obtain a three-wide position on the speed with 600m to go. At the top of the straight, when most horses would waver and falter after such a gruelling transit, Investmentstrategy showed the temerity to poke his nose in front and soon forged more than a length clear. Few others could make serious inroads and he held on by a half-length to record one of the gutsiest wins at headquarters in recent memory, displaying such an emphatic class edge that he looms as the one to beat in Saturday’s contest. Many of these come through the Boxing Day Dash, chiefly Tony Triscari’s Fast Flicker. Boasting an impressive record of 8 from 18 starts, she burrowed up to lead in that feature on the 26th but was beset upon by class mare The Boss Lady by the 200m mark. However, Triscari’s mare fought valiantly and gave a strong kick to battle on willingly and push The Boss Lady all the way to the line, though that mare edged clear close to home. The pair broke clear of Perth Cup-winning trainers Grant and Alana Williams’ duo Hell I Am and Sisu Warrior, who will again re-oppose this weekend. Hell I Am was planted three-wide and despite fleetingly moving to challenge Fast Flicker rounding the turn, his run emptied out and trailed home two lengths astern of that runner. Sisu Warrior was a further length-and-a-quarter away after splitting Fast Flicker and Hell I Am in the run and must lift slightly notwithstanding the fact he meets the pair better at the weights this time. Cheval De Vaga also finished behind The Boss Lady last start, but comes through a different form line. After duelling it out with Falcon Trader on pace throughout, the nine-year-old veteran finally scrapped his way to the front with 200m to travel but was swamped by The Boss Lady and co. He was only beaten a length and is sure to be on the speed again from gate No. 1. He hits this race third up and should take benefit for the two previous hit-outs. Cold Shizzle also enters Saturday’s race third-up but has been beaten a cumulative total of more than 12 lengths at his two starts so far at odds of $91 and $101. Expect him to be a long price again and he would provide a rude shock to nearly all punters if he captured victory. Benji’s loves the sting out of the ground, so summer isn’t his favourite time of the year. He wasn’t beaten that far last start but he never looked a winning contender and this race looks noticeably harder. Hesket rounds out the field and got a long way back in the Mandurah Cup at Pinjarra a week ago to never seriously trouble Papavero Princess. Bairstow and Yuill combined to win with Oracle Son at odds the other day but this would be more surprising still. + Traditionally run on New Year’s Eve at Cannington, the GreyhoundsWA Claude Powell Final (488m) will be run at Mandurah on Saturday night. Paul Stuart’s rising talent Vinales is a hot $1.75 TABtouch favourite after drawing box one as he seeks his fifth win from just twelve starts. Sparingly raced through the last year, the now two-year-old resumed at Mandurah on November 30 with victory in 27.61 before improving that time by nearly five lengths when recording 27.28 three weeks later. He fluffed his lines and raced without luck when a beaten favourite a week later in the final of that series but is sure to take stitching in Saturday’s contest. Sunset Capone ($4.20) is second favourite for David Hobby out of box seven and has stormed into form in recent starts as he chases four on end. Victory over 400m three starts ago was followed by a 27.52 triumph at 488m little more than a week later before completing the hat-trick in 27.41 last time. Still yet to turn two years of age, he showed brilliant acceleration to obtain the front and ran out a long-margin winner. His strength will continue to improve with racing and with six wins from just nine starts, his trajectory is spiking quickly. Stuart’s other starter Rapido Rhapsody ($5) is the only other runner in single-digit odds and has shown glimpses of high potential. But he’s still learning on the job and the inconsistency of his numerical form shows that, failing to beat a runner home as odds-on favourite last week. If he brings his best, he’s in it up to his ears despite starting from box eight