Races

Scott Embry’s Saturday Ascot Preview

RACE 1

SASSY TRADER was strong from the breeze on debut. If he can cross and find the fence he will be awfully hard to run down but if he has to again sit in the breeze he looks to have enough ability to win from that position. Sean and Jake Casey have produced four individual 2 year old winners this season and he looks just as good as many of them. CROWN OF FLOWERS is a well related filly and trialled up well enough to make her prescience felt on debut. KISSONALLFORCHEEKS will need some luck from the gate. Really tough draw to contend with here. NAUGHTY THOUGHTIES finally makes it to the races and looked to have a motor at trials.

Numbers: 1 – 7 – 6 – 4

Suggested Bet – SASSY TRADER WIN


RACE 2

DEW WEST missed away last start which was uncharacteristic from her. That race was top notch 3 year olds (Resortman, Captain Kink and Platinum Bullet). She backs up off 7 days, drops to a more suitable 1000m scamper and can kick through to lead. With conditions to suit she could test the favourite. AMELIA’S CONTRAIRE much like stablemates Miss Conteki, Platinum Bullet, Levitate and co is a lightly raced, promising filly. Should hold 1×1 in the small field and gets every chance. Only ran down a moderate bunch last start but did it with style. WE’VE GOT DREAMS is likely to bounce and either sit outside of Dew West or find the rails. Strong win at Ascot last preparation in a similar event. ROBERTA gets it soft box seat.

Numbers: 6 – 1 – 3 – 8

Suggested Bet – DEW WEST EACHWAY


RACE 3

KAKADU has 61kg to lump and comes off two below par performances but has had genuine excuses in both and his form prior to that was super. Beat Divine Shadow at Pinjarra from the box seat, ran second to Utgard Loki beating home She’s Alight when put into the race at the 600 three starts ago. From the draw Ryan Hill can have him forward of midfield ready to pounce and this is a weaker assignment than his last few. Double figures is attractive. ZEPHYR QUEEN gets her chance to find the fence with the shades back on and looks to have struck a winnable race. Second-up 1400 suits and she should be in the finish. BRUCE ALMIGHTY sits in the box seat and does no work. SNIPPY MISS is flying but 58kg and barrier 12 makes things tough for her.

Numbers: 1 – 3 – 4 – 8

Suggested Bet – KAKADU EACHWAY


RACE 4

KRAMDEN is a high speed 1000m horse. Only two starts ago Beaux Edwards was able to find the fence and really run them along, pinching the race at the 600. Expecting Jade McNaught to employ similar tactics. Comes from a strong form race and is much better suited at the short course. Can make the favourite chase. MISS FROST had her bubble burst last start after she set social media alight winning a moderate C1 midweeker. Had plenty of excuses pre, mid and post-race so we’re willing to forgive but she’ll concede them all a head start and need to win from almost last. MOOD SWINGS could not have been more impressive at his race debut. Looked a serious horse in the making. WAKAN TANKA box seats from the draw and is always a place chance.

Numbers: 4 – 5 – 6 – 11

Suggested Bet – KRAMDEN EACHWAY


RACE 5

LAUFEY has found his race. Caught the eye in the Old Comrade Stakes when hitting the line extremely well at 150-1 when racing far out of his grade. Then again ran well in a fast run 72+ mile behind subsequent Eurythmic Stakes winner and Diggers Cup bridesmaid Utgard Loki, finishing behind British Bessy and Lorentinio. Last start was the biggest replay watch of 2020 when bolting behind them for the entire home straight. Draws a gate, Pike sticks. He should be saluting. LA BIONDA gets a soft run box seat and goes around a big price for a mare in-form. PORPHYRIO comes up in grade but won with a leg in the air at Pinjarra. THAT’S FUNNY AZ won well last week and should get across to sit outside Swift Platinum.

Numbers: 6 – 9 – 7 – 2

Suggested Bet – LAUFEY WIN


RACE 6

CONDOR HEROES improved dramatically first-up to second-up. If he gets similar track and wind conditions and repeats his last start figures then they simply won’t catch him. Jump and run commodity, you know what you’re going to get. STATE ATTORNEY gets some huge weight swings on him for their last two encounters. Needs to be within 5L of him turning to home to be any chance. SPEEDING COMET maps to get a soft run behind the speed and has been consistent for months. FRED DAG is a seriously talented animal but could have a few horses under pressure sitting in front of him.

Numbers: 2 – 11 – 5 – 4

Suggested Bet – CONDOR HEROES WIN


RACE 7

MANKIND ran as well as he possibly could have first-up at 1000m when Condor Heroes ran them into the ground. Looks like he will enjoy a soft midfield run in a race with speed drawn absolutely everywhere (Kelvin, Gates of Babylon, Next Stop The Moon, Beaucount, Lorentinio, Flying Roar). Pike stalking a hot speed is always a smart investment. LORENTINIO is in career best form having run huge races at his last three. Lead over a mile three starts and then again last start, breaking 1 minute for the first 1000 for a 1600m race. In between those two enormous runs he won soft at 1400. He is capable of sitting on them here. KELVIN and GATES OF BABYLON are both quality on speed gallopers but will need to work to get across.

Numbers: 2 – 1 – 4 – 7

Suggested Bet – MANKIND EACHWAY


RACE 8

FLIRTINI maps to get such a sweet run in this race. From gate 4 Joseph Azzopardi can have her sitting one out and one back or one out and two back ready to launch late. She gets 2.5kg and a tactical advantage on Angelic Ruler from their clash in the Marjorie Charleson Classic and then never gave up the chase behind Fabergino in the Northam Stakes when they almost broke the track record. VEGA MAGIC looks like finding the front and if the Vega Magic of 2017/2018 turns up they’ll really struggle to reel him in. Trialled like his old self but has to do it under race day pressure. MAN BOOKER is a bona fide star of WA racing. Should track Flirtini’s every move and that makes him a live hope. THE VELVET KING likely sits outside of Vega Magic. Could be an emerging star.

Numbers: 11 – 2 – 4 – 8

Suggested Bet – FLIRTINI WIN


RACE 9

FESTIVAL MISS has a powerful turn of foot which is perfectly suited to sneaking up the rails three back the fence. If she sees any daylight she will make a real contest of the last. Effort behind Angelic Ruler and Flower of War in the Sheila Gwynne excellent and then again last start down the middle under a claiming apprentice against the pattern. PYM’S ROYALE maps to get the right run for him and we saw last start what he can do when he gets into the open. LAVERROD is three weeks between runs having being scratched behind the machine last start. Steps to 1400m and is all class. CAROCAPO is a query at 1400m but should get a much better run in this race.

Numbers: 14 – 7 – 11 – 4

Suggested Bet – FESTIVAL MISS EACHWAY


Quaddie (Race 6 – 9)

2,11

1,2,4,7,11,13

2,4,11

7,11,14

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