Races

Scott Embry’s Saturday Ascot Preview

RACE 1

MOLLY MAGEE does a lot wrong and races greenly but this is the best opportunity of her short career to break through. She likely lands in the breeze outside of Spirit of Prophecy and it would be no surprise to see those first 3 in running dominate the race. Very weak maiden. MIDNIGHT HOUR sat in the box seat last start which on review was the worst position in running for the entire meeting. Held up multiple times while the place getters were building momentum out deep. SPIRIT OF PROPHECY has been afforded every mortal hope by Yuill in Albany the last two. Leads but paddles late. BELAFONTE BOY has shown glimpses.

Numbers: 8 – 2 – 6 – 1

Suggested Bet – MOLLY MAGEE WIN


RACE 2

JONO comes from the same trial as He’s On Fire, Pilbara Miss and Lady Duckworth. Was never asked for an effort and travelled sweetly throughout. Like the opening race this is a very thin maiden and while he is expected to improve over further if he can settle within striking distance it looks a very winnable race for him. Has form around some handy types from last preparation. HE’S ON FIRE is a 5 year old on debut who trialled up nicely when finding the front under Boy Hill. Should go well. PILBARA MISS has only had the one public appearance and looked to have a bit to give before being chopped out in the trial. IT’S TIFF’S will likely charge across to find the fence and is a cheeky chance of leading start to finish.

Numbers: 2 – 4 – 11 – 6

Suggested Bbet – JONO WIN


RACE 3

STAR SOPRANO looks a ready made jump and run professional. Super speedy in a 400m jump out clocking an impressive 23.61 and then took it to a 1000m Belmont trial when leading them throughout and showing no signs of stopping, running through the line to win by over 4L. The chasing brigade in that trial looked to have some ability and he looks like leading for a long way on debut. Martin Allan does a great job with the youngsters and wheels out another nice one here. HEAR ME SING has the runs on the board with a huge debut performance behind Six Carat. Would have been in the market in the Pinjarra Magic Millions last week but Steve Wolfe elected to avoid the stablemate. HE’S SIZZLER and LA GALEXIA are debutantes from the Morton yard who both look sharp.

Numbers: 8 – 1 – 3 – 13

Suggested Bet – STAR SOPRANO WIN


RACE 4

PHONEME is a versatile type who can be ridden forward or rearward. Drawn the outside gate in the small field but there is no defined leader in the race. Has run big races recently from the front, from midfield and from the back, so regardless of where he settles in running he should be going close. Michael Lane has him in career best form and Chris Parnham is riding brilliantly. RED PUBLISHER beat him home last start and recorded a near identical final 600. Drawn the inside gate and expected to settle a pair closer in the run in this race. JERAFT was huge at his return to racing. Concedes them weight but the senior rider on is always a positive. CAMBIST is fresh out of the Perth Cup and seems to relish this sort of preparation.

Numbers: 5 – 2 – 3 – 6

Suggested Bet – PHONEME WIN


RACE 5

BEAT THE BRO is on the 7 day back up after a monster effort in an extremely fast run 1400 at Pinjarra Park last weekend. That’s Funny Az ran them into the ground, clocking an overall time 7L faster than Graduation average. Beat The Bro sat three deep in that race and did a mountain of work. Super effort and looks primed stepping out in trip. ENDURING MOMENT gunned down Tradensia impressively on Australia Day and that form has already held up through Marocchino during the week. Drawn to do no work which is important. QUEEN TAKES KING is the weighted horse in the race after Carleen Hefel’s claim. Drawn to sit deep but expecting her to be put into the race at some stage. NO SURRENDER is incredibly hard to fault but the distance and handicapper may have caught up with him.

Numbers: 1 – 5 – 4 – 2

Suggested Bet – BEAT THE BRO EACHWAY


RACE 6

TOMMY BLUE is well placed into this race, backs up off 7 days, drops from a 72+ back into a 60+, draws a gate and gains the services of Chris Parnham. From the draw he can have her right over the top of the speed and with most rivals either drawing the carpark or backmarking types she gets her chance. Proven weight carrier and maps to enjoy a wonderful passage in transit. DOUBLE THE PRO was a replay watchers special last start. Looked to be bolting under Pateman and had nowhere to go. Clearly going much better than paper form will suggest. DOWNFORCE is E1 for this race but if he gains a start and backs up off 3 days from Wednesday he nearly jumps favourite. Keep safe. SWEET STRAWBERRY is flying. Her last two have been incredible.

Numbers: 6 – 3 – 18 – 11

Suggested Bet – TOMMY BLUE EACHWAY


RACE 7

CARCAOPO really does get his chance in probably the weakest Listed race for the season. Opinions will be divided on his last start effort, whether he simply got blown up by Mervyn in the run and was huge in defeat, or whether he was afforded every chance by Jason Brown and was simply beaten on his merits. Regardless of your opinion on the above he does look hard to beat in this race. Ultimately there are no Samizdats or Flirtinis in this race and he only needs to turn the tables on Saracino and he’s the one to beat. SARACINO is flying and his last start effort behind the stablemate was brilliant. He should nearly track Carocapo in the run and that’s a similar position to where he beat him home from in the Scenic Blast. PLATOON might be known as more of a 1400-1600 horse these days but his race form is superior to rivals. If he can get a cart up into the race, he’s dangerous. MERVYN is Mervyn. He’s never going to change. Love him (me) or hate him (Jason Brown) he will give backers a run for their money.

Numbers: 1 – 5 – 2 – 6

Suggested Bet – CAROCAPO WIN


RACE 8

KISSONALLFORCHEEKS is a high quality filly. She has won from the breeze and she has won from last. She’s a winner at 1100 and a winner at 1400. At set weights and penalties, she is again thrown in and provided they can make ground on Saturday she’ll be steaming home late. Loved her return to racing and she should only be getting better into the preparation. WESTERN EMPIRE only won a maiden last start but rating him off his efforts in the Fairetha, WA Guineas and Lee Steere, he’s a deserving equal favourite and likely to be well supported. Holds a position in running and oozes class. SOLAIA is deep into her campaign but continues to hold form. Last start she ran into some quality older horses and is capable from the breeze. EM TEE AYE returns to racing and if he finds the front he’ll give cheek.

Numbers: 3 – 6 – 8 – 1

Suggested Bet – KISSONALLFORCHEEKS WIN


RACE 9

GUNS OF NAVARONE is brilliantly placed by Neville Parnham into this race. Had been trialling alongside horses who contest the Cyril Flower and then resumed in the Scenic Blast when tracking the hot tempo set by Mervyn and Carocapo. He did a super job to beat half the field home and finish within 3.5L of Samizdat and Flirtini. Drops back into a 66+ and last preparation won a 78+ at Ascot. After the claim for Laqdar Ramoly gets in with a winnable weight and draws perfectly. Double figures get punters excited. PLUTOCRACY gets significant weight on a number of rivals and the faster they go the better for him. Was stiff last start and with even luck will flash late. TIME TO SIZZLE will need to burn early to get across from out deep. Toughest test to date. CHARLETON EDDIE didn’t live up to expectations last campaign. Freshened and well placed again the older horses.

Numbers: 1 – 3 – 6 – 7

Suggested Bet – GUNS OF NAVARONE EACHWAY


Quaddie (Race 6 – 9)

2,3,6,9,11,12,(18)
1,2,5
1,3,6,8
1,3,6,7,13

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