Races

Scott Embry’s Saturday Belmont Preview

RACE 1

CURRIMUNDI took the entire length of the home straight to run down Oh Sophia in a Class 1 at Pinjarra last start which certainly doesn’t jump off the page as a form reference, however, is drawn in barrier 1, drops 2.5kg, is a Heavy8 winner and Shaun McGruddy rides the box seat better than anyone else. Think he’ll have sufficient tactical speed to punch up in behind Castillo Del Lago and Success Play and looks capable of taking the step. GINGER BAKER is first-up, at his pet distance, a proven wet tracker and a big class dropper. Can carry weight and his trial was sound. Likely to go round a big price. SUCCESS PLAY was a strong winner last Saturday and can come across to breeze. FOREVER DREAMING finished off the race well first-up.

Numbers: 7 – 1 – 4 – 6

Suggested Bet – CURRIMUNDI WIN


RACE 2

BABY PARIS will have a big following at her return to the races. Alarming drifter on debut off the back of two impressive trial wins and made the market look silly with a strong victory, shaking off her rivals and pulling away late. Went straight into the Karrakatta Plate and finished second to boom filly Amelia’s Jewel. Looked sharp in her 400m jump out and importantly looked comfortable in the conditions. REVITUP is now right up to 58.5kg after the claim. She concedes 3.5kg to Baby Paris. Big ask. TRESPASSING was sound in his trial and eye catching on debut. ZOUBOLTZ was a super trial in blinkers. They’re added to his gear second-up.

Numbers: 6 – 1 – 4 – 5

Suggested Bet – BABY PARIS WIN


RACE 3

VANE TEMPEST is flying and there’s no reason why she can’t win this 72+ 1000. Open race with a clear cut favourite who is drawn barrier 7 of 8 and no guarantee to get an economical run in transit. She’ll go round eachway, she now has the services of Paul Harvey and she’s continuing to savage the line. COMES A TIME looks ready to go to the next level this preparation and is profiling like an ideal Hannans Handicap horse. His recent trial win was super and if he gets any luck from a tricky draw he’s the one to beat. SPIRITED SESSION can’t be faulted in what he’s done in two runs back. TIMELY OUTBURST hasn’t been seen for 7 weeks and pads go on. Few red flags.

Numbers: 6 – 3 – 8 – 7

Suggested Bet – VANE TEMPEST EACHWAY


RACE 4

POSITIVE IMPACT is a lightly raced 5 year old who looks like he will make into a very nice stayer of the future. Travels strongly, has a turn of acceleration and was bursting through late on a Heavy track last start when again truck loaded in betting. The market loves him and he meets a field of stayers were the majority have been battling away in and around this grade for a long time and the second favourite didn’t go a yard on a Heavy track last start. No surprise to see him win again. ALIMENTARIA is a nice bread and butter winter stayer. She rolls to the top, controls and kicks. She’ll take running down. DANCING JACK is going well but doesn’t win out of turn. SUNSPHERE raced Wednesday and if backing up is a top 4 chance.

Numbers: 2 – 8 – 9 – 1

Suggested Bet – POSITIVE IMPACT WIN


RACE 5

VITAL FLIRT will attract a few of her loyal followers in this race. Paul Harvey has had 7 rides on the mare for 3 victories, she’s a Heavy8 winner and her run two starts ago behind No Apology was excellent when well found at odds. Jason Whiting lost his near-side iron as soon as the gates opened last start and she tracked them round. Good spirited tempo here (That’s Funny Az, Inflation, Big Screen) and she can sustain a run. BIG SCREEN looks to have found his most winnable race of the preparation. Has been building and there’s no Savage Ones or Ginger Flyers in this. SCOPRION STORMZ looks like getting a great run. CLASSIC ROGUE won well last start but at $10 in a Westspeed Platinum.

Numbers: 3 – 2 – 6 – 4

Suggested Bet – VITAL FLIRT WIN


RACE 6

CASH AWAY clearly has above average ability. Misty Bazeley calls on a senior rider and attaches a set of blinkers to his race gear after giving punters and rider Holly Watson nightmares down the straight first-up when he refused to go straight. Think he has the raw ability to win this and with eachway insurance willing to find out. SOCKOFF and OLGA LOUISA will both be looking for the fence early and will ensure that this is a seriously hard and fast wet weather 1000m scamper. ATHLONE CASTLE might be a 10 year old but his last two runs have been career best. STATE OF POWER may have to do it tough with 59kg. She’s capable but it’s an ask.

Numbers: 6 – 2 – 8 – 5

Suggested Bet – CASH AWAY EACHWAY


RACE 7

MULTINATIONAL chased hard behind the highly inform and winner producer Phanta last Saturday in a 66+ race run 7L faster than average. Backs up, should get across to either lead or breeze and drops 2.5kg on a career best effort. Phanta beat home Ginger Flyer who went on to win her next two including a $100,000 feature as well as Flying Missile who came out and won a 72+. Love the Phanta form and think Multinational will take serious running down. PROBITY was an incredible win last start. Tailed off at stages and burst through late to score. Clearly relishes the conditions and is more than capable of going back to back. BUSTER BASH should only improve into the campaign and as they step him out in trip. BROOKLYN PIER should get a nice run into the race.

Numbers: 6 – 7 – 5 – 4

Suggested Bet – MULTINATIONAL WIN


RACE 8

RESORTMAN and HOT ZED finished first and second in the H.G Bolton and meet again at the same track, same distance and quite possibly on the same track conditions (Soft7). There’s 1.5kg in favour of HOT ZED but it’s hard not to be impressed with the way that RESORTMAN sustained a run from the 600. Shaun McGruddy has gone at 23.5% last 180 days and 29% POT. He’s likely to give RESORTMAN the gun run and see no reason why he can’t win again. HOT ZED is never far from the action. Might not be his preferred surface but he’s still more than capable and adept. NERODIO carries top weight and concedes them a head start. FLOYD a smokey.

Numbers: 5 – 4 – 1 – 8

Suggested Bet – RESORTMAN WIN


RACE 9

LET’S GALAHVANT races on Thursday at Northam so we’ll preview the race without him. MERCANTO has been popular in this preview all preparation and has been a model of consistency. Finished in the money at four of six and a winner at two of those. Got the better of them late last start in a grinding finish with 59kg and stays at the same weight, in the same grade with the claim of stable apprentice Brandon Louis. Always goes round eachway and always runs an eachway race. RIVER RUBICON was better than it reads on paper first-up after doing a stack of work. From the barrier he might have too again? HOLY GHOST was an incredible run first-up after bombing the start. AIN’T NO OTHER MAN was great first-up but plain second-up.

Numbers: (9) – 3 – 4 – 7 – 8

Suggested Bet – MERCANTO EACHWAY


Quaddie (Race 6 – 9)

2,4,5,6,8
6,7
4,5
3,4,7,8,9,10,11

Market Market