Races

Scott Embry’s Saturday Ascot Preview

RACE 1

LEXINGTON CITY was able to find the front over 1000m, kick into the corner and looked the winner everywhere but the post when gunned down in the final stride by sharp filly Laced Up Heels. Should cross Dani Bella out of the gates and from there controls again. Rail back to True and Ascot playing on speed makes him the one to beat. QUEEN OF SOUL simply doesn’t go a yard in the wet. Back on top of the ground, back in grade and Chris Parnham aboard. Looks the danger. STREET PARADE likely eyes off the breeze ahead of Magic To Exceed and Rusty Stewart goes for a set of shades. MAGIC TO EXCEED has a tricky gate to navigate.

Numbers: 4 – 5 – 6 – 3

Suggested Bet – LEXINGTON CITY WIN

Same Race Multi: Lexington City (Top 2) + Queen Of Soul (Top 3)


RACE 2 

OLY’S CHOICE is the second lightly raced progressive horse that Brock Lewthwaite brings to town this week. Prawns Eleven was highly impressive at his return on Wednesday and Oly’s Choice looks well placed into a Westspeed Platinum. Six starts for six two top placings, proven weight carrier, versatile type and has a turn of acceleration. Shaun O’Donnell should enjoy an economical passage from the draw. Like him as a type. WUHAN WARRIOR is drawn out but shouldn’t have any worries crossing those underneath him. Hard horse to run down if he gets a cheap section mid-stages. SUCCESS PLAY put in a ripper fresh last campaign at 1200. VALENCY improves for the run.

Numbers: 2 – 7 – 4 – 10

Suggested Bet – OLY’S CHOICE WIN


RACE 3

ALL SHOW was all the rage in the 3 year old Classic after a dominant 2L victory first-up at Belmont over talented colt Swear To God. She went around $1.85 and looked to have plenty to offer when held up and knocked around, squeezed up against the fence, unable to secure clear running for the entire home straight. Drawn to stalk Just Go and Baby Paris and looks the one to hold out. BABY PARIS has only suffered defeat once and that was at the hands of undefeated filly Amelia’s Jewel in the Karrakatta Plate. She’s all class and she’s very sharp. JUST GO will look to lead Baby Paris and kick into the corner. INVINCIBLE RUBY next best.

Numbers: 3 – 2 – 1 – 5

Suggested Bet – ALL SHOW WIN


RACE 4

TRULY INSPIRED was some sort of fun fresh. Was resuming off a 25 month layoff and came charging home from the back with all the best closing sections. Going to have to reproduce that effort from rearwards but if there’s a three deep train building into this then he’ll be coming hard at them late. PRAY AGAIN must be giving Neville Parnham and connections nightmares. Huge first-up with 60kg when hanging like a wisdom tooth and doing everything wrong and then last Sunday at Northam didn’t see daylight until the race was all over. VITALIZE should have his back in running and gets in on the minimum. GHOBELLA destroyed them last start when letting rip with a big turn of foot.

Numbers: 9 – 3 – 10 – 2

Suggested Bet – TRULY INSPIRED EACHWAY


RACE 5

SPEED DREAM and HOLY GHOST went to the line locked together in a 72+ 1600 last weekend. There was a nose between them and they meet again 7 days later. Speed Dream gets a 1.5kg weight swing on him and should get a nice run midfield with cover. Always promised to go through the grades and looks like this will be his preparation to do so. HOLY GHOST has bars going on and is yet to win on the quick back-up (attempt number five) but Neville Parnham’s yard is unstoppable at the minute. STRIKE NOW drops a stack of weight coming up in grade. Only peaked on the run late most recently. TRI FOR US has a set of shades attached after hitting a flat spot last start.

Numbers: 2 – 3 – 6 – 4

Suggested Bet – SPEED DREAM EACHWAY


RACE 6

SNIPAROOCHY is a seriously talented mare. She’s won 6 from 15 to date and at the end of last preparation we got to see the real Sniparoochy back to her best. Hard to miss her trial when levelling up and putting Acromantula away late over 950m. Every chance she’s parked to his outside in this and if she is then she’ll take holding out. ACROMANTULA is a jump and run 1000m specialist. Joey Azzopardi rates him to perfection and he is always hard to run down at Ascot. Goes well fresh and should cross to the fence. RIVER BEAU is a proven weight carrier and gets the run he needs from an ideal gate. LONG BEACH is racing well and this is his grade.

Numbers: 8 – 6 – 1 – 3

Suggested Bet – SNIPAROOCHY WIN


RACE 7

NERODIO ran third behind Miss Conteki and This’ll Testya last start in the Crawford. Meets This’ll Testya 1kg better at the weights and Miss Conteki at level weights from that encounter. Drawn barrier 1, can box seat on the back of the speed (Money Matters, Indian Pacific, Wilchino) and was held up at a crucial stage turning for home last start. Yet to win at Ascot but 7 placings from 8 starts says it’s just a matter of time. Goes round eachway and rarely misses the money. THIS’LL TESTYA was enormous in the Crawford. When Wilchino eventually found the breeze, it left her three deep without cover. She’s gone to another level in the last 12 months. Big winning chance. MISS CONTEKI has a booming L600 on her. She’ll concede them a head start and look for a back to follow. HOT ZED was outrageously good fresh. Broke 33 seconds last 600. Wild.

Numbers: 4 – 12 – 11 – 6

Suggested Bet – NERODIO EACHWAY


RACE 8

DEVOTED had nothing go right first-up. He trialled as well as Resortman who won the Eurythmic Stakes that day and from the moment the gates opened things only got uglier and uglier for him. Needs to win an Asian Beau or an RJ Peters to get a start in the Railway. From the gate it looks like the breeze is position A for him and if he gets across without doing too much work he’s hard to hold out with 54kg. Classy animal. TRIX OF THE TRADE drops 7kg on his first-up win. He’s the real deal and he’ll charge late. LAST OF THE LINE is three from three undefeated second-up. Still building towards the Railway but measures up in this. KAPTAIN KAOS will go round 50-1. Loved his trial, dynamite fresh and can wind up in the three deep line. Don’t discount him.

Numbers: 7 – 16 – 2 – 1

Suggested Bet – DEVOTED EACHWAY


RACE 9

BROOKLYN PIER is out to win the Joan Parnham 90th Birthday Handicap. Hard to fault any of his recent runs, box seats from the inside gate and tracks the every move of likely leader Special View. Steve Parnham is going at 15% Strike Rate and 48% POT last 90 days and he was only beaten on the post by Trix Of The Trade last start in a 72+. Ticks plenty of boxes. SPECIAL VIEW should be a handy acquisition for Brian Kersley. Finds the front and can kick into the corner. PROBITY caught the eye last start with a big L600 and now a senior goes on. GINGER GREEN maps to enjoy another sweet trip.

Numbers: 3 – 9 – 7 – 5

Suggested Bet – BROOKLYN PIER WIN


Quaddie (Race 6 – 9)

1,2,3,6,8

4,6,11,12

1,2,4,6,7,15,16

3,9

Market Market