Races

Scott Embry’s Sunday Ascot Preview

RACE 1

WILD BELLE showed huge upside when last in work. She resumed in a maiden at Northam when putting a gap on them on straightening. Went around $1.35 on Melbourne Cup Day and got away from C1 opposition in the concluding stages and then was thrown in the deep end into the Listed Placid Ark when only 3.5L off My Bella Mae and Revitup after settling rearwards. Could be a tricky little map with Just Go and Bisector drawn underneath her but she’s an exciting filly. POT SHOT has won her last two at prices and looks to be in with undeniable winning claims again. Continually getting under the guard and being under-estimated. TRESPASSING is still a maiden but he’s super talented and drawn to get a gun run. MIA GUSTO was a bit flat last start.

Numbers: 3 – 2 – 9 – 4

Suggested Bet – WILD BELLE WIN


RACE 2

BORN TO TALK was $11 into $4.60 last start and scored a tough and gritty win on speed. He should hold up again and from there he’ll be right in the finish. Doesn’t look to be any real pressure on him in this 1000m scamper so Brad Parnham should get away with it cheaply in front early and kick hard into the corner. Takes running down. SIR MAMBO hasn’t won a race since May of 2020, however, if you judge him solely off his four runs for new trainer Summer Dickson then he’s finished in the money at three of four and sat three deep throughout at his last two. Pike on, drawn a barrier, he’s getting close! DESERT VIXEN comes back to 1000m which may be the key. THE LADY IS A VAMP is her own worst enemy but she’s flying.

Numbers: 2 – 3 – 5 – 6

Suggested Bet – BORN TO TALK WIN


RACE 3

BE OPTIMISTIC trialled super for her return to racing sitting on the back of Phanta over 1000m at Belmont Park. Resumed in a handy 1400m 0MWLY when caught deep throughout and finishing third behind stablemates Thorogood (winner of three from four this campaign) and Henry The Aviator. Better drawn second-up and drops 1.5kg in weight as Holly Watson can claim in the Metro area. Nice race for her. FLICKA’S CHANCE ran his usual honest and consistent race fresh. He also drops 1.5kg and maps to get an identical run in transit. Never far from the winner. CERRIDWYN has had two starts in WA for two impressive off-speed victories. She looks like measuring up. MAGNIFICENT ANDY is far better suited at 1400m than he was fresh at 1000 and can come on quickly.

Numbers: 2 – 3 – 9 – 4

Suggested Bet – BE OPTIMISTIC WIN


RACE 4

OLY’S CHOICE ran a blistering third in the Fitzpatrick Plate before being disqualified after the rider weighed in light. Forget he went around in the Mt Barker sprint after he copped the backwash in a chain reaction of interference. William Lewthwaite’s team is going brilliantly and from the draw he can hold a midfield position following a genuine tempo set by stablemate Seeable and high-speed mare Sockoff. Looks a good set up for him. RIVER RUBICON comes through the same two races and looks to be screaming out for 1400m. May have to take his medicine and drag back to near last from the outside barrier. SEEABLE has won back to back Westspeed Platinum 1400m events and won’t know himself with 57.5kg. KOHLI has turned a corner since joining Bec Wallrodt.

Numbers: 7 – 1 – 5 – 8

Suggested Bet – OLY’S CHOICE WIN


RACE 5

A LOT OF GOOD MEN had to chase hard behind If I Din Havadime who skipped clear on straightening with the Easterly breeze behind her. Thought A Lot Of Good Men did a super job to gun her down and he really ran through the line. Looks well and truly above average and that Initial Plate form of Brave Halo, Live To Tell, A Lot Of Good Men and Shell Bell continues to hold up. Should only improve on his way towards the 2 year old Magic Millions. GUARDING HEAVEN was an eye catching run behind him in that same event. She’ll come on quickly and has put in two very encouraging displays to date. SUPER SMINK trialled on Monday and trialled super. Barrier the big obstacle. BEST OF THE GODS can hold a spot over the speed.

Numbers: 1 – 9 – 14 – 4

Suggested Bet – A LOT OF GOOD MEN WIN


RACE 6

CRYSTAL’S DREAM is a progressive filly making her way through the grades. She could well measure up in races like the Ascot 1000 Guineas, Natasha Stakes and WA Oaks if she continue to elevate and hold form for another couple of months. She’s only been winning small field 3 year old 0MWLY races but she’s been doing it in style and gives every indication she’ll be able to match it with the older horses on the minimum. ROCH LEGACY has blinkers re-applied and William Pike engaged. Hasn’t had a whole lot of luck this campaign and has been knocking on the door. QUEEN OF JERUSALEM is a massive mare with a bright future. She’ll make her way through the staying ranks. ALIMENTARIA was brave on speed last start.

Numbers: 10 – 2 – 8 – 6

Suggested Bet – CRYSTAL’S DREAM WIN


RACE 7

ALLMAMONEY resumed off 560 days at Pinjarra when scoring a big last to first win under apprentice Brayden Gaerth. Stepped straight into a 66+ mile and was held up for the majority of the home straight, unable to be fully tested at any stage. She’s a talented mare who did run third to The Spruiker and Timely Outburst as well as splitting Magical Dream and Hot Zed in her 3 year old days. With even luck and a 2kg swing on Weaponson she’s every chance of turning the tables. WEAPONSON was the target of astute money last start and rolled forward to lead and control. Never looked like being run down from the 1000. RULELEE is racing consistently and can enjoy a soft passage. MY BOY EDDY has a tough racing pattern to win races at Ascot but he’s racing well.

Numbers: 6 – 1 – 12 – 11

Suggested Bet – ALLMAMONEY WIN


RACE 8 

THE VELVET QUEEN has a savage turn of acceleration. She gunned down Casino Seventeen and Sentimental Hero three starts ago with a breathtaking L600. She got within a long neck of winning machine Alsephina in the Group 3 La Trice at 1800m off the back of a farcical  tempo (first 1200m 10.5L slower than average). She dropped back to 1500m last start and sat midfield before unleashing a sustained sprinting effort to gun down free rolling leader Big Screen who had pinched a break. Arguably better suited with an extra 100m and maps to end up in a similar position in running. BIG SCREEN set a genuine tempo throughout (first 900m = 4.4L faster than average) and got the majority of his rivals chasing and uncomfortable prior to straightening. He’s always hard to run down. NO APOLOGY improves as the distances increase and ran a ripper fresh. CORN COB is one tough campaigner.

Numbers: 5 – 6 – 3 – 9

Suggested Bet – THE VELVET QUEEN WIN


RACE 9

HALATORION is seemingly getting better the deeper he gets into his preparation. Smashed the clock in the 66+ Feature on Westspeed Platinum Day when winning by 3.5L and breaking 1:09:00. From all reports didn’t handle the shifting Albany surface in the Fitzpatrick Plate and then bounced back to his brilliant best on a genuine Good4 in a 72+ 1100 last start when showing versatility after being taken to the front by Pike. Ran race on-speed or off-speed and is extremely well placed back into a 66+. WARM N FUZZY beat subsequent Breeder’s Classic winner All The King’s Men in a 72+ last start. Can carry weight and is quick enough to get across in this field. AIN’T NO OTHER MAN deserves to break through and win one this preparation. HAMMARMILL is far better drawn here than last start.

Numbers: 2 – 1 – 5 – 11

Suggested Bet – HALATORION WIN


Quaddie (Race 6 – 9)

1,2,4,6,8,10

1,6

5

1,2,5

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