Races

Scott Embry’s Thursday Albany Preview

RACE 1

OPTIMAL and ARAFISIO come through the maiden behind Jellybean Jones and Written Sin which was run a staggering 7L slower than average. There is little between the pair and they’ve found an extremely weak race. With the region’s leading rider Tash Faithfull getting on OPTIMAL we’ll side up that way. ELEGANT PEAK was run off her legs on debut and immediately steps out over an extra 300m. BRANDBERG similarly takes an aggressive step from 1000 to 1500.

Numbers: 2 – 7 – 9 – 5

Suggested Bet – OPTIMAL WIN


RACE 2

GASPARDO comes through a maiden at Bunbury when beaten by fellow Great Southerner Helluva Goddess. We’ve already seen a 40-1 winner out of that form reference with Showlas winning at Bunbury Sunday and he should only improve with both the added experience and the drop in class to a country maiden. Just has to overcome the tricky barrier. KAY TEE WHY has been nominated a few different ways recently and Adam Durrant has finally settled on this to start his career. FOUR SEAS ran home well into fourth behind Pingers. PURE SASSY showed plenty of speed back in May.

Numbers: 3 – 6 – 7 – 4

Suggested Bet – GASPARDO WIN


RACE 3

PLAYIN’ HARDBALL won very impressively for Indianna Weinert and while he comes up a long way in grade he also drops 5.5kg in weight. Drawn to sit just in behind a solid enough tempo and should be able to measure up off the back of that victory. HEAR ME SING and CATCH THESE HANDS are the class runners and Steve Wolfe elects not to claim which is an indication that they’re going well enough to carry the weight and win. ROCK OF KAHA pulled out an unbelievable win at Moora and then was out classed in a 60+ at Ascot. Far better suited here.

Numbers: 7 – 2 – 1 – 3

Suggested Bet – PLAYIN’ HARDBALL WIN


RACE 4

SIR BEAR A LOT looks to get every chance from barrier 1.  Sam Faithfull is having a great start to the season (as is the case every year) and Tash Faithfull rides the track better than anyone. Box seating on Image Of Pro looks a nice spot for him. PECOS won back to back races last preparation going from a maiden win into a C2 and winning again (in style) over Queen Nardi and Beautiful Baroque who have gone on to make that form look excellent. Keep safe fresh. VERRY TIMELY is racing below her best but Paul Hunter might get her to rebound. IMAGE OF PRO leads.

Numbers: 2 – 1 – 5 – 3

Suggested Bet – SIR BEAR A LOT WIN


RACE 5

FLICK THE SWITCH won well at Narrogin first-up and then was plunged in betting last start when just unable to reel in free wheeling front runner Dodge Em. Was over 2L back to third placing and she’s back to the flying 1000 here which suits. CELESTIAL FOX returns to Dion Luciani after a preparation for Peter Fernie in Kalgoorlie. She was never that far from the winner and given how they rode her in a recent trial expect she’s allowed to roll. WILEY GIRL looks a shade of her former self. JELLYBEAN JONES pinched his maiden.

Numbers: 1 – 4 – 2 – 5

Suggested Bet – FLICK THE SWITCH WIN


RACE 6 

I DREAMED A DREAM resumed first-up at Albany last season in a C5 1200 and was only beaten 1.5L behind Sacred Oath, Gage Roads and Starauthoress. Then went to Pinjarra second-up and nearly toppled Red Tori and only two starts later was beaten less than a length by Luvnwar and Wonder Weapon. Right form for this. HOW PRETTY tried hard first-up over the short course at Northam and second-up never looked comfortable. Forgive. BLUE LINE is caught between grades but goes well in these 58+ races. AGENT JAY should nearly get across.

Numbers: 3 – 6 – 1 – 5

Suggested Bet – I DREAMED A DREAM WIN


RACE 7

LITTLE SILVER resumed in a 72+ at Ascot when beaten only 4L by Hell I Am, Generosity, Bruce Almighty, Antique Miss, Sonoftheobss, Blue Lagoon and Snow Prince. Right alongside him in the finish was Harmika and they meet again here in a c70+ second-up. One can lead this while the other likely has to snag back. ODINAKA won a 66+ 1300 fresh. Reproduces that run and he’s the one. You would think that Tash Faithfull had the choice and has sided up with Little Silver? HARMIKA is a talented mare on her day but she hasn’t shown it in a while. EL SALTO ran well at Albany last start.

Numbers: 4 – 7 – 5 – 2

Suggested Bet – LITTLE SILVER WIN


Quaddie (Race 4 – 7)

1,2,3

1,4

3,6

2,4,5,7

Market Market