Races

Scott Embry’s Sunday Northam Preview

RACE 1

KERMELIA looked to have the race wrapped up last start but Durrant filly Age Of Grace just worried her out of it late. She’ll be improved for her first effort over 2200m this preparation and she’ll again be given every chance from barrier 4. Expect her to park up over the speed and go close. ELEGANT INDI was getting to the line powerfully at 1800m and gave every indication that she would relish another 400m. Came under pressure a long way out but her last 200m was her best 200m. JACKPOT BINGO was stiff not to finish closer after encountering some traffic at stages in the home straight. AGRABAH is a real grinder.

Numbers: 6 – 7 – 5 – 1

Suggested Bet – KERMELIA WIN


RACE 2

SPIRITART was sent out a $3.30 favourite last start (Pike Tax) and while she was beaten 5L she did have a legitimate excuse when over-racing and sitting three deep throughout. Her prior effort when thrown out in a Pre-Race interview by Adam Durrant was solid. Forgive and forget? FIFTH ESSENCE was $31 into $2.80 at Albany before being a late scratching. Watching his first-up run and watching his trial since – you’d have to feel for punters who were part of that mega plunge. Refunds probably felt like a loss! ALMOST ARTIE was in the same race as Spiritart and was nearly triple her price. Pike on catches the attention. GRINGO just needed further first-up.

Numbers: 9 – 5 – 6 – 4      

Suggested Bet – SPIRITART WIN


RACE 3  

WON FOR THE GIRLS trialled nicely recently at Belmont Park over 1000m when winning and showed enough the day he finished fourth behind At Your Service, Sunshine Tafe and Black Ora in a 3 year old 0MWLY to suggest that he would take beating first-up in a maiden. Booking of Pike is telling. LUCKY I AM will have no troubles leading – it’s just whether or not she can run out 1100m with a main danger on her back. CLASSIC POETRY has his first start in WA and trialled up with REGGIO CALABRIA. One has a barrier and does things right – the other doesn’t!

Numbers: 3 – 8 – 6 – 2

Suggested Bet – WON FOR THE GIRLS WIN


RACE 4  

CANNYKEV finished second to highly talented youngster Exceed The Planet (Belgravia and Fairetha Stakes placed) and then was forced to do a mountain of work last start from barrier 12 of 12 when third in a 3 year old 0MWLY behind Main Act and Amarlime. Drops back into maiden grade, draws a barrier to settle right up over the speed and looks one of the main players. MT SHIRATAKU was sent out at $1.85 on debut and never fired a shot. Immediately spelled and has trialled up really well for his return. Massive respect. ROYAL TALK was hammered in betting to beat Across Generations first-up. Blinkers on and must pay attention to the amount of money that came her way fresh. LUNA BALLET ran well at her Forrest Racing debut.  

Numbers: 1 – 5 – 10 – 9   

Suggested Bet – CANNYKEV WIN


RACE 5  

ZORBRIST feels risky. He does so (so) much wrong in his races and yet somehow he’s still right there in the finish. Expect they’ll look to ride him the same way he broke his maiden at Kalgoorlie – lead and use the fence to hopefully keep him straight. ONE PUNCH put in a ripper first-up and if he reproduces the run second-up he’ll be hard to beat. Has been competitive in C1/C3 company ever since breaking his maiden on debut. JAZALOT brings intrigue. The only time he has been to the races he was a dominant 1.8L winner in Esperance. 7 weeks between runs – best to watch the market. DON’T TRUST JUDAS is hard to trust.

Numbers: 8 – 2 – 3 – 1   

Suggested Bet – ZORBRIST WIN     


RACE 6  

FANCY RED got all the favours last start but still took full advantage of them and won in style. This is naturally harder but from barrier 1 she’ll get a near identical run in transit and her main dangers are likely to concede her a head start. BRIEF ROMANCE was crunched in betting on debut and didn’t let her followers down. She extended for an impressive victory and looks to have a future. Rises in weight and distance here which isn’t an easy task but she looks progressive. MANGIFERA broker her maiden like a filly worth following. PROCESSIO is always dangerous with a late split.

Numbers: 4 – 2 – 5 – 6  

Suggested Bet – FANCY RED WIN


RACE 7 

CAMERA ACTION is a nice mare on the rise and is brilliantly placed by Team Casey. She’s a last start 60+ Graduation winner and the horse she beat (Ahyeahrighto) looks a great chance in a 66+ on Saturday at Ascot. She’s got plenty of wins ahead and this is arguably a weaker race than what she won last start. SPEAK TO ME was drawn poorly first-up and never got into the contest. His trial suggested he was in for a good prep and this is a completely different map. MANHATTAN STRIP is the way that Pike goes and while he doesn’t win out of turn he’s certainly consistent. CLOSE AT HAND has been thereabouts all prep.

Numbers: 5 – 2 – 6 – 1  

Suggested Bet – CAMERA ACTION WIN


RACE 8

THE BOSS LADY and WEST STAR got into a bumping dual halfway up the straight in the Quokka and it clearly cost The Boss Lady momentum. With a back to follow she’ll be hard to hold out and given the depth of the race we’re surely a chance at seeing eachway? MAGNIFICENT ANDY ran out of his skin the Quokka to finish fourth behind Joker’s Grin, Headwall and Generosity. Barrier 14/14 is of no assistance but he doesn’t know how to run a bad race. He’ll be hard to beat throughout the winter WFA Series. LACED UP HEELS was easily the best run in the Joey and don’t forget what she produced in the 2024 Winterbottom.

Numbers: 10 – 1 – 14 – 15

Suggested Bet – THE BOSS LADY EACHWAY


RACE 9

SHAMILLIAN MISS is a nice filly on the rise. She’s a last start maiden winner heading into a C3 which means she stays down in the weights and has the tactical versatility to overcome the tricky barrier. Think she’s above average. IDYLLIC RULER likes Northam. He’s a quirky horse and small things like that probably make a bigger difference to him than most others. SNIPPY SEAN is double accepted Saturday and Sunday. Given field sizes/prize money think they’ll probably end up running at Ascot? CAMPFIRE JACK won first-up at 1600m at a price. Didn’t see that coming but must tip the hat to the effort.

Numbers: 10 – 1 – 7 – 4

Suggested Bet – SHAMILLIAN MISS WIN


Quaddie (Race 6 – 9)

2,4

2,5

1,2,5,7,10,14,15

1,7,10

Market Market