Races

Scott Embry’s Saturday Belmont Preview

RACE 1

GOD’S RAPTURE had a solid 2-year-old season with a Saturday win before being competitive in the Gimcrack, Karrakatta and WA Sires behind the likes of Talkanco, Yes Queen and Just Too Fly. Looked good in her recent barrier trial and strikes a race where she should safely slide forward into a position close handy. BRAVE WASP ran second on debut to Capitola when closing off powerfully from an impossible position in running and then at his second start was wayward when runner-up to Silent Diva. Another who has trialled really well for his return. SWINGMAN showed first-up he can absorb pressure and still find late. EXCESS BAGGAGE hit a flat spot on debut before the corner but really picked up hard late.

Numbers: 3 – 5 – 6 – 8

Suggested Bet – GOD’S RAPTURE WIN


RACE 2

ROCK IN WONDER and EL PATRON should work across the face of the field to control the pace between them and feel like ROCK IN WONDER has a bit more upside and a bit more toughness about him. He’s 1650 back to 1400 and did have to work pretty hard early last start (first 1000m = 8.5L faster than average) and hopefully here there are less runners kicking up underneath him in the first 200. EL PATRON is always competitive in this grade but doesn’t win out of turn. CRUISE TO VICTORY has been there abouts all campaign but thought last start was only fair when grinding to the line in sixth. SWEET TEA is 1 from 33 overall, 0 from 9 at Belmont, 0 from 11 on Soft and 0 from 7 first-up, but have a watch of her trial…

Numbers: 2 – 1 – 3 – 9

Suggested Bet – ROCK IN WONDER WIN


RACE 3

STAR SUPREME has always been a trial star but then pulled up with issues/excuses at the races. Her first-up win was super and hopefully this is the campaign that she can stay sound and put a few together. Looks hard to run down on the 54kg minimum. DIABLO LAD trialled well for his return after racing well below his best last campaign. Maps to get a sweet run and could be the forgotten horse. KRAKEN TIME was no better than three and four deep the trip last start and had the audacity to still loom into the race in the home straight. Blinkers straight back off again. SENTIMENTAL BELLE will appreciate all the rain around on Saturday and Chanel Cooper is riding her brilliantly considering how far back she gets in her races.

Numbers: 10 – 9 – 4 – 1

Suggested Bet – STAR SUPREME WIN


RACE 4

FINAL SIREN looks ready to announce himself ahead of the $1,000,000 Golden Saddle in Kalgoorlie in 3 weeks’ time. After winning the Mt Barker Sprint he placed to Snowdome in the Pinjarra Classic and to Triple Missile in the Bunbury Stakes before spelling. His fresh run in the Beaufine behind Reposssession and Toropa down the straight showed that he belongs at this level and his recent Belmont trial was in second gear. Can lead, can sit on Puli/Boots – either way he looks the one to beat. STORMCHASER is the obvious danger on paper and may even jump favourite ahead of Final Siren. He got a mile out of his ground in the Belmont Newmarket on a day where they couldn’t make ground. He was the replay run of the meeting. BOOTS LIKE BRUCE is very talented when right and his trial indicated he is. ROKANORI is trying hard.

Numbers: 4 – 6 – 1 – 3

Suggested Bet – FINAL SIREN WIN

Same Race Multi – Final Siren (Win) + Stormchaser (Top 3)

Going to lock Final Siren in to win the Nicopolis Stakes. Think this maps as a perfect set up for him and he’ll hold a tactical advantage over main rival Stormchaser in running. Puli can lead, Boots like Bruce to the breeze and then Final Siren stalking in behind that high speed pair and being the first to attack on straightening. Stormchaser to flood home into Top 3.


RACE 5

DOCTOR JAY let rip with an exciting turn of acceleration last start at 1400m and if he can get a similar track into the race and let go with the same turn of foot here at 1600m he’ll be hard to hold out late. Always promised to go through the grades and that should be real confidence boosting win. ANTIQUE STAR was held up the entire length of the straight first-up and then nearly beat in form mare Triple The Chant second-up. 3kg claimer to CJP, blinkers on – will go round short. MORE THAN ENUFF goes really well fresh. Likely to sneak under the radar in early markets. NOBLE CONNECTION has had a wonderful preparation and is a proven weight carrier and proven wet tracker.

Numbers: 3 – 11 – 9 – 2

Suggested Bet – DOCTOR JAY WIN


RACE 6

SHMOOV MOOVA went under at $1.90 first-up and looked uncomfortable in the Heavy track conditions. Second-up went to the line locked together with Desert Nymph, subsequent winner King Adviso and Want A Winner. Looks like there’s only moderate speed engaged here and he should bounce out into a position in the first 2-3 in running and from there he’s in position A. COSMIC CRUSADER was 2/2 last prep and started to be talked about as a Railway Stakes contender before he had a set back and required a spell. His trial behind Open Class Sprinter Boots Like Bruce was elite. Big watch on him. SUNNY HONEY is versatile and may end up going forward from the draw. INVESTMENT STRATEGY would love the Bureau to be wrong.

Numbers: 9 – 3 – 4 – 1

Suggested Bet – SHMOOV MOOVA WIN


RACE 7

SNOW GOD and YORGA PRIDE went head to head on 26 July with YORGA PRIDE coming out victorious by nearly 1L on the line. They do battle again here with a 1kg weight swing in favour of Yorga Pride. One will go forward, one will go back. One has a senior, one has an apprentice. It’s an exciting clash between two highly progressive 4 year olds who look like they’ll continue to charge their way through the grades. YORGA PRIDE is a winner. She’s 5 from 6, she’s got brilliant point to point acceleration and she’ll be storming home late and can absolutely beat him again. Take your pick. LITTLE SILVER is probably a great place bet considering the way he’s going? SCULLY caught the eye at his WA debut and got the job done second-up.

Numbers: 10 – 4 – 2 – 7

Suggested Bet – SNOW GOD WIN


RACE 8

AMAMUS was coming off a Fibre Sand victory in a lowly C1 and stepped into 64+ grade back onto the grass and dominated rivals with an extending near 2L margin. Given a good push post race by both trainer and rider and given his last start SP he’ll go around an eachway price again. Could be a nice stayer in the making? I LOVE YOUR SMILE was the only horse to make any ground from the rear of the field last week behind leader and winner Beats Of War and 7 days later they both get senior riders on. BEATS OF WAR took full advantage of the heavy on-speed, on-fence dominance of the meeting last weekend. KERMAN ROCK can always make these races interesting if they allow him to stride mid-race.

Numbers: 4 – 8 – 11 – 9

Suggested Bet – AMAMUS EACHWAY


Quaddie (Race 5 – 8)

2,3,11

3,9

4,10

1,3,4,5,6,8,9,11,14

Market Market