Scott Embry’s Saturday Ascot Preview Posted on January 8, 2026January 8, 2026 | Posted by Scott Embry RACE 1 IMPRESSIVE JEWEL has only put in one below par performance this preparation and that was when Ash Maley threw her into the deep end into the Starstruck Classic at Fillies and Mares grade under SWP conditions. She’s well suited to Westspeed Platinum and gets a 1.5kg weight relief out of a C3 race which had just as much depth as this. Rolls forward, runs another honest race and goes around eachway. TOUSLED CROWN went around odds on last start and ambled in. Was a soft victory but all of these would have won in a similar fashion against that lot. GINGERQUEST comes out of Albany, has versatility, maps well and has Pike. FOREVER DREAMING won on Wednesday, would be a watch if she backs up. Numbers: 4 – 6 – 10 – 7 Suggested Bet – IMPRESSIVE JEWEL WIN RACE 2 THEY’REALLSISTERS comes through a fast run trial behind Flying Swagman where they clocked 58.37 over the 950m (Optimus Prime same meeting went 59.41). The fact that David Harrison calls on William Pike on debut suggests that the stable have an opinion on her and from the inside draw she’ll get all the favours. Barrier 1 can be tricky for debutantes but she should step well enough to use it to advantage. OPTIMUS PRIME has had three barrier trials to prepare him for his first outing and has improved notably in each. Looks quite professional and ready. DAWN DANCER was sharp in the 400m jump out and ran well on debut. BOY CRUSH looks a typical LK Fernie youngster. Numbers: 10 – 4 – 1 – 3 Suggested Bet – THEY’REALLSISTERS WIN RACE 3 TYCOON HARRY dropped back to 1000m last start and dispelled all the theories that he was looking for 1200m at this stage of his career. He was back to his brilliant best and broke a long run of outs. Looks on face value like the stable have been holding him over waiting for this race and if he can get across (ideally to cross and lead) then he’ll be hard to beat again. AMAROO STAR is still a work in progress but he’s a proven Ascot 1000 commodity and seemed to get along well with William Pike. Maps to get a similar run and the faster they go the better for him. WICKED VENOM is suited to an inside gate where he can be tucked away waiting for a late split. SONOFTHEBOSS has been there abouts all prep. Numbers: 4 – 6 – 7 – 3 Suggested Bet – TYCOON HARRY WIN RACE 4 WESTERN ACE looks the most progressive horse in this line-up, and to be blunt, it’s not a strong line up of 3 year olds for a Saturday graded affair. He’s only coming out of a $50,000 maiden on Westspeed Platinum Day but it was hard to ignore the manner in which he was able to stride away from them late, after doing a stack of work throughout. Drawn to get a gun run close handy, proven at 1400m and no rivals with great fear factor. Looks very hard to beat. MAJOR FLIRT won same day in a boilover. The wider draw makes it harder but he did win impressively. REMINISCENCE chased hard on debut but again is likely to get a long way back? TORA BORA should roll to the top in a race that doesn’t seem to have much speed and pressure. Numbers: 2 – 1 – 8 – 10 Suggested Bet – WESTERN ACE WIN RACE 5 STARWALKER looked really well placed dropping back into a 54+ last start at Pinjarra Park and was backed accordingly ($7 into $3.90) but by that point of the day it had become obvious that to win you had to be either leading or three deep right on top of the pace with momentum, all the horses who went back in running struggled throughout the entire program and with that view in mind, thought he did a good job to get into fourth. Down to 54kg, right time of his prep and worth consideration at double figures. KISSES FROM KELLY put the writing on the wall last start and gets the same run. GRAND RESERVE was horrible last start, but can put in a dodgy one from time to time. AMAZING CHEAT is as consistent and honest as they come. Numbers: 11 – 2 – 3 – 5 Suggested Bet – STARWALKER EACHWAY RACE 6 TIMELESS GEM chased hard at 1000m first-up, backed up off 7 days and won second-up at 1200m and now attacks this 1400 off a 4 week gap. In between SJ Miller had him nominated for the Boxing Day Dash and the Mandurah Cup but would have burnt unnecessary points heading to those $100,000 features and it looks like an astute decision because he’s racing for $80,000 here and looks mighty hard to beat. SILVER EYE was desperately unlucky two back but then a little plain last start. Can bounce back from a soft draw. LORD GANNICUS runs for Chanel Cooper and will be in front for a long way. CASHEL PALACE draws awkwardly but does go better the colder you ride her. Numbers: 5 – 3 – 1 – 6 Suggested Bet – TIMELESS GEM WIN RACE 7 LUCKY I AM was super first-up at 1000m when attacked from start to finish but then was disappointing second-up when backed into $3.60 in a race that contained subsequent Summer Scorcher runner-up Jaz Session and subsequent Fitzpatrick Plate winner Supernatural. Going to forgive her for one poor run and suggest she can bounce back. ALL GRUNT is brilliantly placed by Tiarnna Noske into a 1MW at his return. After winning a 3 year old 1400 in February he went to the Challenge Stakes when third to Dee Her In and Flower of Gold, a Lex Piper Stakes when second to Too Soon and then onto a JC Roberts when third to Sail Session and Play Fair. The queries will be: barrier 1 and whether 1200m is on the sharp side for him. CHINO LA DIVA should have won last start. Was bolting. SUNBRONZED was great two back but woeful last start. Numbers: 7 – 1 – 6 – 5 Suggested Bet – LUCKY I AM WIN RACE 8 JAZ SESSION won the Epona Classic before heading into Listed company for the first time in her life. She was an extremely luckless runner-up to Madhi Girl and now at 1100m they meet again and with a half kilo weight swing, but more importantly a big barrier/map advantage over her key rival she looks a big chance of turning the tables. Just keeps getting better? RICHANCO was nominated for the 72+ 1000 and the Summer Scorcher and he proved that he’s at this level. He’s also got the versatility to kick through and lead from barrier 1 if that’s the pattern of the day. MADHI GIRL looked the winner on paper in the Summer Scorcher and didn’t let her followers down. This map is very different for her. WUBIN GOLD deserves a crack at Listed level. Numbers: 9 – 11 – 6 – 14 Suggested Bet – JAZ SESSION WIN Same Race Multi – Jaz Session (Top 3) + Richanco (Top 4) There look to be three main players in the Miss Andretti Stakes and they are all coming through the Summer Scorcher: Madhi Girl, Jaz Session and Richanco. Jaz Session arguably should have won that race after being held up at a crucial stage and Richanco caught the eye late and through the line. Looks a good opportunity for both to finish Top 3/4. RACE 9 BOLTA won three in a row before going under in a head bobbing finish at Geraldton. The way he won the $100,000 Regional Championship Final shows that he’s a genuine 60+ Grad type and if they’re making ground, watch for him late. Can win and will probably be under-rated in the market bringing mainly country form. RETURN OF THE MACH finished third to Salty Miss and Magnique last start and had to ride a hip and shoulder on straightening as Hey Pino tried to get out underneath his neck. TRIPLE THE CHANT was skittled on straightening first-up in a complete forgive. Did a great job to pick herself up and still finish the race off after that. STYLISH LORD is far better suited at this trip, in this grade and with the 3kg claim. Numbers: 4 – 12 – 8 – 2 Suggested Bet – BOLTA EACHWAY Quaddie (Race 6 – 9) 5 1,7 6,9,11 1,2,4,5,8,10,11,12 Market Market
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