Races

Scott Embry’s Saturday Bunbury Preview

Posted on | Posted by Scott Embry

RACE 1  

TREASURED LEGACY is a rare Cerise and White 2 year old on display and from what we’ve seen in three emphatic trial wins, she’s going to be very popular in betting, regardless of the fact that she’s drawn barrier 10/10 and she’s first-up, no trial at 1200m having last trialled back in December. Just looks to have gears and raw ability. Exciting filly. DIXIE DOO will be double figures, but it’s worth going back and watching her last start replay. She was travelling strongly behind tiring runners, forced to zig and zag a pathway through heavy traffic and really attacked the line. DIVINE MIRAGE comes through two encouraging trials behind stablemate Aurum Belle who put on a speed clinic last week at Ascot. MARCOS travelled up well behind them at trials without much pressure.

Numbers: 10 – 6 – 9 – 4

Suggested Bet – TREASURED LEGACY WIN

RACE 2  

SEVEN CANDLES is extremely green and raw but it’s hard to ignore the depth of his ability. He trialled up well at Lark Hill over 950m before heading to a 1300m maiden when descending upon them from a rearward position after being annihilated in betting. Followed it up with a C1 1600m win when the saddle slipped in a messy race and yet he still got the job done. Went under in the Westspeed Mile at $2.05 on Van Heemst Day and now resumes in a Westspeed 1200 off a freshen. Nice horse. PLAYING RIO goes around at double figures but is extremely well placed by Paul Hunter and is a great use of the 3kg claim for Cass Martinan. Fitzpatrick Plate, Mt Barker Sprint, 66+ metro race and now into a Westspeed. Worth a ticket. GIRLS DAY OUT won well fresh and then was only plain second-up. Looks the leader which helps. LASH OUT is racing really well, albeit in easier.

Numbers: 4 – 1 – 5 – 6     

Suggested Bet – SEVEN CANDLES WIN

RACE 3  

WESTERN LADY stepped out for the first time for Brandon Fiore and now heads across to Grant & Alana Williams. She won a C3 1400m first-up and with the third horse across the line being now Ascot 1000 Guineas placed filly Masmelo, the form is looking increasingly trustworthy. Always shown ability and this might just be her breakout preparation. MY AUTHORITAH is an interesting galloper who will no doubt divide opinions. Positives: 3 year old vs older horses, coming through a WA Guineas, trialled up well, gets a soft run from barrier 1. Negatives: first-up at 1675m, likely three back the fence?, raced in a 60+ Graduation back in November and went around $6.50 vs the ~$3 we’ll see here. Big respect, but looks a risk? SHAMILIAN MISS won a near identical race to this at Pinjarra on Magic Millions Day. DECORATION is a model of consistency at this level.

Numbers: 12 – 11 – 6 – 1  

Suggested Bet – WESTERN LADY WIN  

RACE 4  

LILLIAN gives 2kg claiming apprentice Chanel Cooper a wonderful look in at a Saturday metro staying winner. Personally, not big on apprentices in staying races, but given that Chanel gave Glanced a 10/10 from an ideal draw at Ascot a month ago and the fact she’s aboard an emerging staying talent with tactical speed, we’ll get involved. She was dominant last start, rolling forward, kicking clear and winning like a mare who will continue to work her way through the grades. TRUE PLAYER steps out to 2000m and if he can reproduce either of his first-up or second-up runs then he’ll be hard to hold out late. Always promised to work through the staying ranks but has had a few preps cut short. AUDIO BOY is knocking on the door; it just won’t open! GREAT FORTUNE is an enigma. But the best version would be very competitive.

Numbers: 2 – 6 – 7 – 1  

Suggested Bet – LILLIAN WIN

RACE 5 

GALWAY SHAWL went four from five before heading into the Pearl Classic on Magic Millions Day when backed from $8 into $3.10. She was no match for sharp mare Rissoles but they cleared out from the rest of the field in a race that has already produced a metro winner in Pingers and a minor place getter in Simply Thinkin. Back in grade into a 60+ Graduation and looks to have more upside and firepower than the vast majority of her rivals. JUST WALTER JOHN looms as the obvious danger on paper because he’ll lead and stay out of trouble. All eyes on him when he jumps because he can be a stride slow, but provided Holly Watson can kick through and not be crossed out of the gates he’ll be in front for a long way. GREAT EMOTION can sprint well fresh. DESERT LIFE was a massive improver last start.

Numbers: 4 – 6 – 11 – 12   

Suggested Bet – GALWAY SHAWL WIN

RACE 6  

SWINGMAN resumed over 1000m and finished just over 1L behind Watto’s Mark. Second-up they meet again at 1200m, there’s a 2kg swing in the weights and that coupled with the extra furlong and the barrier advantage that Swingman has, going to suggest he’s capable of turning the tables here. Has returned in great order by the looks. COUNTRY GOD is coming out of the Magic Millions where he placed to Twisted Steel and Hubbles Dragon. He’s now Placid Ark and Magic Millions Placed and is a proven weight carrier. WATTO’S MARK just looked the mapped winner fresh but this time around he’ll do it much tougher. Good rest for him. Expect he’s up to it. CHAMPAGNE CRUSADER has come back bigger and better this time around.

Numbers: 5 – 1 – 2 – 3              

Suggested Bet – SWINGMAN WIN

RACE 7  

LONDON’S IMAGE has now been successfully reprogrammed by Team Williams. She was once a hard going early stages, wayward wanderer late stages type of filly but now she’s racing increasingly tractably. That means that Lucy Fiore can land midfield cover where she wants to be and provided horses like Fast Flicker, Multinational and Cool Memory get along at a decent clip she’ll relax and wind-up down the middle late. Off her Pinjarra Classic win she’s a live eachway hope again. TALKANCO gets the barrier swing, 1.5kg weight swing and every chance to turn the tables. She’s a ripper this filly and the distance is no worry after running a narrow second at 1600m in the Champion Fillies. ELITE MISSILE drew low in the Pinjarra Classic. He’s a get back, wind up type suited to a wider draw. BONJOY went through all the Railway lead up races and wasn’t far off them. Big watch fresh.

Numbers: 3 – 13 – 9 – 7          

Suggested Bet – LONDON’S IMAGE EACHWAY

Same Race Multi – London’s Image (Top 3) + Talkanco (Top 3)

Going with the girls in the Bunbury Stakes, with reprogrammed Pinjarra Classic winner London’s Image attempting to do the double. She’ll park midfield with cover, enjoy a great run and is no worries at the end of the 1400m. Talkanco gets a 1.5kg weight swing to try and turn the tables and kept coming bravely in defeat in the Classic. Both Top 3.

RACE 8

FANCY RED is no glitz or glam, she just knows how to get the job done. She’s built up an outstanding record as the winner of 7 from 15, and the only real query on her here is whether she can handle a second quick back-up. She’s now 3 from 3 off 7 days but a third run in a fortnight is a serious ask of any horse. She’ll jump, she’ll put herself in a position and she’ll give 110%. With queries on the horses out of the Detonator Stakes she brings the alternate form and that well be a good thing. SILVER EYE was brilliant in the Detonator. 35 days between runs, held up until the race was over and flashed through late. Why won’t he stay? ARCADIA PARK had Fancy Red’s measure in the Belmont Classic and is building quickly into his prep. Tried to sustain a big run last start and only peaked up late. FAT ROY SLIM has put in two luckless, yet encouraging runs for new trainer Jason Miller.

Numbers: 4 – 3 – 5 – 8

Suggested Bet – FANCY RED EACHWAY

RACE 9 

ESSENTRIC NATURE won three races back to back to back last campaign, all in 66+ company and now resumes in a 72+ 1400m as near top weight. Everything he has done in his WA career has been encouraging and it’s worth noting that he was nominated for the Pinjarra Classic and then the Bunbury Stakes, before Grant & Alana Williams elected to take the easier starting point for his preparation here. Like the horse. BAKEEL is Group 2 and Group 3 placed in Singapore and won an RB68, BM76 and BM78 in South Australia (think ~ Graduation into 66+). He’s an interesting runner at his WA debut. DUG ANOTHER HOLE has been there abouts all prep. ANTIQUE STAR still may want further than 1400.

Numbers: 2 – 1 – 11 – 7

Suggested Bet – ESSENTRIC NATURE EACHWAY

Quaddie (Race 6 – 9)

1,2,3,5

3,13

1,3,4,5,6,7,8,11,13

1,2,7,11

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