Races

Scott Embry’s Thursday Pinjarra Preview

RACE 1

BONDI BUSINESS has placed at two of three so far and resumes here off the back of two quiet trials. In both trials he has been behind horses and not been asked for much by regular rider Jason Whiting. Think the Scarpside will suit a bigger striding horse like him andh he goes around eachway. DIAMOND CHOUX has put together three encouraging runs. Three back finished third to God’s Cross (3 year old Saturday placed) and Desert Waves (dual subsequent winner), two back he wasn’t fully tested at any stage, and last time out he was closing hard behind Can’t Catch Me in a leader dominated event at Belmont. Form good, barrier – bad? Horses don’t win from three back the fence at Scarpside. FINAL FLUSH comes back in distance and leads. ARRANGEMENT will need every bit of 1400.

Numbers: 1 – 7 – 8 – 4

Suggested Bet – BONDI BUSINESS EACHWAY


RACE 2

OSCARS NO GROUCH looks to have found his most winnable race of his short career to date. Resuming at 1000m he got going late to grab second behind spruik filly Cinque Stelle and then second-up he finished third to Can’t Catch Me and Diamond Choux (form on show in Race 1). Out to 1400m looks to suit and he’ll be winding up hard late. LEAFICE had shades attached last start and travelled well into the corner but just doesn’t seem to have any real change up speed. Maybe at 1400m this is their chance to lead with her and use the cruising speed to advantage? EXTREME RULER might be an 18 start maiden but it’s hard to ignore how well he went last start (and the start prior). JESA LUPA has shades first time but needs to turn the tables on Extreme Ruler who was huge in the same race?

Numbers: 6 – 9 – 1 – 3

Suggested Bet – OSCARS NO GROUCH WIN


RACE 3

BONDI LIFESAVER had to dig deep to win his trial under the whip, but he was parked three deep the trip without cover throughout. He should get a lovely run close handy here and this 3 year old 0MWLY has a compressed weight scale and nothing really standing out as being the obvious form or trial wise. Very open and very winnable. I’M A SOULMAN ran two strong minors in his initial campaign behind Esta Mirando and Spirited Strike. He trialled up well at Lark Hill leading into his return to racing and then was caught wide over 1000 at Belmont Park when never on the track and did things wrong in the straight hanging outwards. Has the rail to follow here and importantly the tactical speed to use the barrier to advantage. FORGOTTEN SON caught the eye at trials when winding up powerfully late. PLAYA DEL SOL is better than what she produced last week.

Numbers: 6 – 5 – 1 – 9

Suggested Bet – BONDI LIFESAVER EACHWAY


RACE 4

SHILLING LANE hasn’t raced since 10th April 2024, that’s 701 days or a total of 5 West Coast Eagles wins. He has Pads on, he hasn’t raced for 23 months and yet he’ll jump nearly even money and garner a lot of interest from punters. It’s risky, there’s no doubt, but he’s had two trials, Steele Casey’s Team is going well, he books Pike and the trials have been strong. He’ll land first four in running and he looked really good in his 3 year old days. VIVALDA finds this lengths easier than the 3 year old Saturday they threw her into fresh. MAYTHISBETHEONE will have no troubles getting across from her wide gate but the query on her is whether she runs any further than 1000m? HIDDEN JEWELS was a sneaky trial.

Numbers: 3 – 10 – 9 – 5

Suggested Bet – SHILLING LANE WIN


RACE 5

WYNN LAS VEGAS got a mile out of his ground first-up and then had a heap of traffic issues in the home straight as Pike tried to go back to the inside and pick a pathway through. He made solid ground when weaving a passage and now has blinkers added instead of winkers. It just feels like these Grant & Alana 3 year olds – Sentimental Legend, Streak of God, Wynn Las Vegas, Flying Maradona are all about to burst onto the scene right in time for the WATC Derby as a timely reminder of just how strong their operation is. RARE HONOR is a Scarpside horse. Two big runs in his career – both Scarpside. Nothing much else to write home about at his other 11. Horses for courses. FLYING MARADONA looks like he’ll improve with ground. MIDNIGHT STAR has shades added after finishing third to Cateran at Gero (who has won again since).

Numbers: 5 – 2 – 8 – 11

Suggested Bet – WYNN LAS VEGAS WIN


RACE 6

MIGHTY HOSANNA bungled the start first-up and then had to work around them in the early stages. Thought she did a massive job to hold on and run third after that and considering the trial was also really good (no shades, got off speed as a natural leader and had a junior rider) happy to follow up. Must jump to give herself every chance, but if she does it’s Holly Nottle in front and she’s riding a lot of all the way winners. ETERNAL WINE had blinkers added last start and was back to her best with a sharp turn of foot. Beat her stablemate Desert Life who ran second in a 60+ Graduation on Saturday. GANGSTER GODDESS over-raced a bit last start in a messy race early. Shades on. Big respect. RISE TO GLORY is going well.

Numbers: 3 – 6 – 7 – 4

Suggested Bet – MIGHTY HOSANNA WIN


RACE 7

TOO MUCH TALK finished within 2L of Yougivemechills (and Just Leroy – races Wednesday at Ascot) in a 60+ Graduation two back and then got a mile out of his ground at Belmont last start before savaging the line behind History Won’t Care. Think this sets up much nicer for him, from a better barrier at 1500m. Settles at least two pairs closer, won fifth-up last campaign (fifth-up here) and goes around eachway. GOLDEN KATHLEEN is knocking the door down. She’s bursting to win another race and Natika Riordan continues to give her mounts every mortal chance. Last 90 days: 14.2% strike rate and 13.8% POT vs Holly Nottle: 16.5% and -3.3% POT. They’re both flying. PLAYING QUEST was bolting first-up with nowhere to go for Shaun O’Donnell. RUN PATTIE RUN continues to go well deep into her campaign.

Numbers: 2 – 1 – 3 – 5

Suggested Bet – TOO MUCH TALK EACHWAY


RACE 8

SOVEREIGN SALUTE was $11 into $3.40 last start off the back of a really strong debut in a hot form reference race behind Desert Waves and Can’t Catch Me that was run nearly 5.5L faster than average. He covered ground, looked under pressure at the 600m but then worked through his gears late to power away from them. Don’t think he beat much in that race, however, visually he was incredibly strong late and through the line. Think he can measure up and love the use of the Holly Nottle claim. CAN’T CATCH ME beat home Sovereign Salute when they met in that event and has since led and won at 1300m. Could be a touch vulnerable late at 1500? MISS VEUVE in theory should love Scarpside. ICANDOIT ONMYOWN ran second to JC Roberts bound Sentimental Legend last week.

Numbers: 3 – 7 – 5 – 11

Suggested Bet – SOVEREIGN SALUTE WIN


Quaddie (Race 5 – 8)

2,5,8,11

3,6,7

1,2,3,4,5

3,4,5,7,11

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