Races

Scott Embry’s Wednesday Northam Preview

Posted on | Posted by Scott Embry

RACE 1

LAST STYLEBENDER is a wonderful opportunity for fledging apprentice Gemma Taylor to join the rare ‘first ride, first winner’ club. He is deep into a campaign but he’s an ideal apprentices horse – jump and run. He’ll hold the top, he’s got a high cruising speed and then he’ll just keep turning left! RISE TO GLORY can be hit and miss, but his best runs in recent times seem to be: A) on top of the ground; and B) at the sprint trips. He’ll sit back and watch the race unfold and attack late. SOMETHING ROYAL won a very similar race to this four back when breezing and running down Sniper’s Son. Senior back on. COONDLE brings dirt form but he was a model of consistency on the grass back in his Lou Luciani days.

Numbers: 1 – 2 – 5 – 4

Suggested Bet – LAST STYLEBENDER WIN

RACE 2

MAYBE MAYBE MAYBE didn’t get a crack at them at trials. Looked like Holly Watson had a fair bit of horse underneath her but no room to move. Looked to be a better trial than key rival Firearm and yet she’ll be a better price. Going to trust the eye and gamble on her to run a cheeky race eachway on debut. OFFICIAL BUSINESS is a market horse. Every now and then you find these animals that get attacked in betting every single start and this prep he’s been $2.80 into $1.75 and $4.40 into $2.00. Going well but drawn awkwardly? BOURBONONTHEROCKS and MORE DARLING are both through the same 1000m barrier trial at Belmont and there was plenty to like about both of them. BOURBONONTHEROCKS did everything professionally while MORE DARLING showed good determination and acceleration to close the gap on the inside part of the trail track. Respect the pair.

Numbers: 13 – 2 – 6 – 14

Suggested Bet – MAYBE MAYBE MAYBE EACHWAY

RACE 3

RUTHLESS BLOOM has been knocking on the door all preparation. 2L off I Love Ya Money, 2L off Flying Maradona and Tag Time, 2L off Hype Machine and Vampi Queen, 2L off Modern Miss and Forever Victorious (with a minor excuse). It’s all good consistent form and from the draw new rider Lucy Fiore should be able to give her the run of the race. These mile maidens need everything to go their way and hopefully that’s the case for her here. RORY’S REVENGE is through the same race. They SP’d $3.90 Ruthless Bloom and $61 Rory’s Revenge – this time around it’ll be favouritism with Rory’s, such is the strength of Pike. After an interrupted preparation he looks ready now. Would be a reward for serious patience. FARADIO doesn’t have much of a turn of foot but he’s plugging away and trying hard. WREXHAM can roll to the top and stay out of trouble.

Numbers: 9 – 3 – 1 – 2

Suggested Bet – RUTHLESS BLOOM EACHWAY

RACE 4 – Best Bet

GREY OL’ DAY resumed in a 3 year old Saturday when third behind Swift Ruler and Yamanex. He did find the top, he did manage to rack and stack but still, he drops half a kilo from a 3 year old Saturday into an All Age maiden at the provincials. Looks to have come back bigger and better this time around and even as a 2 year old was trialling behind potential star filly Aurum Belle. Has to be the starting point. MON VISAGE is a great opportunity for Sharni Webster with no Tash Faithfull and being too light for Shaun McGruddy. She has run well in both career outings and can make use of the postage stamp weight. MAJESTIC MIRAGE was winding up late in her most recent trial. Looks like she’ll need at least 1300. RUN RUPERT RUN was a brilliant trial but didn’t fire first-up.

Numbers: 8 – 13 – 14 – 9

Suggested Bet – GREY OL’ DAY WIN

RACE 5

THE STALAGMITE must have gone shin sore in the 19th January trial, because everything else that he has done has been really solid. Returning this preparation he won a 950m Lark Hill trial and then ran well at Bunbury behind a nice 3 year old in Pistone (since second on a Saturday). Should take plenty of benefit from the experience and maps a treat here for Steven Parnham who has a nice book of rides on Wednesday. Eachway chance. MISS BILLIE JEAN is a 3 year old filly taking on the older horses on debut and given her recent last to first barrier trial she looks nicely placed, especially at 1300m. Expect she’ll be ridden in a similar manner on race day, saved up for one last run down the middle. UNANSWERED has been an alarming drifter in betting all prep. Interesting to see whether that trend continues with Pike aboard? GOD’S CHOICE went around $1.50 first-up but never looked the winner at any stage.

Numbers: 8 – 14 – 6 – 12

Suggested Bet – THE STALAGMITE EACHWAY

RACE 6

DANDY’S GEM just didn’t get the right run last start. She was wide and pulling early, then she breezed (and still over-raced), then she was shuffled back behind a tiring runner and was simply ugly start to finish in a forgive. Prior to that she was a gritty and determined on speed win in this grade. Grab a raffle ticket – mine says Dandy’s Gem. OLDEN won a 54+ 2200 at Northam last start by 4.2L. The 9 year old hadn’t won a race since July 2022 but quite simply, if he reproduces that effort against vastly similar opposition, he’s a big chance of going back to back. Do you / can you trust him? These stayers take it in turns, how would you know! HEAVENLY RAPTURE brings alternate form to most of these and expect the market will want her. ICANDOITONMYOWN has turned a corner and is racing as consistently as anything in this line up.

Numbers: 5 – 4 – 6 – 9

Suggested Bet – DANDY’S GEM EACHWAY

RACE 7

DECORATION was a nice trial at Belmont leading into his return to racing. He was three deep outside the leaders, entitled to be run down and held off midweek sprinting type Anabalistic and Saturday sprinting type Scully late. Went around in a 66+ 1200 first-up and was run off his legs from start to finish, but wasn’t disgraced and was making some late ground under little pressure. Second-up, back in grade, to a more suitable distance – expect rapid improvement. MY JIMMY looks a new horse for Tommy Wolfe and is back to somewhere near his 3 year old form. Big win last start and should have taken plenty of confidence from it. Hard to hold out. TOO MUCH TALK should naturally lob into an ideal spot and is always thereabouts. SUMMER’S LEGACY may be wanting further quite quickly into her prep.

Numbers: 1 – 8 – 4 – 3

Suggested Bet – DECORATION WIN

RACE 8

BILLIONAIRES ROW looks a fairly one paced type who will get better and better with racing and possibly ground? Will need to make use of the draw to ensure that he’s not strung up in traffic but the recent barrier trials are solid and the way that Grant & Alana are going at Northam you nearly have to be with them – last 90 days = 15 runners for 7 winners at Northam at 46.2% Strike Rate and 48% POT. Unreal areas. HOT CHIX LANE was backed really strongly last start but was left vulnerable from the breeze and was beaten off a near 3L margin. Think she’ll go better ridden with cover and in a race that contains Sponge Cake / Playing Free / About Turn / Billionaires Row it looks an achievable outcome. JEMCONI was alright first-up behind Hot Chix Lane when beaten at $1.80 and then second-up when the blinkers went on she improved sharply (as most of Simon Miller’s do with that gear change). Maps to get a soft run. PLAYING SOLO is lightly raced, progressive compared to a few of these.

Numbers: 2 – 6 – 7 – 11

Suggested Bet – BILLIONAIRES ROW EACHWAY

Quaddie (Race 5 – 8)

2,6,8,12,14

2,3,4,5,6,9

1,8

2,6,7,11,12




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