Races

Scott Embry’s Saturday Belmont Preview

Posted on | Posted by Scott Embry

Race 1

ANABALLISTIC is afforded a wonderful chance to step into Saturday grade and win again. This race does not run deep (at all) and is no harder than her C3 run first-up where she beat key rival Bosisto and subsequent C3 winner Last Stylebender. She’ll need to concede a 1kg weight swing to Bosisto but from the draw she just looks like enjoying the run of the race tucked away in behind the speed and should only improve second-up. See no reason why she can’t win again. BOSISTO will naturally have admirers with the weight swing for a small margin. Drawn just a touch sticky but he’s returned bigger and stronger this time around. WHOS BENT crossed to lead last start and never looked like being run down. Can he cross Lucky I Am out of the gates or does he have to sit in the breeze? LUCKY I AM has improved a length at each of her last three runs. Close now.

Numbers: 4 – 3 – 1 – 2

Suggested Bet – ANABALLISTIC WIN

Race 2

SARABI was going from 1000 to 1400 last start and loomed the winner before seeming to peak on her run. Will again get off speed but if she can find a back to follow into the race then she should be massively improved for the run at the distance. She’ll be eachway in a race that has a lot of last start winners and a lot of clashing form references. SWIFT RULER resumed first-up without a barrier trial off a 3 month freshen in a 3 year old 1200 when beating Yamanex. He enjoyed the run of the race, he got the inside passage on straightening and he won well, however, he’s now up to 60.5kg in a race with more depth to it. ROGER won with a level of X-Factor and excitement about him on debut. It wasn’t much of a field and he’ll need to elevate here, but just looks like he’s got gears to work through. MR MELLON was well found in betting on debut and skipped tight away from his maiden rivals. Like the way he dropped a gear on straightening.

Numbers: 9 – 1 – 5 – 4

Suggested Bet – SARABI EACHWAY

Race 3

CHAMPAGNE CRUSADER won a Westspeed 1200 two back (nearly identical grade to this) and then went toe to toe with Hurricane Harley in a 66+ where they cleared out over 3L from third. Drops back in grade, draws to get the right run and Jefferson Tsang’s 3kg claim keeps him at a winnable weight. Great race on paper for him. SO SI GOD backs up off 7 days from an eye catching run in defeat behind Marcos and Pistone. She’s on the 7 day back-up, she drops 1.5kg week to week into what on paper should be a thinner assignment and she’s drawn to get a more economical passage in running. Has to be hard to beat. DELZEE has a real X-Factor about him. His maiden win was effortless and then he was all at sea last start. Freshened, Pike – wary. GREAT PROMISE doesn’t know how to run a bad race, but starting to think she’s going to be a perennial placegetter.

Numbers: 1 – 8 – 9 – 10

Suggested Bet – CHAMPAGNE CRUSADER WIN

Race 4

MISS VEUVE raced a mile outside the handicap when winning a 66+ 2100 here at Belmont two starts ago and copped the rightful whack of 11 points from the handicapper. She backed up 7 days later into a 60+ Graduation and had a bit of trouble finding clear galloping room under 60kg and couldn’t ping like she can. This looks an ideal set up for her – drawn wide, drift back, settle through the middle stages and watch the race unfold until the home straight. Think she bounces back. STARWALKER Is an out and out stayer. Shaun O’Donnell jumps back aboard, he’ll do no work from the draw and he’s in form. ALL GRUNT is looking horribly one paced. Screaming out for 2100. OLDEN could be on the 3 day spin from another strong win Wednesday.

Numbers: 3 – 4 – 2 – 10

Suggested Bet – MISS VEUVE WIN

Race 5

ARCADIA KNIGHT bolted in first-up. The official margin was 1L but he had them safely covered from about the 800m marker. Same barrier, same map, loses Pike – granted but at the same time drops 1kg against vastly similar opposition. He’s only going to get better as they step him out further in trip and he’s capable of working his way through the grades this prep. SILENT DIVA is going from strength to strength this campaign. Faces her acid test here but she’s proven off the 7 days, she’s got Pike and she seems to go better the colder you ride her. SUPERNATURAL ran well behind The Crimson Pirate and Yes I Know two back and then never really got into the contest last start. Senior rider back on here. OLY’S CHOICE hasn’t done a lot of racing over the last 12 – 18 months. Encouraging return.

Numbers: 1 – 7 – 6 – 2

Suggested Bet – ARCADIA KNIGHT WIN

Race 6

BOSUN is just getting better and better with racing. He broke his maiden at Northam on 18 June, 58 days later he won a Westspeed Platinum 1300 with 56kg, 28 days later he won a Westspeed 1400 with 60kg and now he’s into the $100,000 Westspeed Platinum Final and looks awfully hard to beat. He settled last in his most recent outing and safely accounted for main rival Swift Talker. There’s only a 1kg weight swing and given the authority with which he won it’s hard to see the tables being turned? J.Pateman – 3 votes. SWIFT TALKER was first-up and should strip fitter for the outing. Interesting to see tactically whether they look to settle a pair closer / further away from Bosun to really try and stretch him? I LOVA YA MONEY has been solid since breaking his maiden but probably not quite been as sharp as many had expected? TRIPLE THE CHANT will be back in traffic.

Numbers: 1 – 3 – 7 – 8

Suggested Bet – BOSUN WIN

Same Race Multi – Bosun (Win) + Swift Talker (Top 2)

Going aggressive in the 2026 Westspeed Platinum Final and suggesting that it will be the same exacta, in the same order, as the 1400m Heat. Bosun is better than Westspeed Platinum grade and doubt that 1kg is enough for Swift Talker to turn the tables on him.

Race 7

LIKE CLOCKWORK is a lightly raced and super progressive mare. She was last seen in a Belmont Oaks at 2000m but get the feeling her best trip is 1400 – 1600. She has trialled really sharply and her first-up win last prep was effortless. Beautifully placed on the 54kg minimum, trialled super and looks a carnival player in the making. She’ll get back but her turn of acceleration is her biggest asset. She’s exciting. KRAKEN TIME has been a tough follow for punters across his career. He has shown so much raw ability and yet is ultimately only a C3 galloper. Last prep be won a Westspeed 1200 and then was thrown in the deep end by Mitch Pateman into a Group 3 Colonel Reeves when beaten only 4.4L by Jokers Grin, Oscars Fortune, Repossession and Hanchi, beating home horses like Spacewalk (m101) and Acromantula (m97). ROLLING RULER is still a work in progress but the whole family has had ability. HORCRUX won a 72+ 1200 last prep. Brilliantly placed with the Tsang claim.

Numbers: 12 – 7 – 6 – 3

Suggested Bet – LIKE CLOCKWORK WIN

Race 8

STREAMLINED looked like he was going to be anything when won on debut at 1400. Thrown straight into the deep end into a Faithetha Stakes and had to be immediately spelled. Didn’t come up in his second preparation of racing and after two lacklustre performances was given a throat op and again rested. Sat parked three deep the trip no cover before bolting in a lowly C3 at his return and now steps into Saturday grade. Love these lightly raced 4 year olds in 60+ Graduations and he looks like he’ll take the next step this campaign. STREAK OF GOD fits a similar profile and understandably Pike sticks after winning two of his last three. Getting better (and more tractable) with racing and experience. CABLE ROCK has been a different horse since being ridden for speed. SNOW GOD ran well in a 66+ first-up and can cover ground in his races.

Numbers: 9 – 3 – 10 – 1

Suggested Bet – STREAMLINED WIN

Quaddie (Race 5 – 8)

1,7

1,3

7,12

1,2,3,6,9,10




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