Races

Scott Embry’s Thursday York Preview

Posted on | Posted by Ethan Roth

Race 1

GILDED REIGN should be going close in a maiden handicap at York. He has finished less than 3L off Effortlessly (60+ Grad winner) and King of the Town (60+ Grad placed) and only two starts ago finished less than 2L off Playing Solo and subsequent C1 winner Sweet Issy. Fourth-up, out in trip and provided her runs out a 1920 he’ll be hard to beat. CJP heading York on a Thursday afternoon has to be for winners. RARE ROCK ran over 2000m behind Forever Victorious last start in a race that turned into last man (mare) standing after they went the first 1400m 20L faster than average. Puts him in good stead for this. SHE’S RESOLUTE showed staying glimpses last prep. Yet to fire a shot this campaign. KINGSLEY TOWN nearly pinched it at Moora last weekend.

Numbers: 1 – 4 – 3 – 6

Suggested Bet – GILDED REIGN WIN

Race 2

HANAFUBUKI has had four starts in WA – a C3, a 54+, a 60+ Grad and a 66+. The last time she wore blinkers was at Sandown Lakeside in December 2025 in a BM66 over 2100 when running third. She hasn’t raced in a grade this low since breaking her maiden and it clearly looks the best chance of opening her WA account. Any of the horses who finished in front of her last start (Admired, Dark Looks, Abissi, Starwalker, Miss Veuve, Sister Mary) would be favourite in this line-up. GOLD BEAU is a York 1920m winner and thrived on the down hill track that day. Horses for courses. OBSCENTINO led and won two back to finally break his maiden after 35 attempts. He’ll roll to the top here at his home track and give cheek. SPACE ACADEMY wasn’t disgraced at Kal on Hannans day and his last win was a 52+ at York on the quick spin.

Numbers: 1 – 4 – 2 – 3

Suggested Bet – HANAFUBUKI WIN

Race 3

LAST SHOUT was beaten under 4L first-up behind Pistone (60+ Graduation placed) and met with some support at odds second-up at 1400 ($18 into $13) and a few things went wrong for him in the middle stages of the race. Heads into a maiden handicap where a lot of the opposition have shown even less than him and if he’s ever going to pinch one it looks like this is his chance. Should be eachway the field they’re all so limited. CHOUXNWHISKEY went around in a C1 at Belmont two back off a 6 week freshen and wasn’t disgraced beaten 4L by Juniper, Arties Storm and Spanish Armada. Runs either side though – woeful. MONEY MANZIEL hails from the most in form yard in the State and won’t see anything as talented as Queen Diva / Levati Dimezzo here. YALDA NIGHT is looking to break through at lucky start number 28! And can win.

Numbers: 3 – 5 – 4 – 2

Suggested Bet – LAST SHOUT EACHWAY

Race 4

APPARATUS was beaten under 1L in back to back C5 races at Northam and Pinjarra back in May. He charged home into fourth behind Chery’s Shout, Rainline and Ton of Grunt before reproducing it behind Changing Guard, Vandoula Jet and Mohegan Ruler. Either of those runs would win this race and given that Team Bairstow had a double during the week at prices there’s no reason why he can’t win this 44+. Brilliantly placed and team going well. WHO SAZ YES won a 46+ 1300 at York on 9 October 2025 off a 64 day freshen. Donna Riordan is looking to reproduce 12 months later on a vastly similar prep. RISING FAME should in theory be a nice York mare. She’ll roll forward from her wide gate and can look to pinch it on straightening. SAYERSITISN’TSO a watch at his WA debut.

Numbers: 2 – 8 – 10 – 5

Suggested Bet – APPARATUS WIN

Race 5

SPANISH ARMADA sat in the breeze to break his maiden third-up, went to a Westspeed Platinum fourth-up (where he jumped $4.20) and then dropped back into a C1 fifth-up when finishing a narrow third in a four way photo. Kept fresh a month between runs and finds an extremely suitable 52+ at York. The fact that Jefferson Tsang claims 2kg at York is a luxury and keeps him at a very winnable weight. Likely has to breeze outside Diego Dynamite but should be able to get the better of him half way up the straight. DIEGO DYNAMITE is gate speed quick and drawn underneath Spanish Armada. Nice ride for a 4kg claimer and has returned well with two solid minors. WAYNE THE PAIN will be doing his best work late and did run a big race at 1200 first-up las prep. VILLAGE GIRL is a little trier and has blinkers reattached coming back in trip.

Numbers: 2 – 7 – 1 – 3

Suggested Bet – SPANISH ARMADA WIN

Race 6

I’M A SOULMAN is a nice ride for Tara Atherden and her boss Brian Kersley. Only win was an all the way victory over 1190 at Narrogin and then in a 1200m 0-MWLY was only beaten 1.5L by True Fiction and Sassy Snippet. Should hold up form the inside draw and be in front for a long way. SILVER LIVIA won impressively at Northam on debut leading and winning at 1000m beating Jimmy Angel. She went straight to a 0MWLY when beaten 4L behind Ginger Morpheus, Go Go Grommet and Seeyouatthesession before finishing her initial campaign in a C3 at Northam when going back and showing a bit of versatility finishing second to Magali Magic and beating home Spicy Thang. Big watch at her return. MANTUA needs a low draw, a soft run and a weak grade. Like the set up for him. CLASSIC ROYALE is drawn tricky but goes well at York.

Numbers: 2 – 1 – 5 – 7

Suggested Bet – I’M A SOULMAN WIN

Race 7

BEEJAY BOY had his first start for new trainer Mollie Clark in a C3 1300 when finishing second last at 100-1. In the end was beaten under 4L and was never going to be competitive at that distance range. In the month since he’s had a tick over trial where he went quite well at Belmont and now second-up finds a winnable 44+ 1500. Would have preferred him over slightly further but wouldn’t be surprised to see him run well here. SAUCISSON was a brilliant winner of a C1 1650 at Belmont last start when getting the better of 60+ Graduation placed 4yo King Of The Town. If he can reproduce that effort he’ll be hard to beat. KELORA had no luck at Kal and two starts prior to that was brave in a 46+ when wide throughout. GINGER AND TONIC doesn’t know how to run a bad race.

Numbers: 3 – 2 – 1 – 10

Suggested Bet – BEEJAY BOY EACHWAY

Quaddie (Race 4 – 7)

2,5,8,10

2,7

1,2,5

1,2,3,9,10




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