Races

Scott Embry’s Sunday York Preview

Posted on | Posted by Scott Embry

Race 1

INVINCIBLE RUBY stepped out for the first time for new trainer Mitchell Pateman 11 days ago in a C3 1000 at Belmont behind Harbour Rise and Reginetta. Thought she did a great job on a day where it was impossible to make any ground to settle 7th and finish 4th and she’ll naturally find this 46+ a lot easier. Looks a very (very) winnable race for her. CLASSIC ROYALE goes well at York and it’s a horses for courses track. Broke his maiden at York and then ran second in a 46+ behind Merchant Trader only two back. Can hug the fence and do no work. CASINO ROYALE is in form, but it’s dirt form. I’M EUGENE hasn’t won a race for an eternity but can hold down a Top 4 spot.

Numbers: 3 – 4 – 1 – 6

Suggested Bet – INVINCIBLE RUBY WIN

Race 2

OUR MANE MAN ran second to Truly Loyal first-up, ran fourth behind Jemconi and Official Business second-up, went around in a 3 year old Plate that contained Fairetha bound pair Roger and Swift Ruler third-up and then last start finished third behind Bysin and Non Reflective at Northam. It’s easily the best form in this race, it’s just a case of whether he can overcome the tricky barrier. Class should see him through. PHOTOSYNTHESIS was good behind Champagne Talks, great behind Unimando and then woeful behind Bysin. Did go around favourite ahead of Our Mane Man so must respect the SP. GREYT RUBY wasn’t disgraced in a C1 first-up. SOVEREIGN ROCK leads but not convinced he’ll run 1200?

Numbers: 5 – 6 – 7 – 8

Suggested Bet – OUR MANE MAN WIN

Race 3

DIAMOND CHOUX has found the most winnable race of her life at start number 19. She ran third to State of Boom four back, third to Browning Street three back, hit a fast run race behind Hamadryad (and Bourbonontherocks and Miss Billie Jean) two back and most recently got a mile out of her ground before charging to the line into fourth behind Bourbonontherocks. Into a maiden handicap, only rising half a kilo and CJP sticks. Ticks plenty of boxes to finally break through. SANDY CHEEKS nearly pinched a 1500m maiden handicap here two back when leading. Expect ZJP will be on a mission to reproduce. DANCING SPIRIT was in that same race and a breath away in third. MR UNIVERSE has been trying hard in Gero and can roll forward.

Numbers: 9 – 12 – 11 – 3

Suggested Bet – DIAMOND CHOUX WIN

Race 4 (Best Bet)

AWESOME FORCE should prove too strong for these. Five starts ago he ran third in a 54+, three starts ago he again ran third in a C1 and since then he has raced outside the handicap in a 66+ beaten only 2.5L by More Than Enuff and then a 60+ Graduation when 6L off Classic Impact in a race dominated from the top. 66+ back to 60+ now right back to a 46+. He’ll park midfield and then start his run down the hill. Should out stay them. AUTHORATIVE has only been to York once and it was when breaking his maiden. Racing like he’ll get ground. SIDE SHOW and ASARKA are both out of the Collie meeting – whether that form holds is a big query.

Numbers: 4 – 7 – 2 – 3

Suggested Bet – AWESOME FORCE WIN

Race 5

MERCHANT TRADER has really turned a corner in the last month. The two speedsters in this event are highly likely to attack each other from start to finish and if he can stay in touch with them through the middle stages then watch for him to be savaging the line as they’re stopping late. WILUNA LASS is jump and run. She’s on the 5 day back-up from Melbourne Cup Day at Ascot and she’s 1200m back to 1100m. She should lead Scream and they might just break this field open. SCREAM is 2 from 2 undefeated at York and loves 1100m. Led and beat a nice mare in Galway Shawl first-up in a 0MWLY and then was never likely in a Graduation that had too much speed for him. 62.5kg (after the claim) and unlikely to cross Wiluna Lass – will have to be big. MANTUA is suited by the hot speed.

Numbers: 7 – 2 – 1 – 9

Suggested Bet – MERCHANT TRADER EACHWAY

Race 6

PURE OBSESSION has had a mid-prep trial after pulling up with cardiac arrhythmia as a beaten favourite last start at Northam. The prior C3 and C5 runs were easily good enough to win this and it looks another race where there’s a speed pair who may lock horns from a fair way out to suit those trying to swoop home late. SKY RIVER is closing in on another win. Would have preferred if Polyvanova wasn’t in the race for her, to get a cheaper lead and not absorb any pressure, but she’s getting close now and goes well at the York circuit. POLYVANOVA is a little battler but she’s been going well all prep and runs for Giaan O’Donnell. BEEJAY BOY finds this lengths easier than a 0MWLY behind Decoration.

Numbers: 2 – 7 – 1 – 3

Suggested Bet – PURE OBSESSION WIN

Race 7

GINGER GREEN nearly pinched it last week. He ran second in the 2025 York Cup under 58kg on the 8 day back-up and follows the exact same pathway in 2026, except he’ll only carry 55kg. The old boy is going super, Steele Casey’s yard is going super and Tash Faithfull jumps aboard as the icing on the cake. HOLLER NUFF has only been fair first-up and second-up, but now has blinkers on and reunites with CJP who rode him to all four victories in his initial preparation as a 3 year old. DECORATION is going super. Gritty win in a 0MWLY 1600 under 60kg before holding his own behind Western Miss last weekend at Ascot. ARCADIA KNIGHT hasn’t really fired a shot since his first-up 72+ 1600m win. Senior rider back aboard, blinkers swapped for visors and he actually broke his maiden at York back in 2023.

Numbers: 5 – 4 – 3 – 1

Suggested Bet – GINGER GREEN WIN

Race 8

SHOOT TO FAME has found a nice winnable race. Love the way that Brayden Gaerth rode her at Geraldton over 1400m when running second to in form Mid West galloper Forbidden Apple and this 46+ looks far easier than that 58+. Last time out was solid and considering 1600m is on her limit, this looks a really nice race for her dropping in grade and dropping back to 1300. KATONA is a 10 year old who hasn’t won a race in over 1200 days but this is so much more suitable than the 60+ Grads, 0MWLYs and C5s that Bobby Turrell has been running him in recently. WHO SAZ YES usually runs well at York. Not sure what happened two back? ADDICTIVE DREAM is flying for Ray Malpass, but on the dirt.

Numbers: 4 – 2 – 10 – 1

Suggested Bet – SHOOT TO FAME WIN

Quaddie (Race 5 – 8)

1,2,7

1,2,3,6,7

1,3,4,5

2,4




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