Races

Scott Embry’s Friday Esperance Preview

Posted on | Posted by Scott Embry

RACE 1

MR KOHANA was a tough watch last Friday. He looked to have plenty to offer when held up at various stages from on straightening until the last 100m when getting out late and flashing home behind Lucky Foo Foo. Backs up off 7 days, rises another 100m and gets another chance to break through for a deserving win. SILVER FLYER didn’t jump and couldn’t find the front in the same race. Should he leave cleanly and allow Renee Forrest to make her way to the front he’ll take running down. RED WITH TED has put in two rippers at his last two. He looks the third big player in the race. MISS MAGGIE MAY may be looking for further still.

Numbers: 1 – 2 – 6 – 8

Suggested Bet – MR KOHANA WIN

RACE 2

COUSIN NICCI resumed down the 1000m straight at Pinjarra on New Years Eve when finishing third behind Ruler Rocket. When racing as a 2 year old she finished only 3.8L off winners One Cool Gal, Solid Gold, and Bisector as well as handy maiden Fashion Stakes. Good form for an Esperance maiden. SPECIAL VIRTUE went around a big price on debut but defied that market expectation with a fast finishing third up along the fence. Considering most of the horses were getting away from the cutaway rail last week it was a big effort. SILVER SAX finished second in that same race and for a fleeting moment looked like testing Hotorio. Wide draw hurts. OAKWOOD was specked in betting at her return.

Numbers: 10 – 12 – 7 – 9

Suggested Bet – COUSIN NICCI WIN

RACE 3 

DAWN AMNESTY finished third behind Blazing Away and Nitro Fred first-up no trial back on Boxing Day at Esperance in a C2, then went to a 58+ and finished third behind Watto’s Fury and Bin Shalaa. Last Friday dropped back into a C2 but from the draw was always going to get a long way off them on a day which had unfolded to suit those close handy to the speed. Ran the fastest L600 of the meeting and looks ready to win. NITRO FRED beat her home when they last met behind Blazing Passion. He needs to settle over the speed by the looks. HOTORIO was backed from $2.40 into $1.55 last Friday and duly saluted through traffic. OH SOPHIA is more than capable of pinching this.

Numbers: 2 – 1 – 4 – 5

Suggested Bet – DAWN AMNESTY WIN

RACE 4

LEADING MAN is in a rich vein of form and strikes a vastly similar quality race to what he has been seeing of recent times. Placed in 58+, C5 and then a winner of a C1 impresively last Friday beating in form mare Blazing Passion. Winnable again. PATROCITY hasn’t been seen at the races for 555 days since July 2021. The trial was super. SATURDAY SUN was only gunned down late by Gambler’s Gold last week and drops down 3.5kg and is drawn to kick through and lead or box seat. SALVARA really caught the eye last Friday in the 68+ 1200 when settling rearwards after jumping slowly and then attacking the line late in the race.

Numbers: 5 – 2 – 10 – 12

Suggested Bet – LEADING MAN WIN

RACE 5

FRANKIE BLUE EYES settled closer last Friday and didn’t quite finish off the race in the same impressive manner as his first start in Esperance over 1300m. He was $26 into $10 in betting in that event and 7 days later he drops back 200m and finds a C2 1400. Blinkers go back on for the first time since December 2020 and he should get a gun run from the draw. SHADOW SHIFTER is rarely far from the action. JACKEMJAMES is a new horse since joining Colin Haddon’s yard. ABOARD doesn’t win out of turn but she’s racing very consistently.

Numbers: 4 – 1 – 2 – 10

Suggested Bet – FRANKIE BLUE EYES EACHWAY

RACE 6

KALLAROO and MEXI COLA both come through a 68+ 1400 behind Kitgum and I Am Spartacus. From that race Dance Cockey headed to Belmont and ran second in a 0MWLY and it looks the obvious form reference. There wasn’t much between them but with the barrier draw and a 2kg weight swing in favour of the big loping Mexi Cola we’ll side up with him. Ultimately he’s probably looking for a mile but hoping there’s still some sprint in his legs second-up. KALLAROO was put into the race and finished off just as well as him last start. He’ll get back regardless of where he’s drawn. SHOOT UR SHOT was a revelation when landing in the Goldfields. Should be right in the finish in this. MAGNIFORCE is an enigma. Either wins or runs last type.

Numbers: 4 – 5 – 6 – 1

Suggested Bet – MEXI COLA WIN

RACE 7

SECRET PEARL is the best credentialed stayer in the field and from barrier 1 she has the cutaway available to her. For her to drop back to 1400m last week and win shows just how well Ricky Moss has her tracking. That was her 53rd career start and prior to that the shortest distance she had been victorious at was 1675m when breaking her maiden! Last time she backed up off 7 days she finished third in a 66+ at Ascot behind Pure Devotion and Reliable Star. KENNY THE KING dropped back to a mile last weekend and ran them into the ground. The overall race time was 3.5L faster than C2 average and that should measure up in a 58+ 2000m. He’ll find the front, he’ll roll them along and Brandon Louis rode him to his strengths last week. WHEATSTACK THEIF lays in horrible. Kayla Cross is a left-hand whip rider. In theory it’s a match made in heaven. COUNT GRUNDY is going well.

Numbers: 1 – 6 – 2 – 3

Suggested Bet – SECRET PEARL WIN

Quaddie (Race 4 – 7)

1,4

3,8

4,11

2,3,12

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