Races

Scott Embry’s Perth Cup Day Preview

Posted on | Posted by Scott Embry

RACE 1

HOME JAMES was enormous on debut in the Crystal Slipper when sitting deep throughout and fighting on into second behind Soaring Solo. At start number two Brad Parnham pulled one out of the hat and slotted him in one out and one back from barrier 10 of 10 in a riding exhibition. From there he was too strong for Shell Bell and considering she came out at her next outing and won by 3.8L over Miss Rockjoy (also from that race) with subsequent winner If I Din Havadime a further 5L away it’s clearly a form reference worth following. Needs another big steer from the draw. SHADDOW FEAR looks very green and very new but there’s clearly a motor there. Once she balanced up, she was pulling right away late. KING CARTEL got the inside run at trials and accelerated nicely. MORE SPECIAL is a jump and run filly.

Numbers: 1 – 7 – 2 – 4

Suggested Bet – HOME JAMES WIN

RACE 2

FEELS PLAYFUL was nabbed in the shadows first-up by Rock My Way who came straight to town and won a 3-year-old 1400m. Last start was never getting beaten in the run and was far too sharp for her maiden rivals. Big step up in grade, however, with the favourite and main danger drawing barrier 7 of 7 and likely to settle last in running she gets her chance to kick into the corner and pinch a break on him. SALOON BAR finished sixth first-up behind Street Parade and Goddess of Giving and improved sharply second-up out to 1200m when pulling late ground off Goddess Of Giving. Should only improve again out to 1400m. Will need to be put into the race at the right time. BLEECKER STREET can sit leader’s back nd get a lovely tow into the straight. IT’S ALL A RUMOUR next best.

Numbers: 3 – 2 – 4 – 1

Suggested Bet – FEELS PLAYFUL WIN

RACE 3 

THE LADY IS A VAMP is no star but she’s a little trier and she comes from one of the most in form stables in WA. Last 90 days Lou Luciani has won 8 races at a strike rate of 19% and 86% POT. She’s on the 6-day back-up after winning a C5 down the 1000m straight at Pinjarra and is drawn to get a lovely stalking run into the home straight. Her first-up run behind Capital Flight, Tadweer, Cash Away and Moi Choux reads up very well for a moderate 60+ Graduation like this and she’s eachway. BORN TO TALK drops back to 1000m and finds a race without an obvious leader on paper. Thinking he’ll settle in the first two and looks the testing material. COSTUME PARTY is a get back 1000m sprinter. AUNTY JEAN has to reproduce round the bend but is in form.

Numbers: 5 – 3 – 2 – 6

Suggested Bet – THE LADY IS A VAMP EACHWAY

RACE 4

ASTRO WARRIOR is first-up no trial and drawn to either kick through and lead or sit box seat. First-up last campaign she won a C3 1100 at Northam by almost 2L before heading to Saturday racing. Won a Westspeed 1200 leading throughout before finishing third to Reign of Fire and Forest War and finished her preparation in third behind Let’s Galahvant and Ain’t No Other Man (who she meets 2kg better). Goes well fresh and is proven in this grade. HE’S GOLD and PRIZE PURSUIT finished right alongside eachother behind Written Matter on 5 November and meet again at the same weights. Not much between the pair. AIN’T NO OTHER MAN is running out of chances and the draw hurts.

Numbers: 3 – 5 – 2 – 1

Suggested Bet – ASTRO WARRIOR EACHWAY

RACE 5

RARE ENCOUNTER will be the one that most punters are keen to be aboard after she never saw daylight at any stage in the home straight behind Vitalize. In that same race were Mosquito and Special View and when you watch the replay it’s hard to see them turning the tables on her with even luck in running. Likely to be short and likely to be over bet but with a hot tempo behind Yeman Lass and Castillo Del Lago the field will string out and she should have no worries finding a position in running. SPECIAL VIEW is a tease. Some of his runs for Brian Kersley in 66+ Grade have been easily good enough to win this. MOSQUITO can track the speed and enjoys a gun run. CASTILLO DEL LAGO may have to be content with the breeze outside of Yeman Lass.

Numbers: 7 – 2 – 3 – 4

Suggested Bet – RARE ENCOUNTER WIN

RACE 6

ALSEPHINA vs THE VELVET QUEEN is an exciting clash of two emerging top liners. Going to go against the gain and side up with THE VELVET QUEEN to gun down Alsephina late in the race over 1800. She was brilliant last Saturday when low flying over the concluding stages to somehow grab Casino Seventeen in the shadows. Backs up off 7 days, sits out the back and comes with a big run late. Conceding a headstart to a mare like Alsephina won’t be an easy task but she looks like she’s up to it. ALSEPHINA is the winner of 8 from 10 and this is only the second time in those 10 starts she hasn’t gone on top in this preview. Got the job done in the Starstruck but sitting closer over a moderate tempo she didn’t have the same blistering acceleration. PLAYING MARIKA is as honest as they come. SENTIMENTAL QUEEN is clearly working through a few issues.

Numbers: 7 – 3 – 6 – 5

Suggested Bet – THE VELVET QUEEN WIN

RACE 7

The Summer Scorcher of 2023 is arguably the toughest race on the program with speed on speed (Wilchino, Indian Pacific, Acromantula, How’s The Serenity, Nowhiteflag, Warm ‘n’ Fuzzy). Going to have a throw at the stumps and put LONG BEACH on top. He can sneak up along the fence and goes well fresh. He finished sixth in the Crawford behind Miss Conteki and beat home both Indian Pacific and Wilchino. Meets them both considerably better at the weights and goes round double figures. This is a nightmare race to get your head around. HOW’S THE SERENITY will need some serious luck in running drawn outside Wilchino/Indian Pacific and Acromantula. If she gets a spot in running, she’s a big winning chance. WILCHINO wasn’t at her best over the carnival. Expect her to be ridden for pure speed. ACROMANTULA deserves a crack at this level.

Numbers: 7 – 6 – 3 – 4

Suggested Bet – LONG BEACH EACHWAY

RACE 8

NEUFBOSC has followed an identical preparation to when he won the 2021 Perth Cup. Two years later he’s snuck in perfectly on the minimum and meets ATA Stakes winner and pre-post second favourite Truly Inspired 5kg better at the weights for being beaten a neck. Will need some luck to find a position in running but with Utgard Loki/Bad Wolf/Come Right Back drawn outside him also looking for positions there’s a good chance he lands three deep with cover. From there he looks a live eachway chance in an open and even Perth Cup. TRULY INSPIRED got the job done in the ATA Stakes and looks back on track. He’s still working it all out but he’s hit form at the perfect time and will travel the winner in running. QUEEN ALINA is risking a lot of points heading into the Cup. She clocked the fastest L200 of the meeting when winning last start. Wildly progressive. BUSTER BASH let rip in the Towton Cup and put them away on straightening. If he runs 2400 he’s a huge chance.

Numbers: 10 – 15 – 13 – 2

Suggested Bet – NEUFBOSC EACHWAY

RACE 9

ROCH LEGACY is knocking on the door and goes round a double figure price. Finished only 2L off Coolth, Queen Alina and Mystery Island two starts ago in a key form reference race and meets Coolth 2kg better and Mystery Island at the same weights. Last start loomed large on straightening but peaked on the run and finished fourth behind Queen Alina. Chris Parnham back on and drawn to park midfield in the moving line. Nice race for him. MYSTERY ISLAND and COOLTH are both emergencies for the Cup and if they gained starts they’d acquit themselves well. Both back up out of the Listed ATA Stakes and there’s clearly not much between them as the market and recent form will reflect. FEELS DANISH is going better than numerical form suggests.

Numbers: 15 – 4 – 5 – 11

Suggested Bet – ROCH LEGACY EACHWAY

Quaddie (Race 6 – 9)

3,7

2,3,4,6,7

2,3,8,10,12,13,15

4,5,15

Market Market



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