Races

Scott Embry’s Saturday Ascot Preview

Posted on | Posted by Scott Embry

RACE 1

FEATHERWEIGHT resumed with an impressive victory over Above The Peg when getting through traffic to zap him late. Was scratched on 12 November with the Stewards Report listing reason as ‘future nomination’. Goes into this fresh 35 days between runs and should track up behind a hot tempo (Charge, Revitup) and get last crack at them. RIVER RUBICON is a talented 4 year old resuming. Goes well fresh, maps a treat and can show a big turn of acceleration when he’s right. TITAN BLINDERS has to lump 61kg but his form in the Nicopolis, Hannans, Eurythmic and Asian Beau is hard to ignore. REVITUP ran well in the Placid Ark but may need to work pretty hard to get across here.

Numbers: 4 – 8 – 1 – 7

Suggested Bet – FEATHERWEIGHT WIN

RACE 2

RUMOUR SAYS ran well first-up in the 3 year old Classic behind Snowdome, was luckless second-up in the Belgravia behind Amelia’s Jewel, Snowdome and Man Crush when held up for a run the entire length of the straight and then had nothing go right in the Placid Ark when used as a pinball on numerous occasions in running. Should go round eachway and is well placed into a 66+ with only 55.5kg. BITOFMERIT has only suffered defeat once in his life and pulled up with an excuse (virus). Hugely talented sprinter who will sit off them and be charging at them late. Excited to see him back at the races. OLGA LOUISA took a sit off the speed last week and ran really well. If she crosses to the rail she’s not impossible at 25-1. MOI CHOIX was highly impressive at his WA debut.

Numbers: 11 – 2 – 5 – 1

Suggested Bet – RUMOUR SAYS EACHWAY

RACE 3

KOHLI is not an easy horse to catch but his two runs in Albany have been excellent. It has been extremely hard to make ground so far this season in the Great Southern with the majority of races won either on speed or up the cutaway to date. He has caught the eye in both runs and this race has a stack of speed (Bolshoi Gal, World Ruler, Sneaky Fox) and with a customary W.Pike 3 back the fence steer he’s dangerous late with even luck. ROYAL GAP has been going great guns over the last few months and punters haven’t forgotten to back him. Can park and ride the speed. TALK IT UP needs some luck from a tricky draw but is highly consistent and is a proven weight carrier. ELIMINATE can improve off a luckless first-up run.

Numbers: 2 – 9 – 1 – 11

Suggested Bet – KOHLI WIN

RACE 4

BROOKLYN PIER doesn’t win out of turn but it’s hard to argue with the way he’s racing and he’s continually going round eachway and finishing in the money. Good amount of tempo in this through Lorentinio, Creator, Big Bada Boom (if jumping) and Magic To Exceed so expecting Brooklyn Pier ends up midfield with cover and can present at the right time. Only three starts ago he was beaten a nose by Trix Of The Trade. BIG BADA BOOM is a 2 time back-up winner, gains the services of Damien Oliver and drops in weight third-up. Plenty to like about him at double figures. THE VELVET QUEEN is likely to get back from her inside draw but she’s got a turn of foot to get herself out of trouble. LORENTINIO returns to Jim Taylor. Lead and won an 84+ 1400 at Ascot in January. Not impossible.

Numbers: 4 – 3 – 11 – 1

Suggested Bet – BROOKLYN PIER EACHWAY

RACE 5

SUCCESS PLAY finished fifth beaten 2.5L behind Oly’s Choice and Dadirra first-up at 1200m when hitting the front on straightening before being swamped late. Second-up was continually shuffled further and further back in running to a point where he was completely out of the race. Senior rider on for the Westspeed Series Final and drawn to get a lovely run behind Dance Cockey and Sea Waif. Looks a nice eachway play at double figures. OLY’S CHOICE has 62kg to lump but if he can join the moving line and flow into the race he’s a hard horse to hold out. DADIRRA is flying and with a clear passage can win again. CARTANERA ran a ripper first-up at 1200 and is better suited at 1400.

Numbers: 6 – 1 – 10 – 12

Suggested Bet – SUCCESS PLAY EACHWAY

RACE 6

SAINTORIO, ALL THE KING’S MEN and SWEAR TO GOD back up from the Group 2 WA Guinas behind Amelia’s Jewel and Bustler. That has to be the form reference and all three of them were impressive in their own rights. SAINTORIO was planted three deep the trip, hit the front on straightening and did a super job to match motors with Bustler and Amelia’s Jewel for as long as he did. ALL THE KING’S MEN was forced into the role of pace-maker after they threw the anchor at the 1000. Another tricky draw to contend with. SWEAR TO GOD stepped to a mile for the first time and didn’t run it out. Far better suited back in trip. VAMPI AT PLAY hasn’t had any luck the entire campaign.

Numbers: 2 – 3 – 4 – 7

Suggested Bet – SAINTORIO WIN

RACE 7

PURE DEOVTION will be carrying the hopes of the vast majority of punters on course on Saturday. She will be anchored in quaddies, holding up multis and popular as a straight out bet while she’s in black figures. The Luckygray Stakes was turned into a sit and sprint by Paul Harvey and Buster Bash and the back-markers were never a hope from a long, long way out. She did a super job to work through traffic and finish fourth. Hard to see anything from the Luckygray turning the tables on her so the logical danger becomes MAROCCHINO who backs up from the Railway Stakes and sits up over the speed. With clear air confident that PURE DEVOTION with a 6.5kg weight pull guns him down in the concluding stages and stamps herself a Perth Cup contender. PLATOON drops back into Listed Company for the first time in a while. UTGARD LOKI enjoys another soft run.

Numbers: 14 – 1 – 6 – 4

Suggested Bet – PURE DEVOTION WIN

RACE 8

VILANA’s win in the Hunter rated through the roof. It was a high speed, high pressure affair similar to how the majority of Winterbottom Stakes races are run. There’s speed throughout the entire line which will ensure a three and even four deep train building into the race and Jamie Kah can have him working into the race from the 600. Looks the emerging sprinter hitting his straps at the perfect time to tackle a Group One WFA. ROTHFIRE has the barrier draw advantage and five of his last seven outings have been Group One WFA races. He’ll park up over the speed and likely looms the winner on straightening. THIS’LL TESTYA is a high pressure beast and the draw means she’ll sit up over the speed and be ready to pounce on straightening. ELITE STREET was below his brilliant best fresh. Trusting Danny Morton to get him back.

Numbers: 2 – 1 – 14 – 4

Suggested Bet – VILANA EACHWAY

RACE 9

PLAYING MARIKA is flying. Huge first-up behind Em Tee Aye from a mile off them, three and four deep the trip second-up behind Holy Ghost, beaten a nose by Big Screen (beating home Above The Peg in the process) third-up and then worked to the line when it was all over in the RJ Peters. Three deep cover is her spot and she should land there in this. Eachway all day. ABOVE THE PEG won well last week at his first attempt at a mile. Should get a similar run midfield and go close. COCKNEY CREW showed something last start. Looks like he will get things awfully cheap in the middle stages. Keep safe. STARALIGN let rip late in the Carbine Club.

Numbers: 10 – 11 – 6 – 4

Suggested Bet – PLAYING MARIKA EACHWAY

Same Race Multi – Pure Devotion (Win) + Marocchino (Top 3)

Quaddie (Race 6 – 9)

1,2,3,4,7

1,14

1,2,4,8,13,14,16

4,6,10,11

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