Races

Scott Embry’s Saturday Ascot Preview

Posted on | Posted by Scott Embry

RACE 1

MORE SPECIAL tried hard from the breeze on debut behind Shell Bell (beating home If I Din Havadime) and then backed it up on New Year’s Day when only being run down by a talented filly in Shaddow Fear, beating Home James in the process. Comes back to 1000m, is a jump and run filly and if she handles the 7 day spin around she’ll be tough to get past. IF I DIN HAVADIME finished just behind her in the Shell Bell race and there wasn’t/isn’t much between them. KAMAKA has trialled up well enough. FINE LINE had a 950m trial then was sharpened up with a 400m jump out.

Numbers: 3 – 2 – 5 – 4

Suggested Bet – MORE SPECIAL WIN

RACE 2

ON THE FULL has blinkers added to his gear for the first time in his life and provided he steps cleanly he can get across into a commanding position in running. For a 1000m scamper there isn’t a great deal of exposed speed in this and between him and He’s Gold they can control the tempo and control the race. Not a bad effort last start in a 65+ after being crossed. Looks ready. HE’S GOLD won the Perth Stakes as a 2 year old when backing up off 7 days. He didn’t get much room to move at the top of the straight last week and held his own late. THE LADY IS A VAMP was stiff not to go back to back last weekend when held up at a crucial stage before flashing home late. This isn’t much tougher. DESERT VIXEN trialled Monday, sits back and has last crack at them.

Numbers: 4 – 1 – 6 – 7

Suggested Bet – ON THE FULL WIN

RACE 3

MIA GUSTO returns to the races and sees Ascot and a Good4 surface for the first time in her life. Adam Durrant’s yard has been trialling a truck load of horses in the last fortnight and they’ve all been going particularly well. Think he’s about to go on a big run and Mia Gusto has found a nice starting point for her preparation. Shades on first time (not worn in trial) and sits midfield behind a hot tempo (Fiorucci Mama, Universal Playboy, Playthatfunkymusic, Indie Ruler) and enjoys a nice run. INVISIBLE STRING is flying. Big effort to pull late ground off Pot Shot/Universal Playboy last start. KELVINATOR may be suited over further but his trial suggests he’s in for a big preparation. UNIVERSAL PLAYBOY will come out running.

Numbers: 8 – 3 – 4 – 2

Suggested Bet – MIA GUSTO WIN

RACE 4

BEADS is a fool proof 1000m specialist. Nearly always goes round an eachway price and rarely misses the money. Finished in the money at 11 of 15 runs at 1000m and gets a 2.5kg weight swing on Acromantula from their last encounter and gets 1.5kg on Capital Flight from their meeting at Belmont in July. Should enjoy a gun run close handy and from there should be in the finish in a wide open and quality 72+. BITOFMERIT and CAPITAL FLIGHT are prolific winners who are marching through the grades at the rate of knots. Both are drawn sticky and both may have to park deep and make their runs together. Exciting clash. ACROMANTULA went around $4.80 in the Listed Summer Scorcher last weekend. Jump, run, kick and see if he can hold on late.

Numbers: 2 – 4 – 5 – 1

Suggested Bet – BEADS EACHWAY

RACE 5

GODDESS OF GIVING is a nice filly on the rise. She put the writing on the wall first-up behind Street Parade and then broke her maiden in a $125,000 Westspeed Platinum 3 year old race when gunning down Sky Duke and Revitup. Considering that Revitup was coming out of a 78+ 1200m win it should hold up as a form reference and she’s getting in on the minimum taking on the older horses. Nice race for her. CHEVAL DE VAGA and TIME SCALE are likely to lock horns in an on speed battle. They’ll have to punch into a strong SW breeze which could leave them vulnerable late. TADWEER was only fair last start. He can tuck in behind and enjoy a soft run here.

Numbers: 8 – 1 – 3 – 7

Suggested Bet – GODDESS OF GIVING WIN

RACE 6

HARDLY EVER and SENTIMENTAL HERO were both blackbooking runs last start. HARDLY EVER was posted three deep the trip without cover chasing a hot speed set by free rolling front runner Big Screen and Sentimental Hero was held up until late in the home straight before flashing through traffic. HARDLY EVER gets a far more economical run in transit here and looks to have really turned a corner. She can sit inside or just in advance of Sentimental Hero and last start she SP’s $5 and he was $31. SENTIMENTAL HERO has always shown big levels of ability. Looks ready for a breakout preparation. MEGAZONE doesn’t know how to run a bad race. BIG SCREEN will roll along out in front.

Numbers: 6 – 7 – 3 – 2

Suggested Bet – HARDLY EVER WIN

RACE 7

MY BOY EDDY trialled particularly well on two occasions when never taken out of first gear by Pat Carbery. Went to the races first-up last Saturday at Pinjarra Park and never saw daylight in the home straight. He was held up the entirety and looked to be bolting. He is proven in and around this grade and distance last preparation and he’ll go around juicy double figures in betting. Always promised to go through his grades. WEAPONSON drops into a 60+ Graduation for the first time since winning in this grade in January 2022. Huge effort in the Mandurah Cup when wide and working throughout. CURRIMUNDI was a tough watch last start when bolting for the majority of the home straight before getting out late when the race was over. He’s another that looks in for a big campaign. CATEGORY THREE hasn’t been seen for 35 days. Dangerous late off a soft run.

Numbers: 6 – 1 – 5 – 8

Suggested Bet – MY BOY EDDY EACHWAY

RACE 8 

MINSK MOMENT has had two starts in WA. He won the Listed Carbine Club at this WA debut and then went into the WFA Group 3 Gold Rush when missing away and working home nicely through traffic to finish only 3L off The Astrologist and Kissonallforcheeks. Drops back into an 84+ and is a proven fresh horse having won off similar spacings in his Eastern States days. Looks a lovely race for him. BLACK FANTASY only finished 1.5L off Devoted and Rokanori in the Raconteur Stakes first-up 1400m last campaign. Trialling like a beast. FLYING MISSILE can find the front and get things cheaply. THE SPRUIKER normally puts in a ripper second-up.

Numbers: 1 – 5 – 8 – 4

Suggested Bet – MINSK MOMENT WIN

RACE 9

STYLAX was on trial at 2000m last start at Belmont Park and struck a race dominated out in front by Chuck A Luck and Ground Braker. Got a long way back, sustained a run and then put in a few wayward strides in the last 150 when peaking on his run and fading late. Back to Ascot, back to 1800m and finds another open and winnable event. EMERALD TRADER is racing like the 1800 will suit. Really progressive 5 year old who has plenty of raw ability. KERMAN ROCK was back to his best last start with a 10.5L win in a C1. The race was run almost exactly 10L faster than C1 average so he simply ran them all into the ground and looked to have plenty in the tank. Can he reproduce? CHICLETT is an honest mare.

Numbers: 3 – 5 – 8 – 2

Suggested Bet – STYLAX EACHWAY

Quaddie (Race 6 – 9)

3,6,7

1,5,6,8

1,5

2,3,5,6,8

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