Races

Scott Embry’s Saturday Ascot Preview

Posted on | Posted by Scott Embry

RACE 1

STORMCHASER went from a 1000m C1 into a Listed 1400m and more than held his own behind Investment Strategy and Generosity. Should be far better suited at his second attempt at 1400m and from the draw Damian Lane can have him poised to strike in a midfield position tracking the tempo. Looks hard to hold out. BLUE LAGOON is coming through the WA Guineas which has been a great form reference so far (Zipaway Group One placed, A Lot Of Good Men 5th same race, Investment Strategy Listed winner, Autumn Rebel winner) and from a soft draw he’s the logical danger. BRAVE STRIKE has had an interrupted preparation. She’s going well enough. CRUNCHY NUT can control.

Numbers: 4 – 1 – 7 – 6

Suggested Bet – STORMCHASER WIN

RACE 2

EEE PEE CEE was a big winner first-up. He trialled the house down leading into his return and he let rip with a big turn of foot to score. You’ll always have it in the back of your mind that he’s had a bleed and that potentially his first-up run will be his best run of the preparation, but trusting in Neville Parnham to keep on top of his issues and if the same horse turns up second-up he’ll be hard to hold out late. THOROGOOD is tracking along well. He chased hard behind Yonga Lass and Long Weekend last start. Paul Harvey back on a positive and he’s probably better winding up out three deep. SAN FABRIZIO has found the line strongly at both runs this campaign and conditions should suit swoopers on Saturday. MANHATTAN STRIP should have finished closer to them last start.

Numbers: 3 – 5 – 2 – 4

Suggested Bet – EEE PEE CEE WIN

RACE 3 

BILLY RAY looks to have found a really nice race. Thought he was a big chance of toppling Starry Heights last Saturday and when he was $11 into $5.50 we started to get a bit excited, however, William Pike did what William Pike does and put the favourite into the perfect spot and was just a touch too classy. 7 days later there’s no Starry Heights and Billy Ray gets his chance to win again. Peter Fernie’s are all going well and this horse is flying. LONG WEEKEND was able to give a really good kick last start and it took a mare like Yonga Lass to run her down. Dangerous if he’s able to cross Black Spirit. MEGAMI has hit a purple patch of form and can wind up from a fair way out. BIG BADA BOOM was a great run at an unsuitable trip first-up.

Numbers: 2 – 8 – 10 – 1

Suggested Bet – BILLY RAY WIN

RACE 4

SUPER SMINK is the second emergency for the $1.5m Damien Oliver Gold Rush and is nearly favourite. If she doesn’t gain a start she carries 54kg in the Starstruck and while many will query her ability to run out the mile after finishing third in the WA Guineas it’s hard to knock the form out of that race. Zipaway and A Lot Of Good Men more than measured up at Group One WFA in the Northerly Stakes and at SWP Super Smink is exceptionally well weighted on the minimum. Needs to prove herself at a mile – yes but this is a drop in grade from the Guineas. RUSTY DREAMS is racing like she wants a mile and Damian Lane has the luxury of staying off the fence from the wider gate in the small field. YONGA LASS has been exceptionally good since the blinkers went on. Barrier 1 is a little tricky. AMBER GLIDE has been the form mare of the last 3 months.

Numbers: 7 – 2 – 5 – 3

Suggested Bet – SUPER SMINK WIN

RACE 5

ROCH LEGACY was a wildly good run in replay last start. It was a muddlingly run race and a messy race over the last 600m and in the end it was a race dominated by those down the centre with momentum, which is exactly why Roch Legacy was so good. He got held up at crucial stage before finally getting himself to the outside and charging. Demolish backed up out of that race and won last Saturday to frank the form. Wide draw suits and goes around eachway. CAPTAIN PLUTO was charging to the line in a slowly run Alcoa Grandstand Cup (overall race time 7L slower than average). Should be attacking the line again here. ACE COMMAND backs up off 7 days, drops back in grade and gets a senior rider on. Plenty to like. HE’SGOTWINGS is on trial at 1800m but his last five have all been excellent.

Numbers: 6 – 2 – 8 – 5

Suggested Bet – ROCH LEGACY WIN

RACE 6

BLAZING TYCOON drops 3kg off an impressive last start fourth behind Eee Pee Cee, Belgrano Belle and San Fabrizio. That form is on show in Race 2 and watching the replay it’s easy to convince yourself that there’s nothing between Blazing Tycoon and Belgrano Belle – except for in the market. He’s been attacking the line well all preparation and he’s won sixth-up and seventh-up across his last two preparations respectively. Finds form and holds form. COUNT THE SESSIONS has the Yonga Lass form and has been forced to make three deep runs at his last two. Provided he doesn’t encounter major traffic issues he should be there abouts. LAQUETTA’S GIFT is consistent and should put herself into a position from the gun draw. BELGRANO BELLE hasn’t run a bad race since joining Ike Racing.

Numbers: 6 – 10 – 9 – 5

Suggested Bet – BLAZING TYCOON EACHWAY

RACE 7

DEVINE BELIEF and COSTAZITA look the two big players in this race and then REAR ADMIRAL, HANG GLIDER and GODDESS OF GIVING will have their share of supporters at odds. DEVINE BELIEF looks to get an identical set up to first-up when winning impressively. She can park just off high speed mare Sockoff and then attack her half way up the straight. Likely to have to do it into the Sea Breeze but she’s a lightly raced and super progressive mare capable of going through her grades. COSTAZITA suffered his first defeat at the hands of Red Fifty Three in a 66+ at Belmont in September. He’s classy and he’s trialled well for his return. REAR ADMIRAL is looming but not quite finishing off her races at the minute. GODDESS OF GIVING is flying and Lou Luciani swaps visors for blinkers.

Numbers: 7 – 11 – 9 – 3

Suggested Bet – DEVINE BELIEF WIN

RACE 8

COBBANCO resumed over 1000m with 61kg and was working through the line strongly late through traffic. Not easy to go from 1000 to 1400m second-up but he drops a whopping 7kg down to the minimum and draws a gate to enjoy a soft run midfield with cover. Doesn’t have the same wow factor as horses like Vast Art, Upper Limits and Magnificent Andy but he’s a winner who goes about his business and gets the job done. Finished in the money at 50% of his career races and will go round double figures. UPPER LIMITS was a solid return over 1200 and is better suited with an extra furlong. VAST ART will concede them a big head start but the conditions should be in his favour. MAGNIFICENT ANDY has 61.5kg but he’s the class runner.

Numbers: 10 – 13 – 5 – 1

Suggested Bet – COBBANCO EACHWAY

RACE 9

RIPCORD was visually exhillerating in the Placid Ark when gunning down Oscar’s Fortune in the shadows from a mile off them. He showed that he was able to match it with the best at WFA when running third behind Overpass in the Group One Winterbottom Stakes and he’s seemingly looking for further. Gets that on Saturday in the Damien Oliver Gold Rush and with 54kg on his back and an ideal barrier draw he’s in this up to his neck. COMFORT ME hasn’t won a race in years but since Monday he’s been $31 into $8 and maps to get a world perfect stalking run behind Savatoxl and Baby Paris. VALOUR ROAD was dealt a bitter blow at the barrier draw but he’s a 1400m WFA horse and he’s in the form of his life. BUSTLER and DOM TO SHOOT are not without claims on the back-up.

Numbers: 16 – 7 – 2 – 1

Suggested Bet – RIPCORD EACHWAY

Same Race Multi – Ripcord (Top 4) + Comfort Me (Top 4)

The Damien Oliver Gold Rush is the most open and competitive race of the entire Pinnacles Carnival. If you’re tossing up whether to come out on track and make an appearance do it – you’ll be treated to an exceptional race and you’ll get to be part of the party atmosphere as we send off one of the greatest Australian Sportsmen. As for a Same Race Multi going with 3 year old Ripcord who was super in the Winterbottom and Comfort Me who maps to get a gun run behind the speed. Both Top 4.

Quaddie (Race 6 – 9)

5,6,9,10

7,11

5,10,13

1,2,3,4,6,7,10,12,16

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