Races

Scott Embry’s Saturday Ascot Preview

Posted on | Posted by Scott Embry

RACE 1

MACK MACK is having his second start for young trainer Tom Wolfe and his first-up run was far better than it reads. He missed the kick (which he can do from time to time), settled last, was held up on straightening and went to the line relatively untested. Second-up he gets out to 1600m and strikes a race with absolutely no speed whatsoever. If he was to step (or even be half a stride slow) he can muster through to lead them here and looks really well suited back into a Westspeed Platinum. Nice race for him. FORTUNE’S LUCK looks the obvious danger. Held up the entire two back and ran through the line powerfully behind Yarralea last start. She’s ready to win and a deserving favourite. PLAY WITH DESIRE improves second-up. ARNIE’S BOY is just not an Ascot horse.

Numbers: 1 – 5 – 3 – 4

Suggested Bet – MACK MACK EACHWAY

RACE 2

ROGUES POINT, ONLY EYES FOR HIM and YARRALEA should settle first, second and third in running and from there look like dominating this event. YARRALEA finally broke through last start after a string of consistent efforts. She’s suited to barrier 1, she’s got her confidence back and she maps to get every chance being the leading pair. ROGUE’S POINT can park outside of ONLY EYES FOR HIM or look to roll to the top. Either way he’s rock hard fit and racing extremely well. ONLY EYES FOR HIM takes a big step out of maiden grade but conditions likely suit. MY MATE caught the eye last start.

Numbers: 3 – 2 – 5 – 4

Suggested Bet – YARRALEA WIN

RACE 3

CERRIDWYN has been freshened and attacks this 60+ 1400 5 weeks between runs. While she comes up in grade she gets considerable weight relief and importantly gets the services of one of the country’s (world’s) best in Damian Lane. She’ll track the speed, she’s got point to point acceleration to get herself out of a pocket and if she reproduces the run behind Lord Vampi two starts back this track/distance she’d be in the mix. HESKET beat home Desennea and subsequent winner Oly’s Choice last start. Hasn’t run a bad race since arriving in WA. COUNT THE SESSIONS was a strong return to racing and is better suited at 1400m. ABOVE THE PEG was a big improver last week and must be respected on the back-up.

Numbers: 8 – 6 – 4 – 3

Suggested Bet – CERRIDWYN EACHWAY

RACE 4

MEDIA BARON is a 9 year old and his best is likely behind him, however, his four runs in this preparation have all been excellent. Three back he finished third behind Sisu Warrior and Rokanori, two back he finished just behind Cobbanco and Pray Again both who he meets better at the weights and last start he finished fifth in the Old Comrade behind Tin Chooks, Mojo Rhythm and Co. Back to a 66+ (for the first time since February 2020!), out to 1800m and goes around double figures. Worth a throw at the stumps. BONDI’S FUTURE is making his way through the grades impressively. Not an easy map for him from 7. Needs an ounce of luck to find a spot. PAIGEY’S TURN gets 2.5kg on him for being beaten half a length last time they met. She’s a legitimate danger.  SOWAR is going well.

Numbers: 2 – 8 – 11 – 7

Suggested Bet – MEDIA BARON EACHWAY

RACE 5

GENEROSITY trialled like a mare who would be winning first-up. They stretched her out as far as a mile in the Champion Fillies but given the way she unleashed over 1000 at Belmont to gun down Ripcord and her scintillating trial over 950m at Lark Hill she might be a get back sprinter. Expect Josh Parr rides her with supreme confidence and allows her to find her feet before bringing her to the outside on straightening. BARNEY’S WORLD can hold a tactical advantage over her in the run and tracks a solid speed set by Krysanova/Close Talker/Star Power/Prince Rangar. Right place, right time. CLOSE TALKER is racing brilliantly. CAPRE OMNIA scratched from Thursday to save for this.

Numbers: 2 – 8 – 10 – 6

Suggested Bet – GENEROSITY WIN

RACE 6 

TWAIN’S ANGEL looks to have come back bigger and better this preparation and has found a very suitable race to retain her undefeated status. With Generosity, The Boss Lady and Barney’s World all opting for ratings races it’s left a smaller and thinner line-up of opponents and importantly there’s little to no other speed in this race. Expect Madi Derrick finds the front quite comfortably with 53kg and says catch me if you can from the top of the straight. ROPE THEM IN trialled like a beast but will need a serious steer from barrier 11 of 11 with 59kg. PLAYING GAMES returned in great order and has shown versatility. BLUE LAGOON may want further.

Numbers: 6 – 2 – 5 – 1

Suggested Bet – TWAIN’S ANGEL WIN

RACE 7

BUSTLING has been annihilated in betting at his last two outings. He sat three deep the trip behind Siren Assault two back (meets her 2kg better at Set Weights) and then demolished the boys in the Perth Stakes to stamp himself as the horse to beat in the 2024 Karrakatta Plate. The Perth Stakes and Gimcrack are same day, same distance and the boys went ~ 2.5L faster so it’s a reasonable expectation that he’ll be very popular in betting. Being crossed would be new for him but certainly not game over. SIREN ASSAULT sat three deep the trip in the Gimcrack and powered away late. Only horse to have beaten Bustling so far. GOLDEN KATHLEEN was huge in the Gimcrack when working through heavy traffic. EARTHSTORM will only keep getting better with age and distance.

Numbers: 2 – 6 – 7 – 10

Suggested Bet – BUSTLING WIN

RACE 8

OVERPASS won the inaugural Quokka in 2023 (WFA 1200), won the Group One Winterbottom Stakes in 2023 (WFA 1200) and now looks to complete the Brisbane Lions/Hawthorn style three-peat in the $5m Kia Quokka of 2024. He won last year first-up off 154 days and attacks this year’s edition off 140. It’s the same preparation, it’s a very similar map to the Winterbottom and he’s hovering around an eachway quote in betting. Hard to fault. OSCAR’S FORTUNE finished second to him in the Winterbottom and then beat Amelia’s Jewel in the Roma Cup. He’ll land perfectly right behind the speed pair. AMELIA’S JEWEL holds a special place in the hearts of WA Punters. She’s the one that most will be cheering for regardless of where their hard earnt is. Watch for her late. KING OF SPARTA looks an ideal Quokka type and is in the form of his life.

Numbers: 1 – 10 – 8 – 2

Suggested Bet – OVERPASS EACHWAY

Same Race Multi – Amelia’s Jewel (Top 3) + Overpass (Top 3)

Amelia’s Jewel and Overpass ran the quinella in the inaugural running of the Quokka in 2023 and renew hostilities in the 2024 edition worth a staggering $5m. Amelia’s Jewel suffered defeat first-up in the Roma Cup (1100) but ran the fastest L800, 600, 400 & 200 flashing home late. She’ll be ready on Saturday. Overpass won the 2023 Quokka – Winterbottom Stakes double and maps to get a gun run following stablemate Malkovich into the home corner. Both to run Top 3 again.

RACE 9

PHANTA is no doubt a better wet track horse and a better Belmont horse, however, he’s well suited at WFA, he trialled very well at Lark Hill (without visors), he is a gun fresh (7 starts for 3 wins and 3 seconds), he sits right up over the speed (which looks the place to be at Ascot on Saturday) and goes around double figures in betting. Many chances in a wide open Joey but he’s undeniably one of them. LACED UP HEELS is the up and comer. She lumped 60kg to gun them down in a ratings race last start and is back to the peak of her powers. She measures up at this level without doubt. WESTERN EMPIRE is a real X-Factor. Not a 1200m horse but his trial behind Baby Paris was sensational. Trust. HOT ZED was brave in the Roma Cup after being skittled at the 600.

Numbers: 12 – 16 – 2 – 5

Suggested Bet – PHANTA EACHWAY

RACE 10

THE BOSS LADY was simply breathtaking first-up. Her last to first 1000m win needs to be seen to be believed having missed the kick, settled out the back and then charged through late to snatch victory. Winner of 4 from 6, dropping 2kg in weight, getting out an extra 100m and Damian Lane jumps on as the cherry on top. Looks another wonderful chance for her to win yet again. LEXINGTON CITY will need to burn to find a spot but he’s going well. RUPERT’S EMPIRE has turned a corner and is making his way through the grades. THOMAS MAGNUM will sit back along the inside and look for the shortcuts home.

Numbers: 7 – 4 – 3 – 2

Suggested Bet – THE BOSS LADY WIN

Quaddie (Race 7 – 10)

2,6,7

1,2,7,8,9,10

2,5,6,12,13,15,16

7

Market Market



Recent Articles