Races

Scott Embry’s Saturday Ascot Preview

Posted on | Posted by Scott Embry

RACE 1

TEXAN DREAM looks jump and run and when you consider that Luke Fernie won this race last year with Capitola off the same preparation (Belmont Park 400m jump out two weeks before Opening Day) then he becomes increasingly attractive. An entire field of unraced 2 year olds is more or less guesswork but Texan Dream (23.27) did go quicker than 3 year old winner King’s Court (23.96) did two heats later. FIREARM comes from a yard who can produce a nice youngster on debut and was asked for very little in his barrier trial. TIGERLAND kept building into his trial and like the way he stuck at it. SOVEREIGN ROCK has had a lot of schooling.

Numbers: 6 – 3 – 7 – 4

Suggested Bet – TEXAN DREAM WIN

RACE 2

LINCHPIN could not have been more impressive on debut with a barnstorming three deep cover style win sweeping past his rivals at 1400m. He was nominated for the 1600 and the 1800 and looks like both those distance ranges will be right up his alley (and in time maybe even the 2400 of the WATC Derby). He looks to have huge upside and gets in on the 54kg minimum. Like the horse. ROMANTIC RULER only won his second race in a C1 1650 at Belmont two back but then had excuses in a 66+ behind Decision Maker (who he beat home the start prior). EXQUISITE TASTE is a former $460,000 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale purchase and is starting to put it all together. Can box seat on Frappuccino. CAVALLO RED got a long overdue confidence boosting win last start.

Numbers: 11 – 4 – 9 – 2

Suggested Bet – LINCHPIN WIN

RACE 3

ANTIQUE STAR is out to a staying trip for the first time in her life but after the 3kg claim of Amy Jo Hayes who is getting plenty of opportunities for Peters Investments she does look nicely placed. As a general rule of thumb Bob’s horses stay and see no reason why she can’t step up to the distance and win at her first attempt against a line-up of horses who have been caught in this grade for a while. She’s the progressive horse. LYRICAL ANGEL is knocking on the door and is ready to win. She’s got a bit of versatility and a bit of toughness about her. MAGIC WHISTLE is an old battler who usually picks up a race each preparation. He’s going better than numerical form suggests. LOMBADINA got caught flat footed when the sprint went on last start. Barrier 1 suits her.

Numbers: 2 – 7 – 3 – 5

Suggested Bet – ANTIQUE STAR WIN

RACE 4

SURFSIDE SESSION is a lightly raced 4 year old who can work his way through the grades and this Westspeed Platinum looks a nice stepping stone for him. The speed will be on here (Hit The Jackpot, Uukhai, Scorpion Ruler, My Lovely Pet – all drawn wide) and that should allow Troy Turner to park up in behind them and present at the right time on straightening. Still think he wants a set of shades but still happy to keep following him without them for now. SCORPION RULER was allowed to run in her trial and did finish nearly 4L in front of highly impressive midweek winner Fast Harry. She’s more than capable. KRAKEN TIME is an enigma and can’t see barrier 1 helping his cause? Good luck Holly. MOHEGAN RULER has been a costly conveyance since an impressive debut win as a 2 year old.

Numbers: 7 – 8 – 6 – 12

Suggested Bet – SURFSIDE SESSION EACHWAY

RACE 5

KAY TEE WHY v ALL PLAY looks the story of the 72+ 1000 on Opening Day. KAY TEE WHY returned in a blaze of glory and registered his third first-up win of his career when recording the fastest L400 & L200 of the entire meeting in an effortless return. ALL PLAY is a fresh, Ascot 1000m horse who can tow ball Ginnivan / Cessation / Do I Feel Lucky and be the first to attack on straightening. In a toss of the coin we’ll go the bigger price and side up with ALL PLAY ahead of KAY TEE WHY. They’re both better than their opponents. DO I FEEL LUCKY faces his toughest opposition to date but trialled up well. GINNIVAN is hard to place with his rating.

Numbers: 3 – 6 – 10 – 1

Suggested Bet – ALL PLAY WIN

RACE 6

CENTRE BOND has been a patience testing, character building struggle for punters so far in his career but he’s going super at the minute and strikes a winnable race at an eachway quote. Looks to be a three deep cover line and if it can bring him within striking distance on straightening then he’s a live chance. GREAT EMOTION was desperately unlucky last start when held up and blocked for a run at a crucial stage on straightening. Once she finally got clear the race was all over and CJP looked after her. HYMNS OF ELADDAIR trialled brilliantly and won accordingly fresh. ASPHALT won three on the bounce in his initial prep, but all on wet tracks. Can he do it on top of the ground first-up, no trial?

Numbers: 6 – 11 – 1 – 4

Suggested Bet – CENTRE BOND EACHWAY

RACE 7

ROMMEO is worth a watch of the replay last start in a 66+ 1400 behind Essentric Nature. He’s not a wet track horse, he’s not a first-up or second-up horse, and now he’s back to Ascot, back in grade and out to a distance where he’s 1/1. Can settle up close handy here and likely gets out into double figures. OLD MATE HENRY won by half the straight last start to break his maiden, but keep in mind, every single one of these would have beaten that line-up by a similar margin. Just wary that with Pike he could go around a bit short. MAXWHOOSHTAPIN is a big lump of a horse who can slowly work his way into the race from out deep. He’ll go through his grades this prep. ROCK IN WONDER will be sent forward and likely allowed to stride out mid-race.

Numbers: 7 – 11 – 1 – 5

Suggested Bet – ROMMEO EACHWAY

RACE 8

TWISTED STEEL looks a beast. He has beaten nothing so far: everything from his Northam maiden win is still a maiden; winners out of his Bunbury SWP win are Paint It Red, Sherpa Express and Girls On Fire – no comparison to his rivals here, but it’s been the manner in which he has won and the time figures he has produced that get you really excited about where his future may be. YES QUEEN went around $1.60 at her return in the Supremacy Stakes last year and then was brought undone by a ridiculously quick first section and was vulnerable late. They’ve ridden her conservatively since and she’s run some rippers. She’s a really nice filly. TALKANCO is the Gimcrack, Karrakatta Plate winner resuming who will only get better with distance. LUANA MISS went into the Gimcrack undefeated and had genuine excuses.

Numbers: 3 – 5 – 1 – 6

Suggested Bet – TWISTED STEEL WIN

Same Race Multi – Twisted Steel (Top 2) + Yes Queen (Top 3)

Twisted Steel is two from two undefeated and looks to have a huge future ahead of him. Has smashed the clock on both occasions and looks to park and ride following Kings Court. Hard to run down. Yes Queen has a real X-Factor about her. She’s versatile and she’s trialled super for her return.

RACE 9

OPPORTUNISTIC is three from three undefeated having stepped from a maiden into a Raconteur Stakes and Belmont Guineas. He’s got serious X-Factor and wouldn’t read too much into his 950m trial when ridden forward. This is his acid test against more seasoned opponents and a really good measuring stick for where he’s at. Think he’s the one the market will come for. FIRST ENCOUNTER is the way that CJP has elected to ride and that decision must be shown huge respect. He’s got a massive L600. CAPTAIN PLUTO is lethal fresh. Never missed the money first-up, never missed the money at 1400m and has won first-up 1400m off one trial his last two preps. FAST FLICKER was the disappointment of the Hannans. She’s better than that.

Numbers: 9 – 13 – 1 – 4

Suggested Bet – OPPORTUNISTIC WIN

RACE 10 

PLAYIN IT SWEET is a really nice filly gunning for four in a row. She won first-up, no trial over 1000m at Belmont Park and had to push her way into the clear and show a sharp turn of foot to win. Second-up she’s out to a more suitable 1200m, maps to park midfield with cover and gets in on the 54kg minimum. Love the placement, love the map, love the filly. MARDUSA is another well placed 3 year old taking on the older horses. The Max Simmonds would have been too sharp for him so this is a great race for him and when watching his trials remember – no shades. EXCEED THE PLANET is only a maiden winner but he’s got serious ability. ELITEONE beat Immortal Bliss last start and he bolted in at Kal.

Numbers: 15 – 14 – 7 – 3

Suggested Bet – PLAYIN IT SWEET EACHWAY

Quaddie (Race 7 – 10)

1,7,11

1,3,5

1,4,9,13

3,7,14,15

Market Market




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