Races

Scott Embry’s Saturday Ascot Preview

Posted on | Posted by Scott Embry

RACE 1

HAIDA GWAII and AMAROO STAR are both gunning for winning hat-tricks at the Ascot 1000. HAIDA GWAII has won both of her races from the breeze and looks destined to map in that same exact spot again. She’s high cruise speed and has a sharp little kick when attacking the leader and trying to hold on late. The key to her winning will be crossing Sinful Living and finding the outside of Tycoon Harry in the first 200. AMAROO STAR looks like he has a wonderful opportunity to take the step up and stalk the speed. That’s also identical to the position he has won his last two and if Haida Gwaii is in the breeze then he can sit one out, one back and follow her every move. TYCOON HARRY is a different horse when he can find the fence and that looks likely here. In front for a long way. KEEP ITA MYSTERY has a gear change and while he gives the impression he’s looking for further his best runs throughout his career have been at the short course.

Numbers: 4 – 5 – 6 – 3

Suggested Bet – HAIDA GWAII WIN

RACE 2

BASSET HOUND was the talk of the town leading into his debut off the back of a number of highly encouraging trials and then after his debut was the talk of the entire State. He was desperately unlucky and looked to be bolting in behind them when unable to get clear at any stage. Could definitely be a case of drawn wide being better than drawn low for a raw and new horse like him and kept out of trouble he looks very hard to hold out late. ABERDEEN FLYER ran third to Strideaway and Magic Millions winner Do I Feel Lucky as a 2 year old this time last year and then in winter ran second to future star 3 year old King of Light. He’s good and maps to get every favour. TWISTED STEEL went two for two as a juvenile but the bubble has burst since then. Thought he was plain first-up after lobbing three deep cover (where the winner came from). SOUND OF SPEED is a last start winner who rides the speed and now gets Pike.

Numbers: 5 – 4 – 1 – 2

Suggested Bet – BASSET HOUND WIN

RACE 3

DARYTE trialled brilliantly at Belmont when parking leader’s back and bursting through with a sharp turn of foot and then it was nearly rinse and repeat on debut. Once she saw daylight she put 3L on them very quickly and this time around she’s drawn barrier 1 and is an ideal, professional sit and sprint 2 year old. At this stage, she’s probably your Magic Millions Favourite and expect she’ll make it two from two. PROPERATA ran second to Red Lark on debut and was immediately tipped out to be aimed up at the Magic Millions. His 400m jump out on Monday was slick and he should be able to get across into a prominent position close handy. EDDIETEMPLE beat now Saturday winner Wolf Whistle Zel in a barrier trial just over 7 weeks ago. MARIA LUCIA looked professional at trials and hails from WA’s most prolific juvenile yard.

Numbers: 1 – 2 – 6 – 13

Suggested Bet – DARYTE WIN

RACE 4

SONOFTHEBOSS was a really good run at an unsuitable 1000m two back and then got the job done 7 days later this track/distance/grade. He’s going along really well and has always been extremely honest and consistent. Kind of horse that will always go around near eachway and provided he can slot in behind Urquharts Bluff and Horcrux (or jump well enough to cross them?) he’ll be right in the finish again. SUPERNATURAL matched motors with now Scenic Blast winner Jaz Session before winning the Fitzpatrick Plate. Forgive and forget last start when she couldn’t get clear when she needed to. Shades go on for the first time and she should get last crack at them. FANCY RED ran well fresh at 1200 but will she be quickly looking for further? HORCRUX has always been a nice horse and goes well fresh, especially when drawn low to get a soft run.

Numbers: 1 – 2 – 3 – 6

Suggested Bet – SONOFTHEBOSS EACHWAY

RACE 5

RALLY THE TROOPS won a 0MWLY at Bunbury three back, ran well into third behind Stylish Lord and subsequent winner Great Fortune two back and then here last Saturday went around equal favourite in a competitive 66+. Backing up, dropping in grade and maps well. Plenty to like. ON PATROL hasn’t been an easy horse to catch across his career but his trial and two runs in this prep have all been encouraging and now he goes from a claiming apprentice to Pike. RAPID ROCK caught the eye (again) last start and in a race completely devoid of speed there’s a big chance Brandon Louis finds himself in front controlling and dictating terms to them. DECISION MAKER was only 2.5L off them first-up in a 66+ and sneaks back into a 60+ Graduation second-up.

Numbers: 3 – 2 – 7 – 1

Suggested Bet – RALLY THE TROOPS WIN

RACE 6

FOREVER DREAMING is back to her best and is the kind of mare who always goes around eachway and when finding form rarely runs a bad race. She’ll park up close handy and looks another big chance for Col Webster Jnr and this time Troy Turner to kick home an emotional winner for Boss. 1800 back to 1500, rock hard fit and can sit right over the speed. MANGIFERA has hit her straps now with back to back wins. Toyed with C1 rivals and then dug deep from the breeze to get the better of big maiden winner The Scholar at Bunbury in a C3. Another nice stepping stone here and has the versatility to overcome the gate. DEFENDING has always been a nice Westspeed Platinum / c70+ type and last weekend was huge in defeat when wide and working from start to finish. Will get it far cheaper along the fence line on the back-up. SHOW THE WAY ran a big minor fresh. Can he reproduce?

Numbers: 4 – 6 – 1 – 7

Suggested Bet – FOREVER DREAMING WIN

RACE 7

SILVER EYE and FAMOUS DAIN went head to head at 1400m two starts ago and there’s a 1.5kg weight swing in favour of FAMOUS DAIN for a 1L margin. They wear the same colours, they look like making their runs together and with the weight swing there’s a great chance for FAMOUS DAIN to pinch a $100,000 feature. SILVER EYE was dominant last start at 1500m and is every chance of winning back to back features at the now 1600. He will likely settle a pair in front of Famous Dain (as he did the day they last met) and from there it will come down to who pulls the trigger at the right time. BRUCE ALMIGHTY reunites with Chris Parnham who has ridden him to 9 of his 10 wins and he can either lead or stalk. BATTLE COMMANDER has really come of age this prep and back to a mile help.

Numbers: 5 – 3 – 1 – 7

Suggested Bet – FAMOUS DAIN WIN

Same Race Multi – Silver Eye (Top 3) + Famous Dain (Top 3)

There looks two main players in the Ascot Mile and they both wear the colours of Neville Duncan’s Oakland Park. Silver Eye is looking for a winning Hatrick at 1400, 1500 and now 1600m and maps to get all the favours, while Famous Dain has returned in career best form and is looking to turn the tables on Silver Eye from their last encounter with a 1.5kg weight swing and Pike.

RACE 8

CASHEL PALACE won a 66+ 1400 before stepping into 72+ company where only 2L off now 81+ winner Silver Eye and 66+ winner Famous Dain, the pairing who will dominate betting in the Ascot Mile earlier in the program. Shades on first time and back into a 66+ from a barrier where she can park just behind a moderate tempo and be within striking distance. Profiles like a nice race for her on paper. REDBACK FLYER hasn’t been seen since Westspeed Platinum Day some 6 weeks ago. Must have had a minor set back which is a red flag, especially with a horse who races in Pads (front)? DEAMBER can do it tough in her races and clearly runs for Holly Nottle. Brave again last weekend. DESENNEA has found a bit of form in the last two starts and gets back into his right grade.

Numbers: 3 – 6 – 5 – 2

Suggested Bet – CASHEL PALACE WIN

RACE 9 

TOO DARN STORMY made a serious impression on debut as a 2 year old and then had the tables turned on him at Pinjarra by now Burgess Queen Stakes winning filly Playin’ It Sweet. This 60+ Grad looks a great kick-off point for his preparation, he has trialled up well on two separate occasions and Danny Morton’s yard has been hot with first-up horses in the last fortnight (Hubbles Dragon, Bohemian Diamond, Wonderfully Made, Girls Day Out). DE GRANDHOMME is just getting better and better with racing and continues to raise the bar. After bolting in a 60+ Grad two starts back they rode him forward to the breeze last weekend and he was only run down late by an emerging mare in Bohemian Diamond. Versatile and in form. MARDUSA may want a touch further than 1100 but he’ll be storming home late. AVOIDANCE is a hard nut to crack when he can lead and considering he led them at 1000 he’ll put himself right up in the speed battle with Earth God and Lucky I Am.

Numbers: 9 – 1 – 8 – 3

Suggested Bet – TOO DARN STORMY WIN

Quaddie (Race 6 – 9)

1,4,6,7

3,5

3,5,6

1,8,9

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