Races

Scott Embry’s Saturday Ascot Preview

Posted on | Posted by Scott Embry

RACE 1

WATTO’S MARK won a very similar race two starts back before heading to the WA Breeders Classic, a race that has produced the Challenge Stakes winner in Playin’ It Sweet plus one of the more impressive C1 winners of recent memory in Excess Baggage. Back to the short course and can stalk the speed. Looks the mapped horse. CASTLE ROAD has 3 Ascot 1000m wins to his name and was back to his blistering best at trials, including a 23.95m 400m jump out and a 1000m trial win. If Cass Martinan can cross them it’s game on. SWINGMAN is a lightly raced 3 year old with some upside and is already a Saturday winner himself. RIPPER RUPERT backs up out of the 3 year old Magic Millions. Think he’s a short courser.

Numbers: 4 – 1 – 3 – 2

Suggested Bet – WATTO’S MARK WIN

RACE 2

SNIPPY WHICH could be on the 3 day spin from Wednesday to Saturday. He’ll be re-handicapped to 61.5kg (59.5kg after the Holly Nottle claim) and it’s definitely a winnable race, however, I’m more a stayers quick back-up than sprinters quick back-up operator so we’ll look to take him on at <$3. Happy to be proven wrong (and could of course still scratch). BEST MOOD was ridden like the best horse in the race and bolted in at his Chris & Michael Gangeni debut and if he holds the top here then he should give plenty of cheek and considering he’s 1200 back to 1000m he should be strong at the finish. RISE TO GLORY has caught the eye in each run this prep in far tougher grade, however, the map looks ugly? Back/wide. CHOP SUEY did everything wrong fresh in a complete forgive.

Numbers: 5 – 1 – 8 – 2

Suggested Bet – BEST MOOD WIN

RACE 3

MORNING THUNDER looks well and truly above average from what we’ve seen to date. He was purchased for $200,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale in 2025, had a Jump Out at Wangaratta over 600m in September 2025 and has had one public appearance in WA which was over 1000m (rare for Luke Fernie) but trialled super. Happy to gamble on him on debut in what looks quite an open and competitive 2 year old 1000. ACHY BREAKY comes through the Maria Lucia / Daryte / Yamanex form reference race which was the A-Grade form in the 2 year old Magic Millions (three of first four across the line). Still think she wants further than 1000 but it was a highly impressive run visually and sectionally. RUTHLESS ANGEL descended upon them on debut but this race looks to have far more depth to it. SWIFT RULER is one many trial watchers will be wanting to side up with but the barrier hurts.

Numbers: 3 – 8 – 1 – 5

Suggested Bet – MORNING THUNDER WIN

RACE 4 

BOHEMIAN DIAMOND was dominant first-up and kept fresh here at the 1200m she looks hard to toss again. From that barrier Brad Parnham should be able to give her a near identical run in transit, parking close handy behind the speed and bursting clear on straightening. Has always been an electric mare first-up, now needs to prove that she can do it multiple times in a preparation. ROLLING RULER will be the second favourite behind her and is more than capable of toppling her if the splits come his way. Still not convinced barrier 1 does him any favours but love the way he’s attacked the line in every career outing. REPEATER might be a wet tracker, but if he can go to 80% of that level on a Good3/4 he’s a blow out chance. EN PLEIN AIR sits back and looks to sprint hard late.

Numbers: 5 – 6 – 4 – 8

Suggested Bet – BOHEMIAN DIAMOND WIN

RACE 5

SONOFTHEBOSS has just continued to improve and improve into this preparation. Flashed late at an unsuitable 1000 three back before winning back to back 1200m events in 66+ company. Now steps into 72+ grade but finds a race without much speed and pressure (relative to this level) and he should land into a prominent spot without burning much fuel. The way he’s going he’ll be hard to beat again. IMMORTAL BLISS ran a ripper first-up and then was solid in defeat in the Mt Barker Sprint. Like him fresh, like him back to 1200m. SIBERIAN SIREN is lumped with 60kg but she’s a classy mare and Sean & Jake Casey are training winners for fun at the minute. ELITEONE bounced back to his best last preparation after a campaign or two where he lost his way.

Numbers: 4 – 7 – 3 – 10

Suggested Bet – SONOFTHEBOSS WIN

RACE 6

LILLIAN looks like the typical Bob & Sandra Peters mare who will continue to work her way through the grades. At the end of her first Australian preparation she found herself in a Belmont Oaks and wasn’t disgraced behind Fancy Red and key rival Kimberley Rose and she’s clearly come back bigger and stronger this time around at 4. She’ll get ground no worries and from the draw she can park midfield, get things soft and unleash her sharp turn of foot late. Looks very winnable for her. KIMBERLEY ROSE was well supported in late betting last start and duly saluted. She extended strongly and ran right through the line and like Lillian is a stayer on the rise. LATE ARRIVAL was a late scratching at Pinjarra last week. Showed most recently he can run the trip and should settle first 4 at double figures. AUDIO BOY continues to find ways to finish second or third.

Numbers: 5 – 3 – 4 – 6

Suggested Bet – LILLIAN WIN

RACE 7

STREET BAND does seem to lack a killer blow, but we’re getting an eachway price about a highly consistent horse who is drawn to get all the favours and is always there abouts. There’s a few queries on the horses in the market and it looks a race that he might just be able to sneak away with. Should be right place, right time. FANCY RED got the better of subsequent 72+ winner Platinum Shot in the final stride last start after hugging the fence and pinching inside runs. Does it far tougher here under a big weight from a wide draw. GREAT FORTUNE might not be an apprentice’s horse? The seniors struggled to get him to jump and travel, big ask of Chanel Cooper but he was huge last start in a race where they simply went too fast. TOURETTO had bar plates going on last start and was 1600 back to 1400m but safely overcame those obstacles. Back out in trip and bars back off again!

Numbers: 9 – 1 – 4 – 12

Suggested Bet – STREET BAND EACHWAY

RACE 8

REDBACK FLYER will need to elevate start to start coming out of a 66+ win but he’s a lightly raced, progressive 4 year old who can roll forward and make his own luck. Expect that Battle Commander will lead and then Fly With Caution / Red Sun Sensation / Redback Flyer will come across together and look for positions – hopefully they can sort that out between themselves. This race should be ~$5.50 the field and he’s one of many chances. RIVER RUBICON has been lumping top weight in features recently and does get a bit of relief under the SWP conditions. Don’t mind him at a big quote, going along well and racing like he wants 1800. FLY WITH CAUTION was run down by a nice horse last start in Our Paladin Al. He’s back to his best. RED SUN SENSATION will need a good steer from a tough draw but did win a Northam Cup last prep.

Numbers: 13 – 1 – 12 – 2

Suggested Bet – REDBACK FLYER EACHWAY

Same Race Multi – Redback Flyer (Top 4) + River Rubicon (Top 4)

This race has to be eachway the field and probably has 5 horses jump under $10 and another 5 between $10 & $20. Can play really conservative and lock in just two horses to finish Top 4. Going with the up and coming stayer Redback Flyer alongside one of the older boys in River Rubicon. Kind of SRM which is low investment at juicy odds.

RACE 9

DE GRANDHOMME started his preparation heading to Geraldton in C2 races but the deeper into the campaign he has gone, the better he has been going. It’s an unknown the 1400m but he’s in tremendous form and he’s got a 2kg claimer who is striking at 18.4% over the last 90 days. In a wide open race with 7/8 legitimate chances, he’s the dart we’ll throw.  SNIPPETY LEGEND is coming out of Geraldton and not even convinced he’s the best horse that Tony Scally has (Scurgeofthewest / Bolta) but he’s in great winning form and deserve a crack in town. DON’T TRUST JUDAS ran well behind now 72+ winner Platinum Shot and then never got a crack at them in the home straight last weekend at Pinjarra. YOUGIVEMECHILLS was able to sprint sharply first-up to score but always a query on those mid-week rail out, cutaway meetings.

Numbers: 1 – 8 – 6 – 13

Suggested Bet – DE GRANDHOMME EACHWAY

Quaddie (Race 6 – 9)

3,5

1,2,4,7,9,12

1,2,5,12,13

1,6,8,10,13

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