Races

Scott Embry’s Saturday Ascot Preview

RACE 1

WESTERN RHYTHM was super at her return to racing when savaging the line late and with any ounce of luck earlier in the straight would have made a real race of it. Is a winner on a Soft7 which is a natural positive going into the weekend and provided Ben Paterson can keep her out of trouble he gets a brilliant opportunity to notch a Saturday winner. LACEVINSKY was the target of huge money last start and ran another frustrating Lacevinsky race. Blinkers on first time and an aggressive 3kg claiming apprentice engaged. PORPHYRIO is first-up at 1400 but absolute loves it wet. WILD FUSION was a first-up winner last campaign and Earl O’Loughlin does a super job with his small team.

Numbers: 11 – 1 – 6 – 7

Suggested Bet – WESTERN RHYTHM EACHWAY


RACE 2

KITGUM was the run of the meeting first-up for Paul Roberts and Mitchell Pateman. Was a day when it was extremely hard to make any ground and was a race where the on-pace brigade dominated. He was hitting the line better than anything and can settle much closer from the draw. HOME IN FIVE was completely luckless two starts ago and then backed as if unbeatable at Bunbury on Cup day when duly saluting. Can box seat from the draw and travels powerfully in the run. TAJMALI is as honest and consistent and tough as they come. Will roll across and battle away on speed. SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK is enigmatic but his turn of acceleration on his day is electric.

Numbers: 4 – 5 – 1 – 2

Suggested Bet – KITGUM EACHWAY


RACE 3

EEYORE WAYZ drops from a Group 3 Weight for Age where he carried 58.5kg back into a 66+ where he also carries 58.5kg. To get within 2L of Valour Road, Essential Spice, Rock Magic, Stageman and Mervyn at WFA was incredible and now with the blinkers on, Chris Parnham back on and drawn a gate to settle off them and rattle late he looks a standout. RESORTMAN is capable of continuing his charge through the grades. Highly impressive type who can pull himself forward to offset the barrier but still has to be a chance of being planted deep the trip. MUMS MY HERO is a super consistent type making his WA debut. Lightly raced, imposing overall record and trialled impressively. STATE ATTORNEY is always a chance when drawn to settle three back the fence.

Numbers: 2 – 5 – 1 – 4

Suggested Bet – EEYORE WAYZ WIN


RACE 4

KELVIN went enormous first-up at 1400m. Did a power of work early to cross, never took a breather and still had the audacity to give a big kick turning for home. Was only run down late by two highly promising 3 year olds in Dom to Shoot and Em Tee Aye. Overall race time was 4.5L faster than average and he was responsible for that tempo. Gets it far cheaper here and is a winner on a Soft7 and placed on a Soft6. SON OF BACCHUS comes back into a far more suitable race and he loves being able to box seat in his races. LUKE’S GOLD is a marvel and Roy Rogers has him back in some of his best form. DIG DEEP a watch with blinkers on and senior on.

Numbers: 7 – 10 – 5 – 4

Suggested Bet – KELVIN EACHWAY


RACE 5

TRULY GREAT is an intriguing addition to the 2020 RJ Peters with a golden ticket into the Railway Stakes on offer. Most were expecting to see him beat up on them in the Ascot Gold Cup on his way to the Perth Cup but Bob Peters changes path in an attempt to get him into the Group 1 next weekend. Risky betting proposition coming back in trip at this stage of the campaign but is super progressive and capable of winning. TRUE ATTRACTION couldn’t have done any more last start when settling back off a farcical tempo. Ran the best closing sections from the 1000m onwards. FLOW is one of the few horses actually within the handicap and he goes 5L better for Pateman than anyone else. MEDIA BARON should be ready to improve.

Numbers: 9 – 8 – 1 – 3

Suggested Bet – TRULY GREAT WIN


RACE 6

TOO CLOSE THE SUN was eye catching at his return when getting off the back of talented front runner Red Can Man and putting in a short sharp sprint before being run down by current Railway Stakes favourite Inspirational Girl. Looks like Joseph Azzopardi can roll straight to the front here, wet track, compressed weight scale and looks like he can win a fair few of these summer staying features. DOUBLE DIGIT is in career best form and you would think that 1800m is about his best distance. Drops 4kg and is flying. FRIARESQUE has come back a better horse this preparation. Liz Strempel has him going super and can win this. MYSTERY MISS simply isn’t an apprentice horse. Senior rider on is huge for her.

Numbers: 2 – 5 – 6 – 9

Suggested Bet – TOO CLOSE THE SUN WIN


RACE 7

SNICKERDOODLEDANDY looks the one again. Was $9 into $5 in the Burgess Queen when gunning down stablemate Kissonallforcheeks in the last few strides. Her sectionals were outstanding and the scary part was her last 400 and last 200 when she was actually running away from them in meeting best times. Only better suited at 1600, loves a wet track and looks poised to win another feature. SOLAIA was caught in the wrong part of the track. Should be an improver here. KISSONALLFORCHEEKS is a star filly. Proved herself at 1400 last start and needs to elevate again at a mile. MAGICAL DREAM needs luck from the draw but clearly as the acceleration to win with the right run in transit.

Numbers: 2 – 8 – 3 – 4

Suggested Bet – SNICKERDOODLEDANDY WIN


RACE 8

FLIRTINI is a dynamite fresh horse and brings the X-Factor to the race. She hasn’t contested any of the traditional lead up sprints (Prince of Wales/Crawford) btut draws a gate to stalk the speed and has always historically been able to match motors with the likes of Stageman, Fabergino and Rock Magic. That should put her in the mix here and Simon Miller’s yard is starting to hit top gear. INDIAN PACIFIC was truck loaded last start and duly saluted. Career best win because he looked in trouble at the top of the straight. This is tougher but he is all class. STAGEMAN bombed the start at his most recent and all winning chances went out the window. His final 100 was breathtaking. CELEBRITY QUEEN gets in on the minimum and has a big turn of foot.

Numbers: 5 – 9 – 6 – 14

Suggested Bet – FLIRTINI EACHWAY


RACE 9

REBEL KNIGHT did a massive job last week with 61kg. The first 800m of the race was run 7.5L faster than average and he was right over the top of the speed doing all the donkey work. The rest of the on speed horses got a stitch at the top of the straight and he fought on bravely. Drops in weight, backs up off 7 days and can again settle right on top of the speed. Knocking on the door. EM TEE AYE didn’t get any luck in the Fairetha Stakes when connections put in a tactic change. His previous win over Dom To Shoot (and Rebel Knight) was huge. NAUGHTY BY NATURE copped a stack of interference last week when Noir De Rue almost fell mid-race. Getting mighty close now. PHONEME has thrived with Michael Lane but will need a C.Parnham special from the draw.

Numbers: 3 – 9 – 10 – 6

Suggested Bet – REBEL KNIGHT EACHWAY


Quad (R6 – R9)

1,2,5,6,9
2,3,4,8
2,3,5,6,9,11,12,13
3,9,10