Races

Scott Embry’s Saturday Ascot Preview

Scott Embry’s Preview

Race 1

LIKE A BUTTERFLY looks primed third up from a spell to break back into the winner’s circle. Hit the line well first-up from last over 1400 and then was narrowly defeated by Jeraft last start who she gets 1.5kg and a gate advantage over. Sits in the box seat, hard to beat. REVEILLE is flying and looks to have recaptured her zest for racing. Reeled off brilliant sections last start. JERAFT is in a rich vein of form but loses regular rider and settles last. MIRACLE MAN was a bit stiff last week in a Group 3 event.

Numbers: 2 – 7 – 1 – 3

Suggested Bet – LIKE A BUTTERFLY WIN


Race 2

STAGEMAN has been very well supported at all three runs this preparation and has only saluted when drawing a soft gate. His effort last start in defeat was still full of merit. Great late sections. PRETENTIOUS CHANT has been hard to watch his last two starts. He does a lot wrong in the run but is very talented and should be pinching one at odds soon. MINUS LOOKS comes across to sit outside likely leader The Nicconian and is never far away. THE NICCONIAN controlled from the front and dominated last start, this is harder.

Numbers: 6 – 4 – 8 – 12

Suggested Bet – STAGEMAN WIN


Race 3

FREO has gone up 18 ratings points in the month and is certainly not well in at the weights but you can’t deny he is low flying. Last weekend’s race was a glorified 81+ ratings race and this is arguably tougher but the way he is going still hard to roll. PINZU usually fires fresh, has the bars removed and gets a gun hoop onto his back. Best chance to win a black type race he’ll get. IN LOVE WITH PARIS is likely to go round short for a horse who was beaten fair and square in a 66+ last start but gets it soft. STATE SOLICITOR is a query at the trip and really at the cross roads in his career.

Numbers: 4 – 6 – 9 – 2

Suggested Bet – FREO WIN


Race 4

PABLO’S POEM is drawn awkwardly on paper but there is a huge amount of speed drawn in various parts of the line. Expect they may string out early when finding positions and trusting Williams to get the big grey in. He is flying. FIRE AND RAIN beat him last start and gets a 3.5kg weight swing in his favour. He’ll sit in the breeze and keep coming. DANCE MUSIC sat three deep the trip last start and was still too strong. The sections read up super, she could be a genuine top liner. CUP NIGHT was held up at crucial stages in the same race and was never fully tested.

Numbers: 2 – 1 – 8 – 4

Suggested Bet – PABLO’S POEM WIN


Race 5

SALON DU CHEVAL looks likely to roll straight to the top in a staying race completely devoid of speed. He should be given every chance to control and dictate the speed. From there he is hard to run down. ELEGANT BLAST will be back in the field and she is in career best form. Really does deserve to win a race like this. PRIZE CATCH was a query at 1800m but came through with flying colours. Amazing horse, won from 1000 to 1800 and now a legitimate chance in a Listed 2100. ROYAL STAR could well find herself in the breeze here and she gets in under the radar to an extent.

Numbers: 11 – 6 – 1 – 3

Suggested Bet – SALON DU CHEVAL EACHWAY


Race 6

MISTY METAL is reunited with her regular senior rider for the first time this preparation and drops weight as well. Draw looks bad on paper but looks as though she will slide across and could even find the fence. If she leads or breezes she’ll give a mighty sight. CELEBRITY DREAM owned these Fillies and Mares series last year. She’ll get a fair way off them but at the weights scale she is clearly the one to beat. CAIPIRINHA has not seen a race of this quality in a while and if she follows Misty Metal across could get a soft run for once. PEARLS AND PRAWNS has a brilliant turn of foot and exciting X-Factor about her. Draw makes it tough.

Numbers: 6 – 2 – 1 – 12

Suggested Bet – MISTY METAL EACHWAY


Race 7 

ARCADIA QUEEN has been touted as the best 3  year old in the State for a fair while and last week in her effortless Champion Fillies win she really did stamp herself with that label. Backing up off 7 days, draws a gate, Pike back on and drops weight. She has Guineas & Kingston Town written all over her. LADY COSMOLOGY comes from the same race and if she comes out underneath The Velvet King could get cover right on top of the speed. She is all class too. JUNIPAL looks the biggest Eastern States danger. PLATOON was awesome in the Fairetha but will need to pull out something special here.

Numbers: 15 – 14 – 10 – 5

Suggested Bet – ARCADIA QUEEN WIN


Race 8

MATERIAL MAN is simply a marvel. Winner of 14 races including 4 Group and 3 Listed from only 23 starts. He has been trialing like a proper sprinter, let alone at miler. From the gate he clears those drawn inside him and slots in right behind Wrinkly and Great Shot. Gets every chance for G1 Glory. GALAXY STAR has the turn of foot to get her out of trouble. Punters nation-wide will be looking to Pikey to weave his magic. MAN BOOKER has a big race Jockey engaged and from that awkward gate will come charging across. If he gets in, live chance. GATTING settles three back the fence and unleashes his customary turn of foot late. Stable utilize bar plates excellently, no worries there.

Numbers: 1 – 11 – 3 – 4

Suggested Bet – MATERIAL MAN EACHWAY


Race 9

MOET DE VEGA looks likely to lob straight into the box seat and with most rivals getting a fair way off him in the run he does look the logical way home in the last. Win first-up was strong and the horse he beat goes very good. ONE SHORT was a touch disappointing first-up on face value but is a 72+ winner in a 66+ here and positions up well. ROYAL STATUE came back from a bleeding related spell in style. No reason to knock him. THE FUGAZI is a Saturday horse and is still learning and improving. If he drew a gate would be on top.

Numbers: 9 – 2 – 7 – 14

Suggested Bet – MOET DE VEGA WIN


Quaddie (Race 6 – 9)

1,2,3,6,7,12

14,15

1,2,3,4,11,12

2,7,9,14

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