Races

Scott Embry’s Saturday Belmont Preview

Posted on | Posted by Scott Embry

RACE 1

GODDESS OF GIVING resumed over 1000m at Ascot last season off the back of two 400m jump outs. She ran a slashing second behind Street Parade and then second-up beat Sky Duke. Lou Luciani follows the proven formula here and again she’s won 2x 400m jump outs. Lets the speed go and winds up late. SKY DUKE should be able to work across to park outside of speedy filly Work In Progress. He’ll have to do all the work with 60kg but since winning this track and distance three starts ago he has seen two heavily rain affected surfaces and has held his own. RUPERT’S EMPIRE and EMPRESS OF INDIA come through the same race. There’s very little between them.

Numbers: 2 – 1 – 6 – 3

Suggested Bet – GODDESS OF GIVING WIN

RACE 2

CHAMPAGNE STREET has the form on the board. On debut she split A Lot Of Good Men and boom filly Super Smink before running a slashing third behind Super Smink and Snow Prince in the 2 year old Pinjarra Magic Millions. Her trial was seriously good when near matching motors with high quality un-raced colt Rocket Juice and provided she stays within striking distance expect she’s very hard to hold out. MORE SPECIAL is a tough filly. She’ll jump, she’ll run and she’ll fight with everything she’s got. BIONDO has looked good at trials. May want further but he’s drawn to get a lovely run. SAPPHIRE STREET showed glimpses when last in work.

Numbers: 8 – 1 – 4 – 12

Suggested Bet – CHAMPAGNE STREET WIN

RACE 3

DIFFERENTIATOR can be forgiven for one below par performance. Her previous win over subsequent 66+ winner Pray Again was simply dominant and coming back to 1400m and drawing a gate she appeals as the one to beat. Willing to give her a mulligan and judge her on her previous two starts in the campaign. CASTILLO DEL LAGO is a bit of a tease but he has a senior rider going on and he has a map which suggests he’ll find the fence and get things completely his own way. WITHOUT REG looked like he was ready to make a race of it last start before being chopped out along the inside. REIGN OF FIRE is racing well but does seem to lack a killer blow.

Numbers: 9 – 7 – 3 – 1

Suggested Bet – DIFFERENTIATOR WIN

RACE 4

TALK IT UP is flying in the Goldfields. Brayden Gaerth looks to have elected to ride him over On The Full which is a great sign, he’s proven on the back-up and in a handicapping sense looks really well weighted (was a m69 in November and has since won 3 races and is only a m71 now). MEGA REWARD finished 1L off Olga Louisa and Premium Choice in a 66+ last week, he now drops back into a 60+ Graduation, is a winner off 8 days and 7 days previously and maps to get a great run stalking a strong speed. Double figures look attractive. UNIVERSAL PLAYBOY maps to get a gun run. HE’SGOTWINGS has a horror draw.

Numbers: 1 – 4 – 6 – 10

Suggested Bet – TALK IT UP WIN

RACE 5

KEEP ATTACKING has his first start for Grant & Alana Williams as one of many former Todd Harvey horses who have been transferred across. Comes into this a month between outings and was horribly unlucky last start when left searching for a run for the majority of the home straight. He’s more than capable of making his way through the grades. COMIC HERO never got into the race last week from three back the fence in a walk. Big forgive. YEMAN LASS looks like getting things her own way out in front. DORADO has a negative racing pattern but his fresh run in a higher grade was outstanding.

Numbers: 4 – 11 – 7 – 5

Suggested Bet – KEEP ATTACKING WIN

RACE 6

VAST ART is a serious animal. He was able to overcome a hoof abscess and a 5 week gap between runs to go from winning the Listed Raconteur Stakes to beating the older horses in a 78+. When considering that he didn’t get clear until the 200 last Saturday he’s done an outstanding job to gun them done. Does rise 6kg but he’s extremely progressive and extremely impressive. CRESCENT CITY continues to run big races. He’s come back to racing in career best form and is savaging the line. WESTRIVER MIRACLE can be forgiven for last start when he endured a tough run from a poor barrier. POSITION OF POWER looks to have found a race where he can work his way to the top again.

Numbers: 1 – 2 – 6 – 4

Suggested Bet – VAST ART WIN

RACE 7

PRAY AGAIN is back in the good books after getting the job done last start. He gets another favourable race pattern here with Savage One, Bigdayonit, Exceltrain and Boots Like Bruce likely to really roll them along from a fair way out. He needs the speed on in his races and you need eachway to entertain him. We go again. PLANET CASH ran a fast finishing second to under-rated filly Universal Flair first-up and then got the job done in a 3 year old 1400 second-up. Nice placement. AZTEC RULER was impressive at his return to racing. Maps to get a gun run. SAVAGE ONE sneaks back into a 66+ for the first time in a long while. Respect.

Numbers: 5 – 8 – 7 – 1

Suggested Bet – PRAY AGAIN EACHWAY

RACE 8

IHTS CLOSING INN was backed as if unbeatable in the Belmont Oaks and duly saluted. She’s drawn barrier 9 of 9 here which makes things interesting but Willie Pike sticks with her over Upper Limits and she’s got far more versatility than any other runner in this field. In Sir William we trust. DEMOLISH continues to run second in these features. Lex Piper (1600), JC Roberts (1800), Melvista (2200), Aquanita (2000). He deserves to actually win one. UPPER LIMITS ticked the staying box last start with a dominant last to first win. The boys went ~12L faster than the girls, so why can’t he win? SECRET ATTRACTION was a flashing light run in the Oaks.

Numbers: 5 – 1 – 2 – 9

Suggested Bet – IHTS CLOSING INN WIN

RACE 9

COLOSSAL looked a special last start when he finally drew a barrier. Got the job done but was far from convincing! In review, not entirely convinced he appreciated the Heavy track surface and at that stage of the preparation he was probably already looking for the 1200m. Like the placement of Grant & Alana Williams to keep him moving through the grades on the minimum and we’ll keep following him. CASH AWAY finished half a length off him behind Ghost Who Walks and meets him 5.5kg better at the weights a month later. He’s quirky but he’s talented. FEATHERWEIGHT has blinkers on for the first time and chased hard behind Vane Tempest in a key form reference race. SUNNY HONEY is not an easy horse to ride but does seem to run for Joey Azzopardi.

Numbers: 13 – 4 – 2 – 12

Suggested Bet – COLOSSAL WIN

Quaddie (Race 6 – 9)

1

1,2,5,7,8,9,10,11

1,2,5,9

2,4,7,12,13

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