Races

Scott Embry’s Saturday Belmont Preview

Posted on | Posted by Scott Embry

RACE 1

RULER ROCKET trialled like a horse who would be going very close first-up. He cruised around Lark Hill in a sharp 57.86 and was never tested at any stage. He should jump out, put himself on speed and then if the maiden mare Just So Sassy wants to go crazy he can let her go and use her as a bunny to follow into the race. Progressive type and a really nice set up for him at his return. BLOW ME OUT should park just behind the speed pair and enjoy a soft run into the race. Amazingly first time in her life at the 1000. SIR MAMBO is consistent but certainly doesn’t win out of turn. PADDY’S FLYIN’ has returned in good order but has a really sticky alley.

Numbers: 3 – 5 – 1 – 2

Suggested Bet – RULER ROCKET WIN

RACE 2

AUGMENT got punters excited at trials when flashing home over the top of them at Belmont Park. Costazita came out of that trial and toyed with them last week after being backed from $5 into $2.05 in an impressive display. This is a filly who won by almost 3L on debut and then finished third behind Live To Tell and Super Smink in a Group 3 Gimcrack at her second career outing. Looks really talented. SNOW PRINCE is versatile and there’s a chance that he could roll forward and breeze outside the stablemate and likely leader Siberian Siren. If he gets across he’s hard to get past. SIBERIAN SIREN was enormous on debut when covering a stack of extra ground. Gritty effort. LORD LALA will take great benefit from his first race day outing.

Numbers: 8 – 1 – 9 – 5

Suggested Bet – AUGMENT WIN

RACE 3

AZTEC RULER finally got a decent run in transit and showed exactly where he’s at with a barnstorming 3L win. He rises 5.5kg to 60 but he should get another economical run in the back half behind a spirited tempo (Strathmore Rose, Ponyo, Position of Power). Sits back and then winds up into the race. Looks ready to really go through his grades and eventually measure up as a Listed/Group horse. POMPEY is absolutely flying. He was caught in no man’s land last weekend behind a farcical tempo (first 800m run 21L slower than average). Never gave it away. COLD SHIZZLE sits leader’s back and presents at the right time. PONYO needs to run out 1400m and likely has to breeze outside Strathmore Rose.

Numbers: 1 – 3 – 7 – 4

Suggested Bet – AZTEC RULER WIN

RACE 4

LET’SDEAL has been there abouts all preparation. His riders have been dealt bad barriers all preparation and had their hands forced on a number of occasions. He has finally drawn a gate where Shaun McGruddy can have him in whatever position he wants and should be able to make his move whenever he wants. There’s very little between the top 4 or 5 in this and a lot of the time these staying races come down to who gets the right run on the right day. Ready to finally win one. VILLEINS was $7 into $2.70 last start and duly saluted. He gets an identical run in transit here three back the fence. Dangerous with a split in the straight. OUR NORMAN continues to run honest races. He’s fairly fool proof on the eachway. THE DOMINICAN didn’t seem to like the sit sprint affair of last start.

Numbers: 3 – 5 – 4 – 6

Suggested Bet – LET’SDEAL WIN

RACE 5

RUMOUR SAYS put the writing on the wall first-up behind Swim Through. She’s drawn to get a soft run midfield with cover and from there she’ll be hard to hold out with even luck. Between Vogue’s Choice, Sockoff and Military Power they’ll go quick and that suits a mare like her with a short, sharp burst of acceleration. MILITARY POWER has winkers applied. He cruised up to Olga Louisa last start but once he hits the front he seems to immediately switch off and put it into neutral. VOGUE’S CHOICE is looking for four straight wins and is digging deep when it counts at the minute. THOMAS MAGNUM will sit back and have last crack at them.

Numbers: 5 – 6 – 2 – 3

Suggested Bet – RUMOUR SAYS WIN

RACE 6

ALLEZ ALLEZ looks like he’ll get his chance to turn the tables on Starry Heights. Had to work forward to the breeze after being caught three deep early last start and was only run down over the last 150m. Meets Starry Heights 1.5kg better at the weights and should get a gun run following Mountain Ash and Zephyra. Hard to fault his recent form. STARRY HEIGHTS is progressing beautifully through the grades. Doesn’t look a spot in the map for him so Pike may have to drag all the way back to last. Likely to be odds on and will need a bit of luck? ZEPHYRA has got things her own way so far this campaign but she’s kicking hard in the straight. TALLANGATTA is a model of consistency.

Numbers: 1 – 4 – 5 – 7

Suggested Bet – ALLEZ ALLEZ WIN

RACE 7

CROSS STATEMENT has found a great race to lead and dictate terms. He should be able to cross those drawn to his inside and third-up from a spell he should be peaking. He split Goddess Of Giving and Songaa first-up before being run down by Ponyo and Desert Nymph last start. If he can pinch a breather in the middle stages he’ll be hard to get past late. BERBERE has been given a 6 week freshen. Versatile type who can sit close handy from the favourable alley. Hard to fault his 3 year old form from June/July. SALOON BAR and ROCKIN’ RUPERT are both drawn tough barriers but the form behind Duchess Of Gossip is hot (as we saw again with Rulelee on Wednesday).

Numbers: 1 – 5 – 2 – 3

Suggested Bet – CROSS STATEMENT EACHWAY

RACE 8

HALATORION gets incredible weight swings on main fancies My Bella Mae and Baby Paris from last preparation. He finished 1L off My Bella Mae when third in the Cyril Flower and meets her a whopping 4.5kg better. Was beaten a margin behind Baby Paris in The Joey at WFA but now meets her 8.5kg better at the weights in a handicap. First-up, no trial over 1000m and drawn to get a soft run along the fence. Looks an eachway hope in a cracking race. MY BELLA MAE went to Victoria after winning the Cyril Flower and nothing really went her way. Loved her barrier trial and she’s won previously with 58kg. BABY PARIS is a little ripper but will 59kg be right on her weight carrying limit? Never had more than 56 on her back. KARLI’S KARMA has never raced at 1000m but go back and watch her 950m Lark Hill trial on 5 September 2022.

Numbers: 6 – 4 – 3 – 2

Suggested Bet – HALATORION EACHWAY

Same Race Multi – Halatorion (Top 4) + My Bella Mae (Top 4) + Baby Paris (Top 4)

In what looks a really competitive 1000m sprint going to go a little more aggressive and take three horses to finish in the first 4. My Bella Mae is two from two undefeated fresh and maps to get a lovely run at her return to WA. Baby Paris is two from two at Belmont Park and trialled outrageously well for her return. Halatorion went to another level when last in work and gets big weight swings on the pair.

RACE 9

HAMMARMILL, STARCHIENNE and COUNT THE SESSIONS are all drawn gates where they will get the runs they need to produce their best. HAMMARMILL has been savaging the line from impossible positions recently and now gets an extra 200m and William Pike in the saddle. STARCHIENNE and COUNT THE SESSIONS come through the same midweek race where STARCHIENNE was trapped three deep the trip and COUNT THE SESSIONS jumped brilliantly and put himself into the ideal spot. Hard to split those three. GIFT OF THE HEART is ready to win a race and has no weight on his back.

Numbers: 2 – 5 – 6 – 9

Suggested Bet – HAMMARMILL WIN

Quaddie (Race 6 – 9)

1,4,5,7

1,2,3,5,6

2,3,4,6,8,11

2,4,5

Market Market



Recent Articles