Races

Scott Embry’s Saturday Belmont Preview

RACE 1

SONGAA returned in a blaze of glory when comfortably gunning down subsequent 72+ winner Ginnivan first-up and beating home key rivals Paddy’s Flyin’ and Under Influence in the process. Loves the Belmont 1000, loves the sting out and maps to get a similar run in the small field. Looks hard to hold out. MADE IN MEXICO drops down to 55kg and should be able to hold out Tycoon Harry early and find the fence. Giving a great kick. BONNIE LAD is looking to win three on the bounce. UNDER INFLUENCE is a hard horse to follow. Leaves himself too much to do in the last 100m.

Numbers: 3 – 5 – 2 – 6

Suggested Bet – SONGAA WIN


RACE 2

NICELY PLAYED is only out of a 400m jump out but she looked sharp and professional. There’s very few stables who can successfully produce them on debut off only a 400m trial, however, Fernie Racing are one of them. She’ll have the fence to follow on debut and looks to have raw ability. Keep safe at odds. SUPERNATURAL and GOLD MAKER have the race day experience. Both will get back which is the query but both have plenty of talent and upside. PROMISING didn’t get much room to move in her recent 1000m trial and found the line well once clear

Numbers: 9 – 7 – 1 – 10

Suggested Bet – NICELY PLAYED EACHWAY


RACE 3

SENSESSIONAL is looking to win his fourth straight race as he impressively works his way through the grades. He faces his toughest test to date here in a 72+ 1600 with some depth but he’s only half a kilo off the minimum, it’s only a small field to navigate and there’s a strong tempo to follow (Ginger Green/Falcon Trader). He’ll get last crack at them (again). FALCON TRADER is a model of consistency and continues to produce time and time again. Went back to the inside last start and in review that was the slowest part of the track. GINGER GREEN is being underrated at the minute. Proven weight carrier and can lead or box seat. WANGO AWARD next best.

Numbers: 5 – 1 – 2 – 8

Suggested Bet – SENSESSIONAL WIN


RACE 4

SUPER ROMANI backs up out of a race which was completely dominated by on-speed horses last weekend. At the top of the straight Filthy Habits and Kerman Rock paired off in a two horse war and the rest of the chasing brigade lost touch with them. Thought Super Romani held his own in the run to the line and 7 days later he can settle a couple of pairs closer from a more favourable draw. KING CARTEL drops 1.5kg on a last start all the way win. 1600 might be on his limit but he maps to get a pretty cheap time of it. SPECIAL SORT is always thereabouts and now gets Pike. MARINSKY BALLET next best.

Numbers: 2 – 3 – 1 – 12

Suggested Bet – SUPER ROMANI EACHWAY


RACE 5

HOSTILE TALK finished off powerfully last start in the Grant & Alana Williams trifecta behind stablemates Sentimental Belle (subsequent winner) and Keep Attacking. Love the new season 4 year olds heading into Westspeed Platinum races now that they’re eligible and in an open and even race he looks one of many chances. RUSSIAN SNIPER continues to race at the peak of his powers. 21st run of the prep and lumped with 61.5kg but won effortlessly last start. ULTIMATE COMMAND gets a 2.5kg weight swing for a 2.1L margin from last start. PEARLY NUGGET improves from a better gate.

Numbers: 5 – 1 – 2 – 7

Suggested Bet – HOSTILE TALK WIN


RACE 6

QUEEN OF JERUSALEM is back to her best. She’s won three of her four outings since returning to Durrant Racing and the one time she was beaten she got momentarily cast in the barriers on opening and missed the kick, got held up on straightening and still savaged the line. This race is no deeper than her last start when winning soft and expect her to go very close again. FLASH PADDY gets a 3.5kg weight swing from their recent encounter when beaten only 2L. He is still improving with racing. ROYAL ELITE and COSMIC CHAOS are both impressive last start winners in easier.

Numbers: 1 – 5 – 12 – 2

Suggested Bet – QUEEN OF JERUSALEM WIN


RACE 7

DEFERRED has returned to racing in brilliant order, however, is going to need conditions to suit and a big ride from barrier 10 of 10. Punters showed their hand last week when backing Silver Eye from $7 into $2.80 in a 66+ so there’s plenty of confidence in the form line and as long as it isn’t a leader’s paradise on Saturday expect she’ll be charging home late. LITTLE SILVER and BIRD’S THE WORD will both be at the other end of the speed map. They’re the speed pair and they’re both in excellent form. Both on speed and both tough. TENACIOUS REWARD put the writing on the wall first-up.

Numbers: 7 – 2 – 1 – 4

Suggested Bet – DEFERRED WIN


RACE 8

BOOTS LIKE BRUCE belted 6 of his 7 Belmont Newmarket rivals last start in the H.G Bolton Sprint when producing a career best win. He absolutely bolted in – winning by 3.3L and looking strong through the line. Rises up 2kg but likely to roll forward into a similar position and if he reproduces he’ll be very hard to beat again. MAN CRUSH may opt to sit leader’s back on Puli and enjoy an easier time of it early and middle stages. RED FIFTY THREE was finding the line well late first-up and usually improves into the campaign. PULI bounces straight on the top and always gives a big sight.

Numbers: 5 – 3 – 8 – 4

Suggested Bet – BOOTS LIKE BRUCE WIN

Same Race Multi – Boots Like Bruce (Win) + Man Crush (Top 3)

Boots Like Bruce beat 6 of his 7 rivals in the Bolton Sprint when putting on a galloping exhibition to come away and win by over 3L. Plain and simple – if he reproduces that run he wins again. So we’ll lock him in to come out victorious and then bank on Man Crush putting in his usual honest performance from barrier 1 to finish in the Top 3 and put some meat on the bone.


RACE 9 

ICE PICK NICK had his first start for new trainer Stefan Vahala and finished second behind highly impressive winner and potential carnival type Stormchaser. He can park close handy behind Universal Flair/Bayezid/Siberian Siren and looks the mapped horse. There’s no Stormchasers in this and it looks a great chance for him to win another race in WA. LENIENCY didn’t trial in his race day blinkers and can produce a big run first-up. Wouldn’t read too much into the margin. BRAVE STRIKE ran well after a freshen. OTHERONESON brings intrigue but hasn’t raced since June 2022 (784 days).

Numbers: 2 – 7 – 8 – 3

Suggested Bet – ICE PICK NICK WIN


Quaddie (Race 6 – 9)

1,5

1,2,4,7

5

2

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