Races

Scott Embry’s Saturday Belmont Preview

Posted on | Posted by Scott Embry

RACE 1

PRAY AGAIN has not been an easy horse for punters to follow nor catch across his career but he has found an extremely winnable race here. Last start he finished second to an in form Snazzler and now drops into a very moderate Westspeed Platinum. He won fifth up last campaign and he’s drawn to get every possible chance. Here we go (again). KAZKAZI comes through the same race and was just as good as Pray Again. He is 0 from 17 at Belmont but his best two runs at the track have been the two this preparation. MAJOR MARIO is racing like he wants 1600. BARTIME next best.

Numbers: 1 – 4 – 2 – 3

Suggested Bet – PRAY AGAIN WIN

RACE 2

CLEANEMUP is two from two undefeated, is the full sister to Group One placed WA 3 year old of the Year Oscar’s Fortune and has Pike. She’ll be understandably popular. Both of her wins have come from the breeze and that’s quite likely to be her position in running again tracking up behind speedy filly Desert Whisper. NICELY PLAYED will go around the outsider of the field but has been solid in both career outings and now has blinkers on for the first time. ALLENTOWN is only coming out of an all-age maiden but looks progressive. BLUE ROCKET is drawn sticky but the Karrakatta Plate form through Bustling is elite.

Numbers: 5 – 8 – 6 – 4

Suggested Bet – CLEANEMUP WIN

RACE 3

BRAVO CENTURION was heavily commissioned at the short price last weekend ($1.95 into $1.55) and never looked like being beaten at any stage. He took on Salt Lake Shake for the lead, put a margin on them in the middle stages and was only extending away from them over the last furlong. Won by almost 5L and 7 days later strikes a race that is only marginally harder. Provided he kicks through he should be too slick again. UNDER INFLUENCE won off 7 days two starts back and is the strongest of the chasing brigade. PADDY’S FLYIN’ seems to be improving into the campaign. PEARLY NUGGET a watch.

Numbers: 3 – 5 – 4 – 8

Suggested Bet – BRAVO CENTURION WIN

RACE 4

QUEEN OF JERUSALEM loomed large last start but peaked on the run and faded back over the last 150m on the bottomless Heavy8/9 track. Better ground on Saturday, drops down to 54.5kg and should be able to wind-up into the race behind a genuine tempo. She’s going well and gets 2kg on Filthy Habits to try and turn the tables. FILTHY HABITS has done the ‘double back-up’ on three occasions and never missed the money. He’s arguably the toughest horse in WA. IOWA is well placed and well weighted after the claim. Can win again. CELEBRITY WITNESS maps soft.

Numbers: 5 – 2 – 1 – 7

Suggested Bet – QUEEN OF JERUSALEM WIN

RACE 5

GO FORWARD finished 1.7L off Red Can Man in a Crawford at SWP, 3L off Snowdome in a Prince of Wales at WFA, 1.5L off Hot Zed in a Colonel Reeves at SWP and then 7L off Overpass in a Winterbottom at WFA. He’s finally placed into a more suitable ratings handicap and thought his most recent trial was solid when untested and not wearing blinkers. Going to roll the dice in the small field. GINNIVAN faces his acid test here coming out of 66+ and 72+ ratings races. He’s down on the 54kg minimum, he’s very speedy and he’s thriving on the rain affected tracks over winter but likely has Puli for company and goes around very short. SUPERSESSION is a sharp get-back sprinter. GHOST WHO WALKS is a Belmont 1000m specialist.

Numbers: 6 – 5 – 7 – 1

Suggested Bet – GO FORWARD EACHWAY

Same Race Multi – Go Forward (Top 4) + Supersession (Top 4)

Tricky race the 2024 Jolly Beggar Stakes, especially from a Same Race Multi perspective. Ginnivan is in great form but the $1.60/1.70 doesn’t excite in the slightest. Going to go with both Go Forward and Supersession to work their way home into the Top 4. Both have a big finishing sprint on them and they have the form riders in Pike & Fiore aboard.

RACE 6

CISCOJOE was a ripping return to racing in a 66+ behind Captain Pluto. Hasn’t raced for 4 weeks with Heavy8 tracks and abandoned meetings etc so he attacks this on the fresh side second-up, however, that may well be a good thing for him. There’s not much between these on paper and he’ll go around close to double figures. LOVA SESSION finally broke through last start and it’s amazing how often those types win one and then go back to back.  WATCH ME ROCK has an abundance of natural talent, but the map looks very tricky? TRIO burst through impressively last start and announced himself.

Numbers: 1 – 3 – 4 – 5

Suggested Bet – CISCOJOE EACHWAY

RACE 7 

SILVER EYE should continue his way through the grades. He ran into Jokers Grin and Deferred at his first three runs of the campaign and since then has run a strong second to inform mare Sentimental Belle and then put on a galloping clinic in a Westspeed Platinum last start. This is not much tougher and he’s arguably better suited over 1200m. STARATING is a nice mare resuming. She won fresh last campaign and then went on a 3 year old fillies features program. Strong trial. FAMEUX can roll to the top and dictate. ELITEONE has returned in good order.

Numbers: 1 – 7 – 4 – 8

Suggested Bet – SILVER EYE WIN

RACE 8

OTHERONESON was a brilliant return to racing off a 784 day lay-off. Hadn’t raced since June 2022 and off the one single trial he produced an eyecatcher into fourth behind Ice Pick Nick. Drawn far better here and should get every chance. DEAMBER has been a model of consistency throughout her preparation and now finds a race where she can park on top of the speed (may even lead?) and hopefully the crossover noseband and tongue tie can help her find that extra length she needs in this grade. SENTIMENTAL BELLE can be forgiven for one below par run. DESERT NYMPH is jumping and travelling all of a sudden.

Numbers: 2 – 5 – 4 – 8

Suggested Bet – OTHERONESON WIN

RACE 9

CAPTAIN PLUTO was brilliant first-up when charging away to win by 3.4L. Second-up was backed as if unbeatable into $1.85 but ended up a long way off them in a race where the leaders broke clear on straightening and he was unable to bridge the gap. Did a super job to get within a head on the line and was screaming out for further. Gets that and Pike here. SNAZZLER is looking to win his third straight race as he works his way through the grades. Love the way he’s going. MACCIATEAU did it tough last start and was still able to run them down. RYEWOOD brings X-Factor into the race with her strong (and luckless) Goldfields form.

Numbers: 1 – 2 – 8 – 11

Suggested Bet – CAPTAIN PLUTO WIN

Quaddie (Race 6 – 9)

1,3,4,5

1

2,4,5,6,8

1

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