Races

Scott Embry’s Saturday Belmont Preview

Posted on | Posted by Scott Embry

Race 1

BURNING BRIDGES had to work hard early to get across after drawing barrier 13/13 first-up. Kicked clear on straightening but hit a big brick wall at the 150m and ran out of petrol tickets. Second-up he’ll be fitter and he’ll be able to use the inside gate to his advantage to either lead or box seat. Expect they probably give him a kick to take up the running again and from there he should be in front for a long way at an eachway price. SUPERRIFIC beat him home in that event but in review did get the track into the race three deep cover? Would have preferred to see him at 1200 second-up? PROPERATA is only coming out of an All Age midweek maiden but won with authority. Really pinned the ears back and savaged the line late. GAINTREE hit a hot 2-year-old race on debut and has trialled well for her return.

Numbers: 2 – 3 – 1 – 9

Suggested Bet – BURNING BRIDGES EACHWAY

Race 2

SOUTHERN FIRETAIL put the writing on the wall first-up. Last campaign he looked a work in progress and got a bit lost in his races, this time around he’s trialled sharply over 950m at Lark Hill and then powered to the line behind Tidwell (beating home Western Miss in the process). 3 year old 62+ into a Westspeed 58+ is a big drop in grade and he’s only rising 1kg start to start. Look the kind of lightly raced 4 year old who will work his way through the grades quickly this prep. Similarly I LOVE YA MONEY went from a maiden straight into a 60+ Graduation and finished third to stablemate Supido Express. Love these 4-year-olds entering Westspeed Platinum grade for the first time and with Pike back aboard he’s the logical danger. ARTICOLE is improving with each run and can do it tough in his races. HEAVEN SPECIFIED will be better than Westspeed grade but the draw hurts.

Numbers: 7 – 8 – 4 – 5

Suggested Bet – SOUTHERN FIRETAIL WIN

Race 3

SHIMONOSEKI has her first attempt over a staying trip since arriving in the West. She looks a stayer in the making – she settles brilliantly at the back of the field, she travels kindly under her rider and she works through her gears to sustain a big finishing run. She gets in perfectly on the 54kg minimum and if there is any bad luck or traffic issues for the odds-on favourite then she looks the horse who can capitalise. WITH DISCRETION won with his eyes closed last start. Was 1400 to 2200 and bolted in. Was the win of a horse who would put a fair few together in quick succession. Only real query is being 3 back fence, but in Pike we trust. OUR MATE ARCHIE will appreciate any wet weather on the horizon and is ready to test the waters at the distance. Was backed to beat Auto Cruise in a 72+ only two starts ago. Market loves the horse. KISSES FROM KELLY is as honest and consistent as they come.

Numbers: 10 – 3 – 2 – 1

Suggested Bet – SHIMONOSEKI EACHWAY

Race 4

SUNSET SESSION took a while to break his maiden but gives the impression he’ll be competitive in whatever grade of race you step him up into. He went to 1200m last start and with an inch more galloping room on straightening he probably wins. Like him back to 1000m, tucked away behind the speed and being a son of Sessions he should relish any wet weather we get over the coming days. Stable going at 20% and 37% POT last 90 days. TOO DARN STORMY is a horse with ability but his fair share of issues. He’s now a 4 year old who hasn’t won since he won on debut as a 2 year old. In that 441 day period he has only had another 5 starts in an interrupted and disjointed career. If this was 1200m I’d happily go his way off a decent barrier trial, but at 1000m he might be vulnerable. LAST STYLEBENDER responded to the blinkers going on last start. In front for a long way. MAI ALOHA is leaving the gates brilliantly but looks destined to breeze this time?

Numbers: 10 – 3 – 4 – 5

Suggested Bet – SUNSET SESSION EACHWAY

Race 5

ALL GRUNT trialled up far better this time around than last campaign. Loved his first-up run in a ridiculously slowly run race (first 800m = 7L slower than average) and thought he did a super job to get within 2.5L of the winner late. With a 2.5kg swing in the weights, an extra furlong to wind-up and hopefully a touch more tempo in the race, thinking he can turn the tables on key rival MT SHIRATAKU who has gone from strength to strength and achieved what most horses don’t: graduating from Westspeed Platinum to 66+/72+ racing with success. Impossible to fault the way he’s going. KING HIT drew poorly first-up and second-up and yet ran well in both outings. He’s going far better than it might read on paper. GINGER GREEN is an old warrior and down in the weights with the senior rider on he’ll be there abouts. Doesn’t know how to run a bad race.

Numbers: 6 – 4 – 3 – 10

Suggested Bet – ALL GRUNT EACHWAY

Race 6

TIDWELL was able to jump and use his barrier to advantage last start when he sat in the box seat and took the inside run presented to him on straightening to squeeze up inside of spruik filly Western Miss and hold off the late charge of Southern Firetail. Any time you’ve got a 3 year old 62+ winner dropping back into a 60+ Graduation it’s outstanding placement and he should be able to hold a nice spot midfield cover. Going super. CINQUE STELLE has only been beaten twice in her life: once over 1000m at the hands of Kings Court (went on to win another 3x races after) and first-up this campaign when she had atrial fibrillation. She’s stepping from 1100 to 1400m, that’s the only unknown. If she shows the same turn of foot at 1400m as she did last start at 1100m then she’s very exciting. DELTASON can’t buy a barrier. REFEMME NO ANGEL is still improving with every outing.

Numbers: 7 – 8 – 2 – 6

Suggested Bet – TIDWELL EACHWAY

Race 7

IMMORTAL BLISS was huge in the H.G Bolton. He endured a tough passage from start to finish and was left a sitting duck to be run down late. Thought all things considered he ran well into fifth placing and if he can lob three deep cover in the second half of the field here he’ll be hard to hold out late. He’s racing at the peak of his powers and gets through the conditions no worries. REPOSSESSION heads into the Belmont Newmarket 28 days between outings having missed the Bolton with a foot. That’s nothing new for him, he did the same in 2025, going 28 days between runs (scratched in between) to win the Beaufine. He’s a quality horse and does his best work on rain affected surfaces which he’ll get Saturday. SNOWDOME hit a flat spot on straightening but worked through it to pick up again late. MADHI GIRL hasn’t seen any daylight so far this campaign. Barrier could be a blessing.

Numbers: 6 – 3 – 2 – 10

Suggested Bet – IMMORTAL BLISS EACHWAY

Race 8

MAGICAL SEQUENCE had nothing go right last start. Not a mention in the Stewards Report but she was 3 deep the trip without cover. She gets a furlong of cover on the back of King Hit from the 600 to 400 when that galloper begins to make his move, but for 1200/1400m she’s three deep no cover. Back to 1200m, drawn to get a far more economical passage and while you lose Pike, you’re now going to get trip the price. Double figures for a mare with a 50% winning strike rate. COMMON TOUCH is looking to extend his winning run to four and progress from a maiden to a C1 to a 3 year old 62+ and now into a 66+. They’ve certainly figured out how to ride him and that’s to roll from the 600, use his high cruising speed and toughness to get rivals chasing and uncomfortable. This is a decent test for him and wary that by the end of the day the fence might not be the spot to be? ASIF trialled super for his return. ZOURUN RUN is a classy mare but barrier 11/12 and 59kg are both levellers.

Numbers: 5 – 9 – 3 – 4

Suggested Bet – MAGICAL SEQUENCE EACHWAY

Quaddie (Race 5 – 8)

4,6

7,8

2,3,6,9,10,13

3,4,5,9

Market Market



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