Races

Scott Embry’s Saturday Belmont Preview

Posted on | Posted by Scott Embry

Race 1

SARABI arguably should have won first-up. She had extreme difficulty navigating a clear pathway in the home straight and still got within a head of Spinarella and Manhattan Squeeze late. She’s 4 weeks between runs and she’s 1000m to 1400m in one step, so there’s definitely an element of caution but don’t think any of these are our real A-Grader 3 year olds (at this stage) and with clear galloping room she could be hard to hold out late. GAINTREE trialled well, won well and will again park up over the speed and get every chance. This race runs deeper and she has an extra 2kg to lump after being right place, right time on the inside fast lane a fortnight ago. MARCOS nearly fell last start just as he was building into the race. Shades on will hopefully straighten him up. PROPERATA has come back bigger and stronger this time around.

Numbers: 7 – 2 – 3 – 1

Suggested Bet – SARABI EACHWAY

Race 2

SO SI GOD trialled up like a horse who would be winning first-up, however, she went to 1000m and never travelled at any stage and failed to let down as expected. She did return with the tongue over the bit (gear change: bit lifter on) and now she’s out to a more suitable 1200m second-up. Scratched from a 6-horse field on Wednesday in favour of this race and it looks winnable for her. Her minors to Searchin’ Times, Urquharts Bluff, Wheely and Peaceful Ruler as a 3 year old is superior form to what the majority of these bring to the race. Hoping she can bounce back quickly. ESPRESSO TIME sat wide throughout first-up when beaten a head, sat wide throughout second-up when breaking his maiden and then backed it up with a solid all the way C1 win. BLUE CAN TALK was ridden cold first-up and it paid dividends, she went to a whole new level. GOLD FLAKES had bar plates added last week and ran below her usual honest, consistent best. Wary that they’re still on.

Numbers: 6 – 1 – 9 – 4

Suggested Bet – SO SI GOD WIN

Race 3

TRULY LOYAL made his Michael Grantham debut 10 days ago in a 1200m maiden at Belmont Park and really powered to and through the line late. Bob Peters has quite often taken these lightly raced 3 and 4 year olds straight to a 60+ Graduation from their maiden wins and he has done it with great effect. Keeps him low in the weights, draws to get the right run midfield with cover and think he’s more than capable of making the step. GOD’S GATE should have won last week. Through no fault of Stevie Parnham there was just nowhere to go at critical points in the race and once he got clear he was charging. On the 7-day spin he can make amends. MIND FIELD could not have trialled up any better for his return and with Six Shooter coming out of that trial and winning a 66+ last weekend it only makes it look even more impressive. CANNYKEV tries hard.

Numbers: 7 – 2 – 6 – 1

Suggested Bet – TRULY LOYAL WIN

Race 4

PIN DEEP stepped into the Jolly Beggar Stakes last weekend and was hammered in betting. He underperformed after racing really keenly through the early and middle stages but hopefully 7 days later he can park and ride behind the Taylor pair and enjoy the run of the race. Looks a nice set up for him to bounce back. NICCIMOTA was simply no match for the extremely speedy Dawn Dancer last start but is quite nicely placed here stepping up into 72+ company. She’s dropping down 5.5kg and that might just encourage them to use her high cruising speed to advantage. SWINGMAN is racing with great consistency but he’s always been vulnerable at 1000m. Has worn blinkers at all 13 career runs, now winkers on Saturday. DEVINE BELIEF has been very sparingly raced over the last few years as the stable battles her well documented hoof troubles.

Numbers: 3 – 5 – 4 – 1

Suggested Bet – PIN DEEP WIN

Race 5

YES I KNOW is on the 7-day spin dropping out of a 72+ where he went to the line locked together with The Crimson Pirate. He has to lump 60.5kg and that’s the sticking point but from the draw he should be afforded an economical passage in running and he’s already shown in his four runs in WA that he’ll be working his way through the grades. THE ROCKET has really come of age this preparation after beginning the campaign a 7-start maiden. He broke his maiden by just over 2L and then backed it up with another dominant all the way C3 win. 1300 to 1400 and now to 1600m, if they allow him to work his way to the top then he should be very competitive again. COSMIC GEM had nothing go his way first-up or second-up in respective forgive runs. Bolted in third-up. DIRTY HABITS found traffic last week and has a real X-Factor about him.

Numbers: 1 – 3 – 6 – 8

Suggested Bet – YES I KNOW WIN

Race 6

SEARCHIN’ TIMES just has to navigate barrier 1. The last time she drew in the box seat she was left waiting and looking for runs until the race was all over so there’s definitely a small element of unknown, however, she has also won a race leading so if she was to jump they could definitely entertain riding her like the best horse in the race and taking luck out of the equation. Last start she was 7 weeks between runs and looked to have plenty to offer in the straight, just nowhere to go. A fortnight later she drops 3.5kg and is a nice mare on the rise. SILENT DIVA got the job done last weekend and had been knocking on the door all prep. Was the win of a mare who can go on with it. DEEL HER IN is ready now and this is the right grade for her with the weight relief. REFEMME NO ANGEL jumped a short priced favourite last start and never saw daylight at any stage.

Numbers: 7 – 5 – 6 – 11

Suggested Bet – SEARCHIN’ TIMES EACHWAY

Race 7

ROYAL TORONADO resumed at 1200m last preparation at Ascot and ran a faster L600, 400 & 200 than now dual Listed sprinter Immortal Bliss. His recent Lark Hill trial was brilliant and this really does look a nice race for him first-up at 1400 on the 54kg minimum. He’s a 6-year-old but get the feeling he’s just getting better and better with racing and in a race with only a moderate tempo on paper he shouldn’t be too far off them on straightening. TOO DARDY has won back to back 84+ features and deserves a crack at Listed Level. This is harder but he maps to get the run he needs. CHARINO has won three of his last five, is versatile and runs for Holly Nottle. They can ride him to suit any emerging track pattern. GINGER BAKER ran third to King of Light and Snowdome. Either of those would be favourite in this.

Numbers: 9 – 3 – 4 – 1

Suggested Bet – ROYAL TORONADO WIN

Same Race Multi – Royal Toronado (Top 3) + Too Dardy (Top 4)

Royal Toronado has trialled up brilliantly for his return to racing and gets in on the 54kg minimum. He can sprint well fresh and should be charging home late, while Too Dardy is looking to complete a winning hattrick. Needs a soft run and maps to get a soft run.

Race 8

SISU SPIRIT had his first attempt at 2200m a fortnight ago and came through with flying colours. It was an ugly and messy race where they ran the first 1600m a staggering 17L slower than average so it wasn’t a true staying test but doubt that this will be either. Should land 1×1/1×2 and from there gets his opportunity. WARRALEA LASS was the one who tried the rack and stack tactics in that event but just couldn’t sprint away from rivals at the point of the home corner. SNAZZLER has come back to racing in good order. First-up caught the eye at 100-1 behind Heaven Specified, I Love Ya Money and Publicise under 61.5kg and second-up was still there fighting at 1600m with 200 to go behind The Crimson Pirate and Yes I Know. Quickly out to 2100m third-up but racing well. STARWALKER is an out and out stayer. 4 wins and 3 placings from 10 starts at 2000+.

Numbers: 5 – 15 – 1 – 3

Suggested Bet – SISU SPIRIT WIN

Quaddie (Race 5 – 8)

1,3,6,8

5,6,7,11

3,9

1,2,3,5,13,15

Market Market



Recent Articles