Races

Scott Embry’s Saturday Belmont Preview

Scott Embry’s Preview

Race 1

MONEY MATTERS was strong when winning on debut and should only improve for the experience. Likely lands in a very similar position in running and is dealt with well in the set weights and penalties scheme of 2 year old racing. WICKLOW PRINCESS caught the eye in behind runners when bumped around. Blinkers go on and showed early toe in trials. Should position up well. LAVERROD is a $240,000 yearling on debut who waltzed in a recent trial. MISS TYCOON should find the front again and is hard to fault on efforts to date.

Numbers: 1 – 9 – 7 – 3

Suggested Bet – MONEY MATTERS WIN


Race 2

DEIMOS sat deep the trip first-up and was too strong and then rolled forward on top of a slow tempo last start when absolutely belting rivals. That race was a sit and sprint so the majority of the field ran similar late sections but with natural progression he should be hard to beat yet again. BOLD VICTORY never got going in the same race but his previous effort was excellent behind Western Pride and Coming Around. Keep him in consideration. SNOWCHINO was luckless last start and has lead in the past, could roll forward in a race without a leader. NOTTA MOCHA is talented but mixing form badly at the minute.

Numbers: 1 – 8 – 11 – 2

Suggested Bet – BOLD VICTORY PLACE


Race 3

SHOWMANSHIP was one of the more impressive debuts in recent months. He sat off them and clicked through his gears over the concluding stages. Better suited at 1200m and the form is already proven with Lipstick Flickers and False Statement winning at their next start. Map is interesting with him likely three back the fence in traffic but looks a talent. SAMIZDAT has to lump 62kg and will likely get a fair way back from the draw but he is a serious animal. ESSENTIAL SPICE is drawn poorly but could slot in. She runs into two very good ones but she’s full of ability. PASTRY gets it soft.

Numbers: 7 – 1 – 6 – 10

Suggested Bet – SHOWMANSHIP WIN


Race 4

GATTING caused the boil over last start and showed exactly why trainer Darren McAuliffe is talking a potential Cox Plate campaign for the little Hard Spun bulldog. The race panned out perfectly for him last start but he was also holding his own on the line. He can win again. GALAXY STAR suffered her first defeat to Gatting from their numerous previous encounters and was caught in an awkward position behind a 100-1 pop who was not taking her into the race at the 600m. Small field suits and class always bounces back. MIZLECKI can run past GREAT SHOT late to snatch third.

Numbers: 2 – 4 – 5 – 1

Suggested Bet – GATTING WIN


Race 5

CITY CIRCLE ran consecutive second placings to ultra-talented Miller trio Dance Music, Flower of War and Flirtini and then was backed as if unbeatable in this grade last start when finding traffic and held up at crucial stages while the top three were making their runs down the middle. Should lob right behind the leaders and enjoy the run of the race and make amends. CAERHELAN looks the logical danger off the back of a sharp closing effort to Samizdat over 1000m. Stalks the fav and they look to have this between them. GLASGOW GIRL can give cheek if finding the front. PEARL TRADE is a natural back marker who always needs luck and often finds traffic.

Numbers: 12 – 11 – 4 – 5

Suggested Bet – CITY CIRCLE WIN


Race 6

THE VELVET KING was attacked a long way from home in a race where the sectionals suggest the track was more like a Heavy10 than a Soft6. Previous effort was strong when bolting in and first-up ran second to Special Reward. Can bounce back here. BATTLE TORQUE is a Pike horse. He goes lengths better for him than any other hoop and in a race with compressed weights he is actually fairly well suited with the 61kg. He will be in the finish. LORDHELPMERUN finally broke through for a well deserved win last start. Gets an economical run to offset the rise in grade. DARK PROSPECT is a 7 day specialist. If the rain subsides and the track is a soft5 he’ll improve lengths.

Numbers: 3 – 1 – 6 – 8

Suggested Bet – THE VELVET KING WIN


Race 7

MOSCHARD needs some luck or Pike brilliance early to find a position in the three deep train but if he does so he will be awfully hard to run down. Was chasing hard behind talented 3 year old Lordhelpmerun last start and that race could prove a strong form reference if the Wolfe galloper wins the previous 70+ event. This looks a nice race for him. SETTLER’S CREEK was a far better run than reads on paper last week when making gradual ground on a very wet track. Backs up off 7 days, drops in grade and reunites with Chloe Azzopardi. RESISTANCE is bursting to win another race. NELSON’S FLIGHT was excellent first-up. Interesting to see where he lobs in running.

Numbers: 7 – 1 – 12 – 3

Suggested Bet – MOSCHARD WIN


Race 8

FREE TRADE faces far and away his biggest and toughest test to date but from the gate he is likely to follow the speedy Mervyn across and sit just off him. From there he will have a head start and a weight advantage over main rivals. STAGEMAN finally draws a gate and has been running far better races than they may read on paper. PYM’S ROYALE is a talented type resuming without a trial. Can reel off huge late sections with the right run. IN LOVE WITH PARIS is likely to be forgotten by the market. On his day he’s a very good horse and has form around Stageman which is just as good as him.

Numbers: 16 – 11 – 8 – 6

Suggested Bet – FREE TRADE EACHWAY


Quad (Race 5 – 8)

11,12
1,3,6
1,3,7,12,14
4,6,8,11,16

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