Races

Scott Embry’s Saturday Belmont Preview

RACE 1

MR DELEGATOR was $2.6 into $1.55 first-up no trial at 1200m and was beaten fair and square after leading. Was pressured a fair way from home and never got a breather, second-up stepping to 1400 and should lead them again. Going to follow up with the son of Maschino who made his debut behind Cliffs of Comfort and beat home Giant Leap and Karijini Aurora. Worth forgiving. WESTERN RHYTHM was jumping out of the ground on debut and ran straight past Mr Delegator. Put the writing on the wall and is the start of what could be an enormous day for the Pike Followers. HOOLAHOOPS has a horror draw to contend with but was brilliant fresh. I HOPE YOU DANCE likely parks outside Mr Delegator and runs her usual honest race.

Numbers: 2 – 9 – 8 – 7

Suggested Bet – MR DELEGATOR WIN


RACE 2

REIGN OF FIRE was one of the more eye catching 2 year old victories of the entire season to date. He was travelling extremely well behind tiring horses and when Jordan Turner found room he was able to explode through. Reproduces a run even 80% of that one and he wins this. Will be a leg of many a multi. SEVEN KINGDOMS was the only horse to make any ground in his 1000m race on debut. Far better suited at 1300 and draws gate 1. Danger. KALLAROO had to shift at right angles to avoid heels last start and only got going when the race was over. Chris Parnham returns to the saddle and if he can overcome an awkward draw he is a definite places chance. LASTING IMPACT was a sharp improver first-up to second-up.

Numbers: 1 – 7 – 5 – 9

Suggested Bet – REIGN OF FIRE WIN & SEVEN KINGDOMS PLACE


RACE 3

SHOWMANSHIP rated through the roof last start when breezing outside a speed 4L faster than 66+ average and demolishing them, eased down to win by 4.9L untouched. He should be able to take a sit here with a more even track pattern and looks to have even more gears to work through. Scary proposition heading toward the Summer Carnival (if he stays in WA). MR GENOA was enormous first-up when planted three deep the trip outside the leader. He looks the logical second place getter. FRED DAG is better suited at 1400m and building into the preparation. Should enjoy a soft midfield run tracking the favourite. LUKE’S GOLD continues to race extremely well.

Numbers: 6 – 5 – 3 – 4

Suggested Bet – SHOWMANSHIP WIN & 6-5 EXACTA


RACE 4

KAY CEE gets 2.5kg on Laverrod and 4kg on Karijini Aurora for beating them home in the Raconteur. That race was run 2L slower than average so if they were ever going to beat her it was in a slowly run handicap. At set weights she should sit back and run straight past them. Anything over $1.50 will be highly attractive to many punters nationwide. LAVERROD steps to a mile for the first time in his life and will probably be better suited chasing Captain Kink and Karijini Aurora rather than doing the donkey work. Quality 3 year old but hard to see him turn the tables on the filly. KARIJINI AURORA ran out of her skin fresh. Will need to improve again here with the weight swings. CAPTAIN KINK backs up off 7 days after destroying them at 1200. Brings some pace and intrigue.

Numbers: 5 – 1 – 7 – 4

Suggested Bet – KAY CEE WIN


RACE 5

BRIGHT DIAMOND had everything against her last start. She drew gate 11 of 11 on a day which was going to favour those out in front. Drifted accordingly but defied the track pattern to record a soft win. That’s the sign of a proper filly and she should remain undefeated after three on that effort. MOOD SWINGS goes round at an eachway quote after doing it the tough way behind Indian Pacific and Windstorm, beating home Captain Kink. Impossible to knock his form and should finish in the money. BOOMTASTIC either holds out Mia Dolce or sits leader’s back. Her fresh win was big. SHE’S ENCHANTED will be praying that Mia Dolce does cross otherwise she could be forced to sit three deep.

Numbers: 7 – 6 – 2 – 5

Suggested Bet – BRIGHT DIAMOND WIN


RACE 6

MASCHINO MISS goes well fresh and draws the inside gate in a race without an obvious leader. If Beaux Edwards can kick through to lead then she’s a live eachway chance. First-up last preparation was able to lead and hold off Tawny Pete. Can give this a shake. SON OF A GOD looked completely unsuited on paper last start at 1000m and failed to fire a single shot when looking uncomfortable throughout. This is a much better race for him and Chloe Azzopardi should afford him every possible chance. Hard to beat. SIR MAMBO is every chance of being planted three deep the trip but he seems to thrive on tough runs. His effort two starts ago behind Showmanship was enormous. PEARLS AND PRAWNS is a very talented mare resuming off a long break. Soft trial win and undeniably talented, but it takes a big performance to win first-up off 500+ days.

Numbers: 4 – 2 – 1 – 3

Suggested Bet – MASCHINO MISS EACHWAY


RACE 7

TOUCH OF SILVER coming back in trip could be the key. He has been chasing hard in the distance events but really has never been known as a stayer. Back to 1600, couple of gear chances, drawn a barrier, Pike jumping aboard and an eachway quote on offer makes him appealing enough. KING BLITZ is destined to park three deep the trip no cover. There are very few horses who deserve to be favourite in that map situation, but he is one of them. Loves it out wide and with only 53kg looks extremely well placed. ROCKON TOMMY ran very well first-up and then put in a ripper last start. Looks ready to peak third-up and Carbery jumps on. WRINKLY is tough as nails and continues to produce the same rating week in, week out. That rating is definitely strong enough to finish in the money.

Numbers: 4 – 6 – 8 – 1

Suggested Bet – TOUCH OF SILVER EACHWAY


RACE 8

WESTERN PRIDE is four from four undefeated and seemingly improving every time she goes to the races. The market got her wrong first-up when an alarming late drifter, much to the glee of her fans and the race was over as soon as she stepped cleanly and took up a position in running. Has never seen a race with as much speed as this but if she can stay within 5/6L of them turning for home she should keep her unblemished record intact. GATES OF BABYLON is going to have to absorb some serious early pressure if he is to hold them out but if you break down his sections, the faster they go, the better he goes. NO APOLOGY was strong first-up and then arguably even better second-up. Can take advantage of the gate and maps to get a sweet run. STAR VALUE could be the blow out if they over cook it in front.

Numbers: 8 – 1 – 15 – 9

Suggested Bet – WESTERN PRIDE WIN


RACE 9

NIGHT VOYAGE was stiff first-up when encountering an abundance of traffic in the early parts of the home straight and then being one of the very few horses at the entire meeting to make any ground up against the fence. Has had apprentice riders at 21 of his last 22 and if he can track up three deep with cover can unleash a big turn of foot late. Definitely worth an eachway ticket. MASSIMO has gone under at SPs of $2.25, $2.25, $3.60 and $2.38 this preparation when failing to win a race. He deserves to win one but is always vulnerable. CRYPTIC LOVE is likely to be back in a lot of traffic but if she sees daylight can ping. WE’VE GOT DREAMS is lightning quick and will be looking to cross. If she gets to the breeze or the fence it’s race on.

Numbers: 4 – 3 – 7 – 10

Suggested Bet – NIGHT VOYAGE EACHWAY


Quaddie (Race 6 – 9)

1,2,3,4

1,4,6,8,12

1,8,15

3,4,7,10,12

Market Market