Races

Scott Embry’s Saturday Belmont Preview

Posted on | Posted by Scott Embry

RACE 1

I’M PRETTY trialled up particularly well at Lark Hill recently when towing Pike along throughout to record a soft victory. Goes well fresh, goes well at Belmont, loves 1400m and was scratched last Saturday from an identical event at 1200 to be saved for the extra furlong. Looks hard to hold out late. SPEEDY MISS is a proven C5 commodity who is well placed into this Westspeed Platinum handicap. Capable of matching motors with I’m Pretty on her day. BOLLINGER BOY wins last start if he gets out a stride or two earlier. Attacked the line very well. LACEVINSKY gets it soft out in front.

Numbers: 3 – 1 – 2 – 4

Suggested Bet – I’M PRETTY WIN

RACE 2

BROOKYLN PIER only had two runs last preparation. First-up sat leader’s back on the tow ball of Madam Torio, got around her heels and zapped her. Second-up was no match for sharp colt Gemma’s Son. Recent trial was strong, maps to again settle on the back of Madam Torio and gets a 2kg weight swing on her for beating her home last campaign. Looks a nice race for him. TIME SCALE comes out of a hot 3 year old 62+ when finishing third behind Hot Zed and subsequent winner (and Raconteur fav) Graceful Girl. MADAM TORIO is a jump and run 1000m specialist but the handicapper has certainly caught up with her. GHOST WHO WALKS won well first-up.

Numbers: 2 – 7 – 1 – 5

Suggested Bet – BROOKLYN PIER WIN

RACE 3

ULTIMATE COMMAND has the strongest form lines by a long way in this race. Provided she hasn’t come to the end of her preparation she should prove too speedy and too classy. Has run second to highly talented stablemate Flying Missile at her last two starts and is bullet proof as a race horse. Jumps, runs and fights late in her races. Arguably career best last start and we’ve seen the Flying Missile form prove fruitful lately. WISE WORDS improved sharply first-up to second-up and may have run into a nice type in Magic to Exceed at the midweekers. BOPPING BLUE never settled and never got a breather on debut when plunged in betting. SERCHIN’ ROC’S showed a bit at trials back in November.

Numbers: 1 – 11 – 5 – 14

Suggested Bet – ULTIMATE COMMAND WIN

RACE 4

ADORNMENT won well last start at 1600m when gunning down talented front runner That’s Funny Az and beating home rivals Not To Be Mist, Touch of Silver and Mrs Brown’s Boy in the process. Steps out to 2200m and is a mare who can settle right on top of the speed. There is some chance that Pike will get left in front here with a distinct lack of tempo but regardless of where she settles, she should run well. BELLA’S IDOL has been up for a long time but shows no signs of training off. Pushed highly in form stayer Marrochino last start and this is arguably an easier assignment. BLACK SHADOW races outside the handicap but has won previously off 7 days and drops a stack of weight. NOT TO BE MIST is on trial at the trip but gives the indication he is looking for ground now.

Numbers: 2 – 1 – 6 – 4

Suggested Bet – ADORNMENT WIN

RACE 5

EEYORE WAYZ backs up off 7 days from his first-up assignment which is the real unknown element but his run last week and his efforts last preparation suggest he’ll be hard to beat back into 66+ grade. Last preparation he went through the grades quickly and ran out of his skin at WFA in the Prince of Wales. Hit the line well last week in a high class 72+ (Nerodio, This’ll Testya, Battle Storm, We’ve Got Dreams, Silkinize, Miss Frost) and that should hold up as a form reference. AMASENUS was given a freshen by Simon Miller so that she could attack Belmont winter. Hard to knock her recent form. REIGN OF FIRE brings X-Factor. Undefeated as a 2 year old and then far from disgraced in the 3 year old features last spring/summer. BOOMTASTIC is better than her effort last week.

Numbers: 3 – 7 – 8 – 4

Suggested Bet – EEYORE WAYZ EACHWAY

RACE 6

TRI FOR US just keeps getting better and better with racing. Stays in the same grade, at the same distance after an emphatic victory against the older horses last start and the form has held up through The Verdict and to a lesser extent Cuban Twist. Is showing versatility and a turn of foot which means she’ll likely settle in front of main rivals and makes her very hard to beat again. Has been the best bet on this preview her last four and we’ll be buttering up again. KERMAN ROCK is no stranger to racing, backing up at 50% of his career outings. Caught the eye last week and is drawn ideally here. TREASURED CROWN finished off well first-up and looks a progressive winter staying type. SLUICE BOX gets significant weight (5.5kg) on Tri For Us from last start.

Numbers: 5 – 6 – 2 – 7

Suggested Bet – TRI FOR US WIN

RACE 7

GRACEFUL GIRL has burst onto the scene this campaign with an electric turn of foot. First-up she was luckless and yet rattled off a final 400 split which was superior to Elite Street, Cup Night and Panzdown on the day. Second-up 7 days ago she looked to be spinning the wheels in the soft6 ground and yet found a way to get to the outside and picked them up impressively late. Will need to go to another level here conceding a head start to horses like Billy Ain’t Silly, Solaia and No Surrender but she is on an exciting trajectory. BILLY AIN’T SILLY and SOLAIA have the runs on the board and are far better suited at set weights and penalties conditions than Graceful Girl. BILLY AIN’T SILLY can do it at both ends and will take serious running down. SOLAIA is a star and should get the ideal run in transit. NO SURRENDER was huge first-up with weight.

Numbers: 7 – 2 – 3 – 4

Suggested Bet – GRACEFUL GIRL WIN

RACE 8

SERENITY BAY has only missed the money on three occasions and they were all in her last campaign when contesting the Pinjarra Classic, Bunbury Stakes and Grandstand Cup. Comes back to a ratings race, comes in first-up no trial, drawn a gate and has the services of a highly in form Chris Parnham. Ran second off a similar spacing in a Listed Carbine Club and heading into last campaign trialled impressively alongside Arcadia Queen. Nice race for her. HOT ZED is a highly talented 3 year old who continues to get under the radar. Backs up off 7 days and didn’t seem to handle the soft6 conditions last week. EXCELLENT DREAM has a real excitement factor about him. Will need luck from the draw but should be able to follow Hot Zed across. CHANTORQUE gets some weight relief and reunites with Shaun McGruddy who rides her better than anyone.

Numbers: 3 – 6 – 1 – 8

Suggested Bet – SERENITY BAY EACHWAY

RACE 9

BRIGHT DIAMOND was awfully unlucky and stiff first-up not to score. Was climbing over the back of Puli late and didn’t get a split until the race was over. Even when she did get ‘clear’ late in the race if you watch the head-on, she’s got very little room to move between horses and was held tight. Looks capable of going right through the grades this preparation and is destined for bigger and better things. SHEZA CHALMER drew wide in the Racouteur so connections elect to take on the older horses. Has a big turn of foot and maps to get the right run from the draw. COMFORT ME did it tough first-up when tramping deep throughout. Huge effort in defeat and loves Belmont Park. ANGELIC MISS will need some luck from another tricky draw.

Numbers: 11 – 14 – 5 – 9

Suggested Bet – BRIGHT DIAMOND WIN

Quaddie (Race 6 – 9)

5,6
2,7
1,3,6,8
11,14

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