Races

Scott Embry’s Saturday Belmont Preview

Posted on | Posted by Scott Embry

RACE 1

BARAMAGIC is a very hard horse to catch but all things considered he was a good run last start. He sat up outside of Black Shadow who got the wobbles (badly and repeatedly) from the 1000 forcing him into pacemaker thereafter. Thought he did a good job to battle on into fourth and with Brad Parnham jumping aboard he can roll to the top and dictate terms to them. Doesn’t look to be much pressure and he should give cheek in front. BLACKWATER BAY looks ready to win. Went into last start off a 28 day gap and even with the bar plates remaining on he should go very close. THE DOMINICAN relished the Heavy8 surface last start. Looks progressive. SLUICE BOX is trying hard.

Numbers: 3 – 2 – 7 – 1

Suggested Bet – BARAMAGIC WIN

RACE 2

PRINCESS LACILLIA was targeting in betting on debut and didn’t let her loyal following down. She parked up over a genuine speed (on a Soft7) and pulled clear on straightening to record a soft and impressive almost 2L victory. This race clearly has a lot more depth but from her favourable draw Pike should have her positioned over the speed again and with natural improvement both race fitness and experience wise she should be going close to remaining undefeated. ROPE THEM IN was also a debut winner and he showed a big turn of acceleration to win. Looks like he’ll eat up the extra 200m and gets a similar three deep cover run here. Big danger. DREAMERS NEVER DIE didn’t get much luck in that same race and now meets him 2kg better. STATE OF FURY built nice momentum in her 400m jump out.

Numbers: 8 – 1 – 4 – 10

Suggested Bet – PRINCESS LACILLIA WIN

RACE 3

KEEP ATTACKING sat in the breeze first-up at Pinjarra and ran them into the ground when winning by over a length in a race run 4.5L faster than average. He then went far too hard for his own good in the Sky Provincial Series Final (race run 8.5L faster than average) and last week they looked for cover and he over-raced badly throughout. Backs up off 7 days, drops in grade, blinkers come off and Paul Harvey goes back on. Plenty to like. KING CRUZER is not an easy horse to ride, watch, follow or I’m sure train. Has ability but continues to do a lot wrong. MISS VASARI looks suited dropping back into a Westspeed Platinum. ULTIMATE COMMAND now has 59kg. Coupled with the wide gate it makes things tough for her.

Numbers: 2 – 8 – 4 – 3

Suggested Bet – KEEP ATTACKING WIN

RACE 4

TOO DARDY was super at his return to racing. He drew 7 of 7 and went back to last over the 1000m scamper. Had to duck and weave in the home straight to find clear galloping room and really never got balanced until the last 100m when flashing late at undefeated rival Berbere. Meets him 1kg better, is drawn a far better alley and looks like he’s got more than enough raw ability to measure up on a Saturday. UNIVERSAL PLAYBOY went back first-up against the older horses in a race with a stack of tempo. Love the way he savaged the line. Trial was super too. Nice animal. DEVINE BELIEF is a sharp 1000m filly back into her own age group. UNIVERSAL FLAIR is a swimmer who got conditions to suit last week.

Numbers: 10 – 6 – 5 – 4

Suggested Bet – TOO DARDY WIN

RACE 5

WESTRIVER MIRACLE backs up off 7 days, drops in grade and is versatile. In a race where there is only one speed horse (Our Norman) he could well roll across from barrier 8 of 8 and sit parked in the breeze. If that is the case then he’ll be hard to get past. Don’t think there’s much between the top four or five in this competitive 72+. CRESCENT CITY has not been a friend to punters throughout his career but he’s clearly come back well. Was able to out grind and out stay talented leading duo Catalpa and Flying Missile last start and that’s good enough form to win again. ALL DAY SESSION was the replay run of the meeting last start. Was a ‘be on me next start’ run but 1200 to 1600? Big ask. VITALIZE has been racing consistently well, just needs one to follow.

Numbers: 3 – 2 – 4 – 7

Suggested Bet – WESTRIVER MIRACLE WIN

RACE 6

BOOTS LIKE BRUCE is a rising 6 year old who has only had 4 career starts. He was sent back to trials after his first-up run where he did a lot wrong and yet still managed to find the line into fifth. Last start he had 59.5kg, sat three deep without cover and still battled out the finish. Blinkers on first time and if jumping cleanly can work across with Defiant Diorite into a commanding position at an eachway quote. DUCHESS OF GOSSIP gave Brad Parnham a decent clip for the highlight reel last start when darting back inside of horses to find clear air and getting the job done in the final stride. Raw, progressive and talented. THOROGOOD has been disappointing after a solid first-up run without luck. WAR GEM covered plenty of extra ground last week.

Numbers: 6 – 12 – 2 – 1

Suggested Bet – BOOTS LIKE BRUCE EACHWAY

RACE 7

BLACK SPRIT has run well on each and every occasion this preparation. SJ Miller’s yard is going super and this mare continues to show up and produce. Gets back out to a mile, gets in with 57kg after the Brandon Louis claim and will roll forward to hold a prominent position in running. Always get an eachway price about her and always get an eachway run out of her. TALLANGATTA has raced well this entire campaign. Got the job done last start on a Soft7 at 1700 and was strong through the line. Previous form splitting subsequent winners Ihts Closing Inn and Flash Ducati reads up well too. MANAVENDRA drops back in trip and can stalk that pair. NOTEWORTHY demolished moderate opposition in a highly impressive return.

Numbers: 2 – 5 – 3 – 13

Suggested Bet – BLACK SPIRIT EACHWAY

RACE 8

VAST ART, RUSTY DREAMS and UPPER LIMITS ran the trifecta in the Raconteur Stakes and at Set Weights they look the three popular horses in the WAROA Belmont Guineas. UPPER LIMITS draws his best gate in a long while and gains the services of William Pike. With Vast Art and Rusty Dreams drawn wide that’s enough to suggest he’s a legitimate chance of turning the tables. VAST ART got the job done last start dropping back to 1400. He’s hard to hold out at the end of the mile and looks like he’ll be really well suited in the Aquanita in a fortnight. RUSTY DREAMS needs to tick the mile box. Interesting to see if they go forward or back. DEMOLISH showed across the Pinnacles he’s more than up to the best of our 3 year olds.

Numbers: 4 – 2 – 8 – 3

Suggested Bet – UPPER LIMITS WIN

Same Race Multi – Upper Limits (Top 3) + Vast Art (Top 3)

Upper Limits hit the line well in the Raconteur to finish third behind Vast Art and Rusty Dreams who he meets again here. This time round he gets the inside barrier and the services of William Pike. Vast Art has barrier 11 which doesn’t make things easy but he’s even better suited at 1600m than he was when winning the Raconteur at 1400m. Both to finish in the money.

RACE 9 

ROKANORI got the job done last start and can go on with it now. Finally got a race with a genuine top end speed which allow him to settle in the middle stages and present at the right time. Looks to get the same set up here with Puli, Man Crush, Snowdome, Mood Swings and Flying Missile all likely to contest a spirited early speed battle. Pike will opt out and land midfield cover and from there he’s hard to beat. BITOFMERIT will look for a spot three deep cover and had legitimate excuses first-up. There wasn’t much room at all up the fence. SNOWDOME is drawn poorly. Needs a B.Parnham special. VANE TEMPEST continues to race well.

Numbers: 7 – 12 – 3 – 9

Suggested Bet – ROKANORI WIN

Quaddie (Race 6 – 9)

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,12

2,3,5,11,13

2,3,4,8

7,12

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