Races

Scott Embry’s Saturday Bunbury Preview

Posted on | Posted by Scott Embry

RACE 1

PURE EXCESS was all the rage on debut off the back of a slick 850m trial win and while defeated lost no admirers. She drew the ‘wrong’ side of the Pinjarra straight and William Pike tried (brilliantly) to offset the draw by snagging her back to last and darting across the back of the field to the outside fence. Had to wait, couldn’t really build and then savaged the line once clear. Would have preferred 1200m but going to follow up. BABY PEARL will look to cross and if allowed to find the fence will be in front a long way. CAPE LEEUWIN and AWESOME FORCE both covered the ground nicely in their trials but may need the experience.

Numbers: 7 – 2 – 4 – 3

Suggested Bet – PURE EXCESS WIN

RACE 2

MY HIDDEN UNIVERSE doesn’t leave the gates that cleanly, but once he finds his feet he musters quickly and is able to put himself into prominent positions. Not convinced he’s a genuine 1000m horse and as he goes up in grade he becomes more vulnerable. Love the horse and going to tip into him again but wary that this is much sharper than the Westspeed he won fresh. DESERT WHISPER is a pure jump and run filly. She’s only got one trick and that’s to burn along and desperately try to hold on late. With only 54kg on her back she’ll be freewheeling. SUPERNATURAL and PROSPECTOR’S PICK are talented chasers who will fly late.

Numbers: 5 – 7 – 8 – 3

Suggested Bet – MY HIDDEN UNIVERSE WIN

RACE 3

MASTER TACTICIAN finally gets his preferred surface for the first time in the preparation and on the 6 day back-up from a solid run at Northam could be the value runner in the field. There’s no stars in this Westspeed Platinum and he’s certainly no world beater, but he has run five ‘decent’ races in his career and four of those five have been on wet tracks. ROYAL GAP has put in two really good finishing efforts behind Bohemian Diamond and Kelvinator in his last two and looks ready to win. Obvious concern is how far back he gets again. YALLINGUP GIRL can put in a big run from time to time, as she did last start under a 4kg claimer behind King Hit. WHY ME is better than he’s shown in his first two runs this prep.

Numbers: 7 – 3 – 9 – 1

Suggested Bet – MASTER TACTICIAN EACHWAY

RACE 4

FIRST ENCOUNTER is ready to win now. Love the way he charged to the line at Northam from the rear of the field and he should only be building in fitness and confidence each and every run. He’ll sit back but in a race without a great deal of tempo there will hopefully be a three deep line bringing him into the race. DUN WITH THE BLUES has now won three of four first-up (discounting the time she was eased out of the race with an injury). She maps to get a near identical run second-up and with Pike sticking she’ll be understandably popular. CAMERA ACTION was only nosed out in that race, but is she looking for 1600? LORD GANNICUS could nearly lead this if they wanted.

Numbers: 7 – 3 – 6 – 2

Suggested Bet – FIRST ENCOUNTER WIN

RACE 5

EN PLEIN AIR was narrowly defeated fresh down the 1000m straight at Pinjarra. She looks the map horse who can sit close handy behind a really strong tempo (Sure Thing, Teabiscuit, Estimator) and present at the right time. Winnable for her. KRAKEN TIME has more ability than any of these, however, he’s got a history of doing things wrong and leaving himself far too much to do late. MASAMUNE was stiff to run into a horse like My Hidden Universe last start. He’s going really well, but barrier 14/15 with 59.5kg is a serious ask. LOST GRAVITY should have finished much closer last start.

Numbers: 13 – 5 – 1 – 6

Suggested Bet – EN PLEIN AIR EACHWAY

RACE 6

MT SHIRATAKU looks the classic Grant & Alana Williams progressive 3 year old. He sprint clear of them late in his maiden win and then dominated from the front in a C3. Hasn’t beaten anything (at all) but trusting that he will continue to raise the bar with experience. RALLY THE TROOPS has won his last two in 3 year old 0MWLY company an drops weight. Nice race for him too. CHOLLIMA is well placed back into a 60+ Graduation but as well as she’s going she’s ultimately never won outside her first-up run and she’s going to concede them a big head start under a big weight. IDEALLY looks a mare who can work her way through the grades.

Numbers: 8 – 9 – 3 – 13

Suggested Bet – MT SHIRATAKU WIN

RACE 7

STORYVILLE looks hard to beat under the SWP conditions of the race. She’s only got 3kg more than the maiden winning Geldings and she has a Champion Fillies and WA Guineas against her name. Liked her trials, loved her first-up run in a 78+ behind subsequent winner Lunvwar and from a better barrier, over a more suitable distance, expect she’ll take beating. POND MASTER has returned a 4 – 5L better animal this time in. He was grindy last campaign, he’s sharp this prep. ELITE MISSILE goes best fresh and attacks this 3 weeks between runs. Concern is obvious – he’ll get a long way back. AWESOME BOY is dangerous if left alone in front for too long.

Numbers: 2 – 4 – 3 – 5

Suggested Bet – STORYVILLE WIN

Same Race Multi – Raconteur Stakes – Storyville (Top 2) + Pond Master (Top 4)

Under the SWP conditions of the race the Champion Fillies and WA Guineas winner Storyville looks the starting point. Loved her first-up run against the older horses behind Luvnwar (who has won again since) and maps a treat here. Pond Master has had a brilliant preparation so far and if he jumps he can hold a nice spot.

RACE 8 

RICHANCO just continues to get better and just continues to win. He’s looking to win his fourth straight race in the preparation and while he steps out to 1200m and has to carry 59kg he’ll again bounce on the lead and dictate terms to them from the top. Same map, same result? HANCHI gets 1.5kg on Richanco to try and turn the tables and in review, probably should have beaten him down the straight last start, however, he’ll again get back/wide and that’s not an easy place to win from. SUNNY HONEY was big in defeat last week when three deep the trip no cover. DRAKAINA has a bit of X-Factor.

Numbers: 1 – 4 – 12 – 14

Suggested Bet – RICHANCO WIN

Quaddie (Race 5 – 8)

1,5,6,7,10,13

3,8,9

2,3,4,5

1,4

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