Races

Scott Embry’s Saturday Geraldton Preview

Posted on | Posted by Scott Embry

RACE 1

ON THE MARK is just a ripper and hopefully he can win one more race in the Midwest for Barry Newnham and Bonnie Stokes before he comes to Perth (surely…). He’s now copping 62.5kg and yet is still clearly the one to beat. After running second in the Batavia Sprint he dropped back to 1100m, missed away, sat wide, did things wrong and still looked like he won, with a 3L margin back to third. He’s a gun. THEHORSEMAN burst onto the scene in Geraldton to start the season but the wheels have fallen off recently. GOLD KEEPER has 7.5kg on On The Mark and enjoys a soft run. DIVINE INANNA hasn’t run a bad race at Geraldton in her life. Loves the track.

Numbers: 1 – 2 – 4 – 3

Suggested Bet – ON THE MARK WIN

RACE 2

BELVEDERE ROCK won three on the bounce before stepping out to 1900m last start when going under as a $1.45 favourite. The Stewards Report was lengthy and still not entirely convinced he ran out the trip anyway, so with a month’s freshen and back to 1600m hoping to see him bounce back to his best. INVINCIBLE THEIF has come of age in the last month. She broke her maiden at 1685m at Bunbury and then backed it up into a 54+ 2200 at Ascot when winning again. It was a bizarre win really, she looked in trouble on straightening, the favourite got out underneath her and put a margin on her and then she found a second wind and came again. Back to 1600m and up to 57kg are both potential stumbling blocks. SANABEAU won well two back. BOUSSAC is officially out of chances.

Numbers: 1 – 2 – 3 – 4

Suggested Bet – BELVEDERE ROCK WIN

RACE 3

NOBLE TOUCH is knocking on the door and if Tash Faithfull can get across without burning too much fuel early she’ll be hard to beat. She’s a tiny little mare but she tries hard and she has less convictions than most of her rivals. EXTRA ZERO has been costly. He has gone around favourite at nearly every outing since arriving in Geraldton and on many occasion he has gone under without a yelp and more importantly, without an excuse. No more. NOW SHOWING has hit the line hard in the recent starts and is screaming out for 1600. BRINGITHOMEALAMABA gave Holly Watson a torrid ride in the straight fresh. Shades off, tongue tie off.

Numbers: 8 – 1 – 3 – 4

Suggested Bet – NOBLE TOUCH WIN

RACE 4

WRITTEN WORDS ran second on debut as a 2 year old at Bunbury behind Sound of Speed and was searching for clear running momentarily as the leader was off and gone. At his second start he was probably over the hill and wanting the paddock but still beat a couple home in a 2 year old Saturday. Loved the barrier trial and think he’ll be very hard to beat. YAPPER finished third in a Belmont trial behind Swift Talker and Swingman (Saturday winner) back in August. On debut, first-up, no trial from a stable that can produce one fresh. Very wary. ADVENTUROUSLY trialled like he would need a bit more ground than this? CALEB has been solid in two runs back this prep.

Numbers: 5 – 8 – 7 – 4

Suggested Bet – WRITTEN WORDS WIN

RACE 5

LEONARDO DA GREY looks really well placed by Ron Cowl (Jnr). After winning a C1 (beating dual subsequent winner Bonny Rock) he has placed to Bolta on two occasions at 58+ grade and then finished a luckless third behind Bolta in the $100,000 Regional Final at Ascot. Back to a C2, yes please. DIAMONDS’N’RUBIES would be hard to beat if Giaan O’Donnell can kick through to lead. Stay out of trouble and use the 4kg claim to advantage. SCURGEOFTHEWEST won a C2 1400 last start under 59.5kg and got away from them in the finish, extending the margin to nearly 1.5L. Same track, same grade, same distance but now 61kg and an outside draw, it’s definitely tougher. MORE HEROIC won well on debut in a bit of a surprise at $14, however, the runner-up did throw the race away.

Numbers: 3 – 8 – 1 – 4

Suggested Bet – LEONARDO DA GREY WIN

RACE 6

TRULY GALLANT is having a great season. He is a 4 year old in his initial racing campaign and considering they only paid $3,250 for him in an Inglis Online Sale in May he’s been a brilliant acquisition having already won two races and banked nearly $40,000 in Prizemoney across 6 starts. Back out to a mile last start was key and he bolted in. Like the horse. MASTER ALEX is always there abouts but barrier 1 can often be tricky at the GTC. Needs the leaders to kick into the corner. SWEET SURRENDER will understandably be popular off her last start minor at Ascot but she did give the indication she wanted even further? ODIN OMEN is building.

Numbers: 3 – 2 – 5 – 9

Suggested Bet – TRULY GALLANT WIN

RACE 7

IN SITU might just be a nice type for the region. Backed as if unbeatable on debut but could only manage sixth, then second-up showed why the money came on debut with an authorative 1L win and then went to another level into a C1 when breezing and pulling clear late for an emphatic win. Great use of the 2kg claim for Holly Nottle and has versatility to be ridden to conditions of the day. BUBBLES IN RIO could well loom as the biggest danger on paper even though a maiden galloper. Led them last start at 1000 at Ascot and kicked on quite strongly late. CHAMPEZE gets a soft run along the fence but could be more of a 1400m mare? LIM’S SARBACH a watch at his WA debut.

Numbers: 1 – 6 – 9 – 4

Suggested Bet – IN SITU WIN

RACE 8

FAME sat three deep the trip, no cover last start and even though they were absolutely walking he still did all the work and gave a kick on straightening. There’s naturally a query on the quality of that form with a few horses out of that race failing at Ascot on Van Heemst Day, but he’s going well since coming to WA and this looks winnable. Accepted for the Perth Cup Thursday too. TWILIGHT TALE has form around Noahquintilly and Fame. It’s all intertwining form and she’s drawn to get the run right. Timing looks right and with CJP heading to Geraldton, this is the one the market will target. LONG GENES was given a mid-prep freshen, likely to aim him at this. NOAHQUINTILLY is getting close to a staying win.

Numbers: 3 – 4 – 5 – 12

Suggested Bet – FAME WIN

RACE 9 

SOUTHLAND won like a horse who was going to burst his way through the grades first-up and then was sent out a $1.85 second-up. He was slow away, slow to muster any tactical speed and then never looked a winning chance at any stage, bitterly disappointing. He’s better than that and now both regular rider Troy Turner and a set of shades seem like positive moves. He can bounce straight back. LILLIAN was brought to WA as a staying type of filly/mare. Trial was sharp enough though. THE RUSH is a model of consistency and from the draw is always a winning chance in this grade. STEVIE’S MAY and anything from the Albert Bowtell yard must be respected.

Numbers: 9 – 7 – 3 – 12

Suggested Bet – SOUTHLAND WIN

Quaddie (Race 6 – 9)

2,3,5

1,6

3,4,5,12

3,7,9

Market Market




Recent Articles