Scott Embry’s Saturday Port Hedland Preview

Posted on May 18, 2023May 18, 2023 | Posted by Scott Embry

RACE 1

ROMMEL’S RETURN raced at the opening meeting at Carnarvon last Saturday when finishing a narrow third in the maiden behind Our Kiwi Princess and Set The Scene. Extra 200m suits better and this looks an even weaker race. Looks a great chance to break through and win one. DEVIL’S QUEEN has her first start for Tom Pike. She went around a $7 chance on debut in a 3y ear old 0MWLY behind Valsassina, Lieutenant Dunbar at Belmont Park. Keep safe. DAWN RETREAT has his first start in WA and won a trial at Ascot in in really good style. ROSA BALLERINA can show some speed.

Numbers: 2 – 7 – 4 – 6

Suggested Bet – ROMMEL’S RETURN WIN

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RACE 2 

WELD should be too classy for his opposition here. He’s also a sprinting type who runs into a field of stayers who will need further than this. He won a 56+ at Newman before going 62 days between runs into a 56+ at Collie when winning by 7L extending. Should be too good for these. PLAYING ZEUS looks the danger. He has been beaten margins on the grass for 12 months but worth remembering he was dominant at Port Hedland back in 2021. THE RED SEA drops 800m back in trip with only 16 days between runs. He’ll need further. CROSSARO will be on a long winded Cups campaign. He’ll need further.

Numbers: 1 – 3 – 5 – 2

Suggested Bet – WELD WIN

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RACE 3

AMBER HIGHWAY is a previous Port Hedland winner (tick), races up on speed (tick) and has shown form on the grass in recent times (tick). Tom Pike looks to have a huge hand to play the return to Port Hedland and between Kyra Yuill and Tash Faithfull they should be riding the majority of the card. Works across to sit on the speed and should be going very close. GINGER KNIGHT is the unknown element of the race having his first start on the dirt. All of his C3 form on the grass at Ascot/Pinjarra/Belmont reads up well for this. WHIM CREEK joins Michael Ball and should be a handy acquisition for the region. WAR WARRIOR next best.

Numbers: 2 – 6 – 1 – 3

Suggested Bet – AMBER HIGHWAY WIN

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RACE 4

KELLYS LASSIE has her first start for Nadia Bishop and her first start on the dirt. She was ultra consistent throughout her previous preparation and drawn wide at your first go on dirt is more often than not a good thing. Stays out of trouble and hopefully can work her way through the dust clouds. GREY MISTRESS has concussion plates going on and her first look at the dirt as well. TOWNERS FLYER may look to cross to the lead. That would bring him into it. AMELIA’S BELIEF was a handy run at Carnarvon.

Numbers: 4 – 1 – 2 – 3

Suggested Bet – KELLYS LASSIE WIN

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RACE 5

AL MAGICO finished only 3L off Kosta’s Crown, Above The Peg, Double Spice and Featherweight at Ascot two starts ago. Last week he went to Carnarvon, sustained a run and went down at the hands of Pure Dynamite. He’ll be a nice horse to follow at Port Hedland and should only get better the further they step him out in trip. BILLY JACK is a nice horse for this grade. He can kick through to lead them and stay out of trouble. JUSTHANDY didn’t seem to enjoy the dirt style of racing last week. Watch. MIDNIGHT BLACK next best.

Numbers: 2 – 4 – 3 – 1

Suggested Bet – AL MAGICO WIN

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RACE 6

SECRET LAIR ran second in back to back C1 1400 & 1600m events at Geraldton. Last start finished 2L off Sanabeau after leading at a mile and now drops back to 1300m. Fit, has Austin Galati and can park over the speed in a pretty open race. Looks one of many chances. JOHNNY REB was running well at Broome this time last year. Comes into this fresh and is proven on dirt. SIR DIAMOND will be looking for further but actually ran quite well at Ascot. HAWK was one of few horses to fill the placings from on speed/on fence at Carnarvon last week.

Numbers: 2 – 5 – 3 – 4

Suggested Bet – SECRET LAIR WIN

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Quaddie (Race 3 – 6)

1,2,6

1,4

2,4

2,3,4,5

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