Scott Embry’s Sunday Albany Preview

Posted on May 12, 2023May 12, 2023 | Posted by Scott Embry

RACE 1

DEADLY AND FAST has this one last meeting to try and pinch a race. Finished third behind Jolly Odd and subsequent winner Warralea Diamond two starts ago and then got too far back last start behind Warralea Diamond and Hans Christian. Jason Brown heads down to Albany (three options: A) holidays, B) winners, or C) lost?) he can hold a spot in this small field. HANS CHRISTIAN absorbed a lot of pressure from the stablemate who made a mid-race move around them last start. Kept coming late once headed. SUPER SALSA is a work in progress. PRIDE OF TUSCANY returns to SJ Wolfe from Tom Pike.

Numbers: 1 – 4 – 3 – 5

Suggested Bet – DEADLY AND FAST WIN

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RACE 2

PLAYIN’ HARDBALL and VONSNIP ran the quinella last start in a C2 1500. There’s a 2.5kg weight swing in favour of Playin’ Hardball and from the inside draw Brayden Gaerth (who was aboard when she won her maiden) can take full advantage to either kick through and lead or sit in the box seat and enjoy the run of the race. Should give her a great look at turning the tables. VONSNIP has already been a great acquisition for Sam Faithfull’s team. 59kg is an ask (she’s also only a 3 year old filly) but she’s a tough little nut. WARRALEA DIAMOND took a while to win his maiden but can go on with it now. YES OF COURSE has raced well since heading south.

Numbers: 5 – 1 – 2 – 3

Suggested Bet – PLAYIN’ HARDBALL WIN

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RACE 3 

MOVING ON has run eye catching minor placings at his last two. Two starts ago behind Looks (subsequent winner) he was held up on straightening, raced in restricted room and flashed late. Last start he got a mile out of his ground and charged home along the fence (inferior ground). Like Deadly and Fast in Race 1 the Jason Brown booking takes the attention. SAFE RAPPA chased hard behind Pinball Player when targeted hard in betting. Got within half a length late in the race. Has a wide draw to navigate but Jarrad Noske has been riding Albany as well as anyone over the last 3 – 4 months. GOOD SONG was only fair last start in the same race. OUR NEMESIS was handy at Lark Hill trials.

Numbers: 1 – 5 – 6 – 8

Suggested Bet – MOVING ON WIN

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RACE 4

BENTLEY BEAU has returned to his old tricks in recent runs. He’s won 3 from 25 and he’s run second on 12 other occasions. Incredibly that’s 15/25 top 2 (60%) so while he’s found it tough to win races he’s consistently thereabouts. He ran second to Artie’s Comet last start and there’s clearly not much between them. ARTIE’S COMET came back from 3100m to 1600m in a wonderful training performance by Roy Rogers. This horse has been up for an eternity yet continues to race incredibly well. HIP WIGGLE can mix form but best is definitely good enough. POWERFUL FORCE finds this easier than his race in town.

Numbers: 2 – 1 – 3 – 7

Suggested Bet – BENTLEY BEAU WIN

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RACE 5

GOD’S MOMENT travelled up to them fresh for Pike but couldn’t quite finish off. Considering she was over a month between runs (24 March to 5 May) going to suggest that there would have been a bit of improvement to come and with Brayden Gaerth bringing her weight down to 57kg and the ideal draw going to follow up with the mare. MORGS FREEMAN has slowly but surely been coming back down through the ratings system. A few of his recent runs in higher grade than this have been encouraging. TREVELLO bounces between 58+ and 70+ grade. He’ll park midfield and run his usual honest race. GIFTED WARRIOR really caught the eye last start.

Numbers: 3 – 2 – 1 – 7

Suggested Bet – GOD’S MOMENT WIN

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RACE 6

ATHLONE CASTLE has been going well for months and continued his great form with a gritty second to Blue Card last start. Drawn barrier 1 to get another soft run along the fence in a high speed high pressure race (Avoidance & Sir Snugalot) and he’ll go around eachway again. Hard to fault. AVOIDANCE has to take the step into the next grade of racing but he’s a hard horse to get past when he’s allowed to stride. 4 victories in his career, all four when finding the fence and running faster than average times. He gets rivals uncomfortable in the middle stages and can sustain a strong gallop throughout. Think he measures up. BLUE LINE was tough last start. Thought Athlone Castle had him half way up the straight but he kept finding impressively. KOHLI is the class runner.

Numbers: 6 – 2 – 3 – 1

Suggested Bet – ATHLONE CASTLE EACHWAY

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RACE 7

GETYOURMONEYANDRUN has had absolutely no luck at two runs back. Love his trial at Albany behind Kohli on 31 March and then has sat deep and chasing at various stages in his two runs since. Drawn to get a much better run in transit and improves sharply. Worth an eachway ticket. LOOK UP finished second to Looks last start and was taking massive late ground off them. Ready to win. LOOKS is gunning for three straight. PENNED was below his best last start.

Numbers: 1 – 2 – 3 – 4

Suggested Bet – GETYOURMONEYANDRUN EACHWAY

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Quaddie (Race 4 – 7)

1,2,3,7

1,2,3,6,7,8

1,2,3,6,7

1,2,3

Market Market