Races

Scott Embry’s Sunday Albany Preview

RACE 1

FAMOUS DAIN finished a luckless fourth on debut behind Starrating (now Listed placed in the Ascot 1000 Guineas) and subsequent winner Another Strike. Second-up he went from 1300m to 1600m and settled in a different postcode to the leaders when trying to sustain a big run from the back of the field. Drawn better here, smaller field, naturally fitter and looks hard to beat. WHY ME looks as the obvious danger. His effort last start behind talented filly Angel Undercover on a Saturday was a ripper. 1200 to 1600 is the only query. WARRALEA LASS has a set of shades added and Shaun McGruddy returns. KAMAKAZI SHOOTER was better behind Duke Of Wellington last start.

Numbers: 5 – 3 – 8 – 4

Suggested Bet – FAMOUS DAIN WIN


RACE 2

OXBRIDGE has had a wonderful season for Stephen Sheehy and Rosie Mahony. He is just a jump and run specialist and he’s run rivals off their legs all preparation. His latest win was almost 5L faster than Class average and his wins earlier in the season were 8L, 6L and 9L faster than Class average. He’s just been too quick for them. SKY DUKE likely settles on his tow ball and follows his every move. If there’s a horse to run him down, you’d think it’s Sky Duke from just behind him. MORGS FREEMAN finished 3.2L off Oxbridge at their last encounter and only gets a 0.5kg weight swing. CLASSIC MAGNUS was beaten 4L, at least she gets 2.5kg.

Numbers: 1 – 4 – 3 – 2

Suggested Bet – OXBRIDGE WIN


RACE 3

AMERICAN THIGHS lead and faded on debut when beaten under 3L by Diablo Lad who has now won a 3 year old 0MWLY. Last start was brave behind Bondi Plunge and that filly wasn’t disgraced behind Influencing in town in a C1 on Wednesday either. Looks one of many chances in an open and even maiden. I’M THAT GIRL hasn’t had much luck at her two runs to date. Watching her replay on debut she’s more than capable of turning the tables on American Thighs. PRINCE VICTORY has the 4kg claim of Chanel Cooper and if it’s anything like the stablemate at Pinjarra on Thursday in Prince Ragnar it’ll be jump and run instructions. SANCTIONS finds this easier than her first-up run.

Numbers: 6 – 8 – 2 – 5

Suggested Bet – AMERICAN THIGHS WIN


RACE 4

HOT CHATTER has been a model of consistency since joining the Great Southern Stables of Bec Bayliss. She’s finished second to Final Siren, beaten Odinaka, finished a nose behind Vonsnip, a half head off Morgs Freeman and then finished only 1L off Tropical Sun at Barker. Given a 6-week let-up and looks hard to hold out late. MAKE YOUR POINT and MY LOVELY PET both come through the Cheeky Charlotte/Lord Vampi/Sunbronzed C1 at Belmont from 14 February. There’s not much between them and they’re both big winning chances. SOSIPATRA will jump and she’ll burn turf.

Numbers: 2 – 4 – 3 – 7

Suggested Bet – HOT CHATTER WIN


RACE 5

DOUBLE THUMBS UP won a 58+ 1600 two starts back and in that event he beat home rivals Natural Spice and Warralea Diamond. He concedes only half a kilo to Natural Spice for beating him by near 7L and only 1kg to Warralea Diamond for beating him by almost 2.5L. Looks a great chance coming back in grade and back in distance. POWERFUL FORCE goes well fresh and can roll to the top here. First-up at 1600m in a C5 at Northam last prep he was only half a length off Megami. WARRALEA DIAMOND broke through for a deserved win last start. FLOPPY chased hard behind the inform stablemate Uncompromised last Sunday at Esperance.

Numbers: 1 – 6 – 7 – 2

Suggested Bet – DOUBLE THUMBS UP WIN


RACE 6

STAR IN TIME was beaten a nose by Oceanzara last start at Bunbury and prior to that ran second behind Vonsnip (beating home Oddoneout & Hoolahoops). Soft trial behind stablemate Beau Zoom who heads to the Bluff Knoll and no doubt has been targeted at this $40,000 feature. MY FURY steps out to 1600m and has 60kg to lump but her recent form in the metro area is strong. She ran second to Rogue’s Point last start and the grey cult hero won again at Ascot on Wednesday to frank the form. DAZZLING DANE is relatively untested at a mile but her three runs for Rob Witten have been excellent. PAIGEY’S TURN gets a soft run and is going okay.

Numbers: 6 – 1 – 8 – 5

Suggested Bet – STAR IN TIME WIN


RACE 7 

RED CAN MAN could not have trialled any better at Lark Hill recently. He was seemingly too sharp for Oscar’s Fortune and when you review their Winterbottom Stakes clash he was only 1.7L off Oscar’s in the finish and meets him 1.5kg better at the weights coming into a SWP. He goes super fresh, he’s clearly come back in good order and he doesn’t need to lead to win which is important considering how much speed is in this race. Imagine the scenes if a local won the inaugural Bluff Knoll. OSCAR’S FORTUNE is thrown in at 54kg. He carries less weight here than he did behind Overpass in the Group One Winterbottom Stakes! He has to go close to winning. SNOWDOME is a proven fresh sprinter and maps well. LACED UP HEELS brings X-Factor. Back in WA and trialled better than Snowdome.

Numbers: 3 – 13 – 1 – 12

Suggested Bet – RED CAN MAN EACHWAY


RACE 8

STAY WEALTHY is right on his limit at 1500m as we saw two starts back when he was beaten a head by Warralea Diamond. He had to breeze in that event, thinking that he probably goes on with it and leads here early and might even look to hold out Jolly Odd in running. Gets his chance. MINE HOST finished third in that same race and there isn’t much between them ability wise. PURE CHINO is hard to line up. The win at Geraldton was unreal – but the horse she ran down does tend to put up the white flag in the last 100. FEELS HOT was sent out at 100-1 first-up and missed by the most narrow of margins. If he can repeat that run he’s well and truly in this.

Numbers: 2 – 5 – 3 – 4

Suggested Bet – STAY WEALTHY WIN


Quaddie (Race 5 – 8)

1,2,6,7

1,3,4,5,6,8

1,3,12,13

2,3,5

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