Races

Scott Embry’s Sunday Bunbury Preview

Posted on | Posted by Scott Embry

RACE 1

POPPY’S ROSES has really caught the eye in her last two at odds and now with the addition of CJP to the saddle is likely to be the one that the market identifies in what looks a very open 1705m maiden. Was really good behind La Excellence when nothing went right, before a two month freshen and a trial leading into her return when again completely luckless behind Barney Rommel. Looks like she’ll get ground and there’s nothing with a great fear factor in the opposition. MY TEA is coming out of three consecutive runner-up performances in the Great Southern and this is not any more difficult. Covered a lot of additional ground last start and was brave in defeat. HEAVENLY RAPTURE went around $18 last start and had a few excuses. Was a $3.80 chance the start prior off a good run on Westspeed Day. RAYLANA a bit of a query at the trip?

Numbers: 12 – 1 – 9 – 8

Suggested Bet – POPPY’S ROSES WIN

RACE 2

BUSTER’S BABE has trialled well on three separate occasions, spread across three separate preparations. In the most recent of them at 950m at Lark Hill she looked quite sharp and in time the prior trial behind stablemate Hot Chix Lane will look good too, because she’s got ability and held her own behind Sharpassa. The query will be barrier 1 and how the fence will play at Bunbury. Been off recently. ACQUIRED TASTE was beaten a 3.4L margin by Buster’s Babe in the firs trial this prep and then wound up nicely in the second trial when coming on quickly. She’ll get out over further but can sprint well on debut. TEMPTUS TYCOON is a lightly raced 4 year old mare who makes her WA debut for a very much in form Summer Dickson. Definite watch. CHAMPAGNE TALKS comes through one of those frustrating backstraight trials (like Acquired Taste) which are incredibly hard to judge/punt off, but she did look good.

Numbers: 9 – 8 – 5 – 10

Suggested Bet – BUSTER’S BABE WIN

RACE 3 

DESERT WAVES hasn’t raced since 31 October 2024 when stepping out first-up on 25 January at Pinjarra on the Scarpside. Was kept safe in betting as a $4.80 chance and should have gone very close to winning. In that event he was impeded for clear running, was crowded in between runners and blundered and then still finished off the race strongly into second behind a horse with ability in God’s Cross. Goes to Pike second-up and will command a lot of attention in betting. GLORANARDO finished fourth on debut to Hubble’s Dragon (now won a C1) and then finished off really well late at odds again behind Media Mogul. Has been under-rated in both runs to date and gone well. CAN’T CATCH ME was a shade disappointing last start after being unable to lead. MAYTHISBETHEONE is speedy but doesn’t look to have a lot of stamina?

Numbers: 1 – 5 – 10 – 11

Suggested Bet – DESERT WAVES WIN

RACE 4

WAHOOCHINO is drawn barrier 1 and the fence hasn’t been the place to be recently at the BTC, however, if somehow it’s okay, or Brad Parnham can get him away from the inside at some stage in running then he should be hard to hold out off a barnstorming fresh run at 1400. Can topple the fav with even luck. EIGHTYSEVEN LAD was a $17 chance on debut when beaten a near 4L margin in a 1000m maiden at Ascot and then improved sharply second-up when finishing off into second behind Just Walter John at 1200. Now gets to 1400, gets Pike and draws a gate, but he’s going to be very short? Not yet sold. LA NOCCIOLA was desperately unlucky two back and either side has run solid third placings. PLAYING FREE is better than he is currently showing.

Numbers: 3 – 2 – 9 – 1

Suggested Bet – WAHOOCHINO WIN

RACE 5

ABERDEEN FLYER is in the nominations for Sunday’s Challenge Stakes. If he runs here he’ll be $1.60/$1.70? And if he runs in the Challenge he’ll probably have a few admirers for minor money behind likely heavily odds on favourite Playin’ It Sweet. We’ll preview on the expectation that he comes out…SAFEDEEK went forward last start and was there fighting with 150m to go. That was only his second run for new trainer Michael Lane and these horses typically get better and stronger deeper into their preps. STREAK OF GOD had serious traffic issues on debut behind Holler Nuff and was immediately sent to the paddock. He now appears first-up for new trainer Brandon Fiore and the trial back in January suggested that he would take beating where ever he went first-up. YANKEE ACE is trying hard but he continues to find one or two better than him. MAGIC CARATS had his chance last start.

Numbers: 8 – 10 – 4 – 2

Suggested Bet – SAFEDEEL WIN

RACE 6

LUNA ASCENDING will get me one more time. Great run fresh at 60-1 behind Elvira Star (now a C1 winner), great run second-up behind Bulletin Beau, great run third-up behind Slick (now a C1 winner) and then last start settled a mile off them and got within three quarters of the winner in a blanket finish. Blinkers first time and again likely to go around eachway. DIAMOND CHOUX comes through the God’s Cross, Desert Waves race which could well hold up as a form reference in Race 3. Pike on, drawn a gate and eachway. Lots to like? FLAVOURSOME probably should have beaten Morf two back. No idea what happened last start but she was an alarming drifter never looked a winning chance at any stage in running. Maybe back in trip is the right move? MIDNIGHT STAR seemed to appreciate the soft tracks over Winter.

Numbers: 9 – 8 – 6 – 7

Suggested Bet – LUNA ASCENDING EACHWAY

RACE 7

CHEROKEE MISS won a 46+ 1600 four back at Pinjarra and since then has been beaten 3L by Planet Cash and Kimberley Rose in a C5, finished 3.8L off Great Fortune (when a bit held up too in the home straight) in a 60+ Graduation and then backed up into a 58+ at Albany when a touch disappointing. Back into her right grade and as long as that wasn’t an end of prep run then expect she’s capable of bounding back in a race like this. WAYNE THE PAIN was super fresh behind free wheeling leader and winner Chino La Diva and then looked a bit one paced second-up when not really savaging the line in the same manner. Out to 1705m and a race without any stars. SNIP OF GOSSIP is a 46+/52+ animal. Has shown that throughout his career and this is a far better set up for him than the Westspeed Platinum he comes through. Could lead too? MISS WALL STREET was better than Wayne The Pain last start.

Numbers: 7 – 11 – 3 – 1

Suggested Bet – CHEROKEE MISS EACHWAY

RACE 8

SENTIMENTAL LEGEND is going to end up really short. Masmelo the likely second favourite is accepted at Belmont on Wednesday and if she runs there then he’ll end up deep in the red after deductions are applied. Thinking it’s $1.40/$1.50 type areas for him and quite simply if he reproduces the turn of foot he showed on debut over 1400 at Bunbury then he could well emerge a Roberts / Melvista / WATC Derby type. Nice starting point for him. MASMELO is accepted Wednesday in a C3 and here on Thursday in a C1. If she start here she can give the fav a run for his money. Trialled super. JAZALOT has met with a bit of support at odds recently so keep safe. AURORA QUEEN was a massive improver second-up at any old odds.

Numbers: 3 – 9 – 7 – 4

Suggested Bet – SENTIMENTAL LEGEND WIN

RACE 9

SO IMMACULATE led and won here at Bunbury in a C1 1000 and then went to Geraldton last start into a C2 that had some depth. The winner of that race (Yapper) belongs in town, he’s a highly progressive raw talent, and the third horse was a winner at her WA debut. The pressure was on from start to finish in that race and she fought on bravely into minor money. Back to 1000, ridden for pure speed, she’s a live eachway chance. HEZANGELIC can use the fence to his advantage and is capable of leading or box seating. Drops from a C5 back into a C3 and they were all beaten by a nice horse in Galway Shawl that day. SHAKA ZULU hasn’t raced since April of 2024, it’s reasonable to expect that he’ll need the run, but he’s pretty sharp when right. EARL IT IS is enjoying life in his new home.

Numbers: 11 – 4 – 6 – 2

Suggested Bet – SO IMMACULATE EACHWAY

Quaddie (Race 6 – 9)

2,6,7,8,9

1,3,6,7,11

3

2,4,6,11

Market Market



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