Races

Scott Embry’s Sunday Esperance Preview

RACE 1

REEL SAFE looks like getting punters off to a flyer on Esperance Cup Day. Dan & Ben Pearce are in excellent form and are consistently taking teams to the country areas for great reward. Drawn awkwardly but finishing 2L off Penny’s Afield and Forlane should be too strong a form reference for the locals. ROCKING THE MERC was formerly with Team Pearce and put the writing on the wall at his first start for Josh Brown. Won’t take long to break through. ISCHINCA VIEW is a hard mare to catch but gets every chance up the fence. MUNGY MISSILE has shown glimpses.

Numbers: 10 – 6 – 7 – 4

Suggested Bet: REEL SAFE WIN


RACE 2

FINEST CLOBBER was bitterly disappointing at her return to racing when sent out a well supported favourite and nailing to fire a solitary shot. Never travelled well and showed absolutely nothing. Going to trust her off the trial win and the fact she’s drawn a perfect alley for the Johnston-Porter/Durrant combination. HENTY ROSE finds a new home with Cliff Smith and Jo Leeson. Last start for Michael Lane produced a fourth behind I’m All Miss and prior to that was only 2.5L off Miss Field and Valency. ZARMELLA is seriously quick but has also accepted for York Monday. Might come out. FAULT has been given a freshen and Fiona Scott usually produces one on Cup Day.

Numbers: 10 – 9 – 7 – 3

Suggested Bet: FINEST CLOBBER WIN


RACE 3

REBEL YELL was backed into even money two starts ago when unable to hold out Alcina. Then went to Mt Barker and finished a narrow third behind Lacevinsky and Sweet Snitty and now gets back down to Esperance. Rarely far from the action and at his home surface gets another wonderful chance in a wide open race. ALCINA probably bagged up Esperance horse of the year with yet another win last start. Luke Campbell is still searching for that elusive first winner and a track specialist and winner like Alcina is the perfect opportunity. SWEET SNITTY showed something last start and Jordan Rolfe legs aboard good mate Michael Poy to try and lift him home. BALLADEER has been a touch below his best.

Numbers: 4 – 3 – 2 – 6

Suggested Bet: REBEL YELL WIN


RACE 4

BALDERDASH is the kind of horse who can either drop out to last and sustain a run around them from a wide gate or sit in the box seat, travel up and kick clear when drawn an inside gate. He drew low three starts ago, stalked the speed and beat up on them. Josh Brown calls on Brad Rawiller and he looks mighty hard to beat. WISE WORDS went close in a metro C1 last start behind Arcadia Grace who goes to a 3 year old Plate on Saturday. Wise Words heads to a C2 at Esperance. SILVER BO has put in two good runs in WA. Keep safe. SHADOW SHIFTER has been racing consistently well for Gary Burger.

Numbers: 1 – 8 – 10 – 2

Suggested Bet: BALDERDASH WIN


RACE 5

WHEATSTACK THIEF has been a follow horse all preparation for Jane Hossell. Emerging four year old who is holding form really well. Winner three starts ago, beaten in the shadows two starts ago and then last start loomed to them at 2000 and just peaked in the final hundred. Back to a mile, blinkers on and down 3.5kg. Plenty to like. WATCH ME NEY NEY has metro form to his name and would have gone round in the Esperance Cup if there wasn’t so many nominations. Think he’s better suited at the mile anyway and he’ll be popular. DEEL RED is hard to catch when he can find the front. SASSATIONAL can run home strongly late in her races and did beat Wheatstack Thief two starts ago.

Numbers: 4 – 3 – 1 – 7

Suggested Bet: WHEATSTACK THIEF WIN


RACE 6

DOUBLE SPICE has 65kg before the claim of Cassey Martinan. Backing a 4kg claimer from barrier 10 of 11 is not something I would recommend unless you get a price worth taking the risk because the horse could conceivably be three and four deep at stages without surprise. His three wins for Neil Dellar have been of a Perth horse and he beat Cristal Dane last start who has since won twice. With any sort of luck he should win but punting wise, wait and see. PREMIUM CHOICE was winning a long, long way out last start. Classy performance and one of a horse ready to go through the grades. NEUROLOGIC looked too good for them on paper last start and didn’t let punters down. Likely to burn early to get across. FLYING ARABIAN will jump and run.

Numbers: 1 – 4 – 3 – 5

Suggested Bet: DOUBLE SPICE WIN


RACE 7

OFF WEGO has been building and building into the preparation and looks well placed in the Esperance Cup. Races outside the handicap but in a race where there are only four horses within the handicap he isn’t horribly in at the weights. Blends in three deep with cover and should be chiming in half way up the straight. Wide open Cup with at least 8 or more legitimate chances. Should be eachway the field. TREASURED CROWN is the class horse in the race. Might still be a start too early for him but like the way he got through the line last start. MISTY LAD is a previous winner of this race and can kick through to lead and control. SLUICE BOX was a tough watch last start.

Numbers: 8 – 1 – 4 – 13

Suggested Bet: OFF WEGO EACHWAY


RACE 8

KALLAROO made his Esperance debut in a 68+ 1200m when he finished off as well as anything behind Alcina and Sauvegarde. Steps to 1400m (distance of his 3 year old Listed win over Western Empire) and drops back into a 58+. Nice horse for the region and provided he can handle the 62kg impost he looks really well placed into this. COLD AS COLD can be a little hit and miss from time to time but Helen Harding looks to have him going really well. His win two starts ago was strong and was over an inform horse. NICKLAUS should get a lovely run. EUROGEM has been good at every start in WA.

Numbers: 1 – 3 – 2 – 4

Suggested Bet: KALLAROO WIN


Quaddie (Race 5 – 8)

1,2,3,4,6,8

1,4

1,3,4,8,9,13,16

1,2,3

Market Market