Races

Scott Embry’s Thursday Northam Preview

Posted on | Posted by Scott Embry

RACE 1

OCEAN OUTLAW dropped back into a maiden for the first time in his career last start when a relatively disappointing fifth behind Oscar Charlie. He did get a long way back from a wide draw and still made good late ground and now trainer Simon Miller calls on a set of blinkers. Small field suits and looks to have found another winnable race. Giving him another go. EN PLEIN AIR is on debut from the Grant & Alana Williams yard and with William Pike taking the ride is sure to garner plenty of attention. Fence was off at the opening meeting – she’s a good early marker for it on Thursday. MAXINE’S WISH comes through the same race as Ocean Outlaw and beat him home. AUTO SPARK next best.

Numbers: 2 – 7 – 3 – 5

Suggested Bet – OCEAN OUTLAW WIN

RACE 2

LIFEISBUTADREAM trialled nicely behind The King’s Uncle over 1000m before making her return to racing in the Oscar Charlie / Ocean Outlaw / Maxine’s Wish race which is on show in Race 1. She should take great improvement for the run and is drawn to get every favour in her third career outing. CJP jumps back aboard and she looks to have a great chance to break through. NATURAL GEM has shown ability at trials and can hold a prominent position from the inside draw. IMPENDING FEATURE has speed and can come across from the wide draw. BREAK THE TABOO may have run into a sharp one at trials.

Numbers: 3 – 9 – 4 – 7

Suggested Bet – LIFEISBUTADREAM WIN

RACE 3

ALMAYA was some sort of run last start. He had no right to finish in the money, let alone jump out of the ground and nab second. Gobbled up key rivals I’M NIPOTE and ROYALE MUCK UP in the process and thinking with a three deep cover run he could go well. Always tricky to get involved in one that went around 50-1 and drifting last start but with the shades back on he went super. CHAMPAGNE STREET has gone under as favourite on many occasions now. She’s clearly got some ability but she’s drawn wide and found ways to get rolled previously. TROOPER PHOENIX trialled like a gun.

Numbers: 1 – 5 – 10 – 2

Suggested Bet – ALMAYA EACHWAY

RACE 4

IDYLLIC RULER has become a very risky betting proposition. Stood in the gates first-up at Ascot and was sent back to trials – 37 days later he missed away and then was held up the entire length of the straight and was absolutely bolting. Blinkers off – hopefully that helps? You wouldn’t want to be taking anything short about him in case he throws another race away. THE MAN HIMSELF was a big improver last start out to a mile when able to dictate. ELLE OF A BOOM and FIGHT IN FLIGHT are both trying hard.

Numbers: 5 – 7 – 11 – 10

Suggested Bet – IDYLLIC RULER WIN

RACE 5

SNIP OF GOSSIP stepped out to a mile for the first time most recently and found the line alright. Yet to really reproduce that eye catching late finishing burst from first-up in a 3 year old 0MWLY but has shown more than enough ability to win a maiden like this. Maps to get every chance. MILYEANNUP was a gritty effort last start second-up over 1800. Looks a real one paced grinding type who needs to be wound up from a long way out. MISTRESS OF WAR an improver at odds. WHAITIRI has been there abouts her entire career without winning.

Numbers: 8 – 10 – 11 – 12

Suggested Bet – SNIP OF GOSSIP WIN

RACE 6 

BELLE JOURNEE was beaten by the narrowest of margins last start (imagine being on the wrong side of William Pike’s first photo finish defeat in a decade…) but can bounce back here. She drops 1.5kg and gets out to a mile. She’ll do no work from the draw and this is not a deep race. We go again. MEGAMI won a C5 1600 at Northam back in November 2023 and has raced in higher grade ever since including running third behind Desennea and Demolish in a 72+ and finishing 3L off Yonga Lass in a Group 3 La Trice. Proven weight carrier and natural improver. AGASSI hasn’t won for a long time but is racing well. MARINSKY BALLET attacks this 7 weeks between runs for a new yard.

Numbers: 5 – 1 – 3 – 6

Suggested Bet – BELLE JOURNEE WIN

RACE 7

LORD LALA lead throughout to win a 3 year old Saturday beating Dialling and Augment at his second career start and showed he was back in good order with a 1000m Belmont Park barrier trial win leading into his return. Went around in a 60+ 1200 and never really looked comfortable at any stage. That was only his second run in blinkers and Stef Vahala takes them off and drops him back into a C3 at Northam. Trusting he can return to his best. DIVINE INANNA drops back to 1400m and will be in front for a long time. RELIABLE QUEEN was a big first-up winner for her new trainer Meryl Hayley and was well supported in betting as well. Improving type. ELSUENO returns from almost 400 days off the track.

Numbers: 1 – 2 – 7 – 3

Suggested Bet – LORD LALA WIN

RACE 8

FLASH DUCATI and MYSTICAL MAN put on a brilliant staying battle up the home straight last start in an identical race to this (54+ 2200). There’s a 1kg weight swing in favour of MYSTICAL MAN but considering FLASH DUCATI was 1600 to 2200 he should take great benefit from the outing and Michael Lane’s yard is on fire at the minute. Thinking he can win again. PLAY WITH DESIRE wasn’t suited by the sit and sprint nature of the race last start. Out to a more suitable trip. ZACKARIAH BEAU has been going really well for a long time now and this is the easiest race he has seen in months.

Numbers: 3 – 4 – 1 – 2

Suggested Bet – FLASH DUCATI WIN

Quaddie (Race 5 – 8)

8,9,10,11,12

1,3,5

1,2,7

1,2,3,4

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