Races

Scott Embry’s Thursday Northam Preview

Posted on | Posted by Scott Embry

RACE 1

BOLTA drops into a maiden and looks very hard to beat off what he’s produced so far this preparation. He’s clearly a better animal than the one who was beaten in Kalgoorlie maidens across the back end of their 2023 season because in two runs this campaign he’s finished three quarters off Lost City in a 3 year old Plate and then a length off King’s Honour and Ginnivan when luckless late. Looks the one. UUKHAI couldn’t quite get into the contest through the Heavy8 surface in a race that was dominated in front of him last start when third to leading pair Magicash and Rocking Gem. RISSOLES showed huge raw ability in her first race start. JOKERS GRIN could be better suited back to 1000.

Numbers: 1 – 2 – 7 – 4

Suggested Bet – BOLTA WIN

RACE 2

CANNY ROCK ran a luckless second to Skytalker at his first-up run and after Wednesday’s 3 year old 0MWLY at Bunbury that could well look like increasingly good form. We’ve already seen Sir Eyrleton win out of that race and second-up he looks hard to beat. Expecting them to roll along here with a few natural speedsters engaged so he just needs to step cleanly and hold a spot over the 1000 to be right there in the finish. ROCKING GEM is the natural danger having finished second to King’s Honour and second to Magicash in two of her three runs back this time in. Jump and run type who can overcome the wide draw. MARCHING has ability from what we’ve seen at trials. Just needs to reproduce on race day. THERMOSPHERE LAD has been good at trials for Cooper Casey and Angela Johnston.

Numbers: 1 – 7 – 3 – 4

Suggested Bet – CANNY ROCK WIN

RACE 3

DESERT EDGE was targeted in betting last start – $12 into $4.40 is a very good betting move in a lowly 2000m maiden but the punters were not far off the mark (at least those who took eachway!). Finished a distant second to impressive winner Hit The Lights and if that galloper was to measure up in the 50+ at Bunbury on Wednesday then it would become the logical form reference. By process of elimination in this line-up he has to go extremely close. SKITTISH is at start number 32 but has raced well all campaign and will grind it out. CLAIRANN put in her best career run in the Hit The Lights race. SHIVERINO looks like he wants every inch of 2200.

Numbers: 3 – 1 – 8 – 5

Suggested Bet – DESERT EDGE WIN

RACE 4

PETROUCHKA comes through the My Hidden Universe maiden which was a one act affair when he broke them open in the middle stages and romped in for a soft 5.4L victory. The only horse to make any real impression late from back in the field was this filly and second-up he looks hard to hold out. Wanting further but can zap these. QUEENSLAND DIESEL has always promised to do exactly what he did last start. Great to see him finally put in a big run and the wet tracks could be key to his chances. Always liked the horse. ABISSI got into a real traffic jam last Thursday at Pinjarra and yet still finished within 1.5L of the winner. BEST PRESENT trialled better for the new yard.

Numbers: 8 – 2 – 3 – 9

Suggested Bet – PETROUCHKA WIN

RACE 5

STORM COMMANDER is a 4x Soft track winner and drops back into a very winnable race here. Jon Jachmann’s horses fly at Northam – last 750 days: 30 starters for 5 winners at 16.7% strike rate and 61% POT – big stat for a small yard. Think this is nice placement back into a C5 and his recent efforts in 66+ company in town behind Brave Strike / The Boss Lady have been excellent. BONNIE LAD won his recent trial down the back straight at Lark Hill in style and is a sharp sprinting type on his day. Concedes them a head start and winds up late. IF I DIN HAVADIME attacks this fresh. She’s 2x 3 year old Saturday placed earlier in the year – must respect that. MILITARY POWER is racing 5L below his best but loves Northam.

Numbers: 1 – 2 – 3 – 4

Suggested Bet – STORM COMMANDER WIN

RACE 6 

STYLISH LORD was 3.5L off Dance Boss and Chollima fresh in a 60+ 1200 but should have finished far closer than that. Chris Nicoll had nowhere to go in the home straight and he looked like he had plenty to give. Regular rider Steven Parnham back on and drawn to get every chance. Is already a dominant 3 year old 0MWLY (54+) winner so back into a C3 looks excellent placement. Nice race for him. LINDEN’S GOLD goes lengths better for Chris Parnham than anyone else. All three wins are with him aboard and his best run of the campaign came two back when he went back on. BANKS AVENUE swims and is in for a nice winter. DON’T TRUST JUDAS loomed large fresh but couldn’t quite finish off.

Numbers: 2 – 1 – 3 – 6

Suggested Bet – STYLISH LORD WIN

RACE 7

TON OF GRUNT came to the outside fence and sailed past them at Pinjarra on the Scarpside and then went straight to a 3 year old 58+ when only 2L off now Raconteur Stakes winner Brave Spirit. That race contained Chollima and Richanco and that’s easily good enough form to be winning a C1 on a Thursday at Northam. IDYLLIC RULER was ridden cold last start and produced a sustained run on a bottomless Heavy8 in a C3. Drops back into a C1 and has returned to form. Back in form and showing versatility. ROCK DEE JAY and BUCKLAND are E1 and E2 at acceptances and yet both would have big claims if gaining a run.

Numbers: 4 – 2 – 12 – 13

Suggested Bet – TON OF GRUNT WIN

Quaddie (Race 4 – 7)

2,3,8

1,2,3,4

1,2,3,4,6

2,4

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