Races

Scott Embry’s Thursday Northam Preview

Race 1

OFFICIAL BUSINESS ran fourth to winners Striking Alibi, Barron Bill and Anaconda Jones on debut in a 2 year old Saturday before finishing fourth again to above average pair Cos I Am and Mark The Sky at his second outing. After a spell he has won a 400m jump out by 2L and finished locked together with now Saturday winning filly Gaintree in a fast run 1000m Belmont trial. Parks third behind speedy pair Kute As Can Be and Star Martini and looks to run them down late. STAR MARTINI gave Properata something to chase first-up and now a month later heads into another all age maiden with only 53.5kg on her back. Won’t be a maiden long with her jump and run style. KUTE AS CAN BE didn’t run out 1200m last week. Back to 1000 the right move. GUNNING FOR GOLD caught the eye in his most recent trial.

Numbers: 6 – 9 – 8 – 7

Suggested Bet – OFFICIAL BUSINESS WIN


Race 2

DAY OUT, KEPPEL GATE and STAR SEED all led and won their barrier trials leading into their respective debuts. DAY OUT kicked well clear in his trial in a set of shades and looked powerful through the line (anyone else get seasick watching that trial vision?..). STAR SEED looked like a little pocket rocket, nothing of her but safely held her rivals to the line. KEPPEL GATE was afforded a really cheap time of it out in front but wasn’t asked for an effort and the second horse (God’s Choice) looks to have real ability. Going to side up with DAY OUT who has first use of the fence and can hopefully hold out Star Seed and Sovereign Rock early. KEPPEL GATE might have to take a sit in this map but looks to have raw talent. AMALIES RULE was chopped out at crucial stages last start.

Numbers: 5 – 9 – 10 – 7

Suggested Bet – DAY OUT WIN


Race 3

FLASH DANCER is nicely placed here by Neville Parnham. He won a C1 1100 here at Northam before winning a 3 year old 0MWLY 1200 6 days later at Belmont. Most recently finished 3L off Lord Shiva who ran them ragged on the weekend in a 72+ and may now head to a Golden Saddle in Kalgoorlie. Nice race for him, even with the weight impost. LAST STYLEBENDER won first-up, won second-up and since then has battled away in 66+ and 60+ Graduation company. Went into last start a month between runs and didn’t seem to really appreciate 1) the heavy8 and 2) the inside part of the track which was clearly inferior to the wider lanes. Forgive, forget and should be in front for a long way here. RETURN OF THE MACH didn’t get much room to move at her return. YAMASHITAS GOLD drops 2.5kg on his WA debut which saw him go close in the same race.

Numbers: 1 – 2 – 5 – 3

Suggested Bet – FLASH DANCER WIN


Race 4

SAISOKU has definitely improved in this second preparation for Stef Vahala. Last campaign he looked (with all due respect) like a one paced battler who needed 4000m and a set of hurdles, however, this time around he’s a bit sharper: won a 1000m barrier trial, finished off strongly first-up at 1400 behind Good Show and then second-up made odds on pop Phat Chaps really earn his victory with subsequent winner Trickster back in third. Key to his chances is not being crossed early – must lead. KAMBULA returned a fortnight ago for new trainer Brandon Fiore at 1400m and immediately goes to 1600 and a set of winkers. SECRETCHINO beat him home in that event in her first show of any form at all. DAISIESFORTHELADYS ran a couple of cheeky races last prep including a third to Two Time Charlie and Wattos Mark.

Numbers: 2 – 4 – 8 – 6

Suggested Bet – SAISOKU WIN


Race 5

UNANSWERED resumed in a 3 year old 0MWLY when running second behind talented stablemate Raw Umber. Raw Umber heads to another 3 year old 0WMLY at Belmont where he’ll nearly certainly jump odds on and Unanswered heads into an All Age maiden and drops 3.5kg. Should go well and could nearly sneak eachway in a race like this? MY MALENA actually trialled up quite well for her debut and got under the guard of the market at stages in betting. In a volatile 8 – 9 am market on race morning she hit 150-1 at stages before eventually jumping $26. Thought she ran really well behind Big Red Zoom and if Amalies Rule runs well in Race 2 then the form will only look stronger. SECRET PLANET led and won his trial back in May and then sat rearward in a quiet recent trial to Star Seed. LONG LAUGH just continues to find one better than him on the day.

Numbers: 8 – 10 – 9 – 1

Suggested Bet – UNANSWERED EACHWAY


Race 6

TAG TIME has now been scratched on 13 August (Elevated Temperature) and 20 August (Elevated Temperature) so comes into this 5 weeks between runs. Has to be a query, especially considering he’ll jump a short priced favourite, however, he ran well at his WA debut, he now has a set of shades going on and the stablemate who beat him in that event Flying Maradona has since won a C1 and been competitive in a Westspeed Platinum. Form makes sense – just wary with the minor issues. LETS GO JARPO has a set of blinkers applied for the first time and has shown glimpses of ability. PROFOUND BENEFIT has run two solid races this preparation. Seems to run for Tara Atherden. MISS COSMOPOLITAN has no weight on her back on debut.

Numbers: 2 – 3 – 1 – 11

Suggested Bet – TAG TIME WIN


Race 7

LUKA MAGIC broke his maiden on the Scarpside and then went to a 54+ when beaten only 2L by Wild Things. Drops back into a C1, can park up close handy in a race without much speed and pressure and expect that Jarrad Noske will pull the trigger on straightening and look to pinch a race winning break on rivals. PHAT CHAPS made hard work of it last start to break his maiden. Thought his prior effort in a C1 1650 behind Rosie Can Run (beating home Miss Veuve in the process) was far better so hoping it was because he settled up close handy and then had a think about it when he hit the front. He’s lightly raced compared to most of these. MISS VEUVE is not an easy mare to follow or to catch (jumped slowly at 6 of her last 7) but she has been running credible races recently and now gains the services of Brad Parnham and gets out to a staying trip for the first time. CONSOLIDATED won well last week.

Numbers: 2 – 3 – 5 – 1

Suggested Bet – LUKA MAGIC EACHWAY


Race 8

CATCH CARTER is knocking on the door. Since leading and winning a C1 1200 at Pinjarra he’s been around the mark without really threatening to win again. Has given cheek: beaten 1L to Gods Gate and Poblano, beaten less than 1L Belaura Star, Polyvanova and Cleanemup and then last start beaten 1.4L behind Swansee and My Jimmy. Should cross and lead again and be there for a long way. MY JIMMY is E1 so still needs a start – but the trial and fresh run for new trainer Tom Wolfe were both excellent. He beat home Catch Carter last start and only meets him half a kilo worse. Keep an eye on scratchings. SURROUND ME is through that same race and should get the gun run tucked away in behind the speed. SUPER SENTAI dug deep to break his maiden but is 5 weeks between runs and maiden to C3.

Numbers: 1 – 12 – 4 – 2

Suggested Bet – CATCH CARTER EACHWAY


Quaddie (Race 5 – 8)

8,9,10

2

1,2,3,5

1,4,12

Market Market