Races

Scott Embry’s Wednesday Ascot Preview

RACE 1

SHOW ON THE ROAD was disappointing at Esperance at his return to racing but bounced back second-up when second to now Saturday winning 3 year old Wheely and showed it was no fluke when finishing third behind Effortlessly (since C1 placed), King of the Town (since second in a maiden) and beat home Shimmery Star (won on Sunday at Northam). Brad Parnham takes over and he should either lead or box seat. From either position looks hard to beat. SAVVY RULER has finished second to Redback Flyer in a 1600m maiden and second to Buthelezi in a 1500m maiden. Either of those performances are good enough to win this and Summer Dickson/Holly Nottle strike at 24% as a combination. BOUTIQUE BELLE was given a 10/10 last start and was only fair. BONDI BUSINESS had to do too much work last start.

Numbers: 5 – 8 – 9 – 2

Suggested Bet – SHOW ON THE ROAD WIN


RACE 2 

JIMMY ANGEL looks to have found a really suitable race to break through. He is an 11 start maiden, however, he has raced in 3 year old 0MWLY company on 6 occasions and made his debut in a 2 year old Saturday, so he has only been in maiden company four times in his career to date. Fresh he was beaten a head by Le Fem Le Choix and subsequent maiden winner Bonditram and then second-up he finished third to Quokka Rocka and subsequent winner Xentaro. It’s all the right form. BEND IT LIKE BECKS found himself in a 0 – 71 trial recently and finishing under 3.5L off them wasn’t a bad effort at all. Market watch on debut. VALANNE DAWN kept coming last start behind an impressive debut winner in Prince of Dala. CANGRANDE went around over 150-1 at his WA debut and ran well. The query is they went the first 700m 11L slower than average so the effort may have been flattering.

Numbers: 1 – 6 – 8 – 2

Suggested Bet – JIMMY ANGEL WIN


RACE 3

DOOR BUSTER ran well first-up behind Acorn and Wiluna Lass and then contested a 3 year old Saturday behind Snitzalatte, Swingman and Slip The Jab. Drops back into another C1, maps to settle in the first four and realistically has done nothing wrong across a short career to date. Looks a lovely race for him on paper. MAMMA SAYS SO did it the tough way to break her maiden at Pinjarra and with the third horse (Quokka Rocka) coming out to win a 3 year old 0WMLY the form looks strong. The query is 45 days between runs and another shocking barrier. SHES CAPITANA may end up conceding them a big head start from the draw, however, she closed off strongly last start from a similar position through heavy traffic. PAINT IT RED won impressively as a 2 year old on a Saturday on a Soft6. Hasn’t looked the same horse since on dry tracks.

Numbers: 4 – 7 – 8 – 6

Suggested Bet – DOOR BUSTER WIN


RACE 4

LAST STYLEBENDER had four runs back in WA last prep and if you forgive the 1200m run at the end of his campaign then the form looks great for a race of this nature. Off a 71 day freshen he was beaten a head by Rolling Ruler, second-up he finished second to Overdrive under 60.5kg and then third-up was stiff behind Santanova who went on to win another 3 races that prep. Quiet trial, bounds out to either lead or breeze and should be going close. ATLANTIC SPIRIT has had four starts in WA: 66+, 2x 72+ and a Listed race. 2L off Haida Gwaii, Sinful Living, Immortal Bliss and Keep It A Mystery (beating home Black Ora) reads up really well for a 0MWLY. MIGHTY HOSANNA simply must step. Can’t do things wrong at 1000m. GOLDEN VALE is racing well below what she was producing 12 months ago.

Numbers: 7 – 2 – 3 – 1

Suggested Bet – LAST STYLEBENDER WIN


RACE 5

THINK QUICK looks to be getting closer and this race looks to have enough speed across the line to ensure a decent tempo for her. There’s no doubt she’ll be better once the rains arrive in the depths of winter (joy) but her last two have been encouraging in races that haven’t been run to suit. Kind of race she could pinch at a price. FREE TO FLY bolted in last week in what was a perfect storm. She sat in the breeze outside a 100-1 pop and then used the rail out camber of the track to pinch a margin on straightening. Has to carry an extra 2kg week to week in a race with more depth. MIDNIGHT STAR had been costly to punters and many (myself included) had more or less given up on her. She parked up close handy for the first time in her career and was a different mare. The question is: will she jump again? She has 6x ‘slow away’ Stewards Report entries from an 11 start career. FINAL CALL is first-up at a mile, but that’s exactly the distance range he needs.

Numbers: 6 – 5 – 3 – 1

Suggested Bet – THINK QUICK EACHWAY


RACE 6

HEDAWOOD put the writing on the wall first-up behind Baby Pearl and Nonesosassy at an unsuitable 1000m. Second-up, better draw, more forgiving 1200m and he showed behind The Calabrese in a 0MWLY last campaign that he’ll be working his way through the grades. FRIARS LEGACY most likely ends up leader’s back from barrier 1 so at some stage he will need an ouch of luck to get himself into clear galloping room. Love the way he attacked the line fresh and looks the obvious danger. SOSO LUCKY went so so close on many occasions last preparation. She’s got a turn of foot and if they’re making ground will be rattling home late. GYPSY RHYME looks an all or nothing commodity at this stage of her career.

Numbers: 4 – 7 – 1 – 12

Suggested Bet – HEDAWOOD WIN


RACE 7

STRAPPING PROPHET nearly won a 3 year old Saturday when running second to Timeless Gem in his initial preparation and then clearly carried a few niggles last prep (43 days between runs, Pads on, Pads off, etc) and was below his best. Loved his two barrier trials leading into his return and we should be getting eachway the field here. Hoping to see him put it all together this time in. CAPORETTO has turned a corner in the last month and looks to have found a nice set up here. He was three deep the trip, without cover last start and kept coming bravely into third behind Chino La Diva. Back in grade, senior rider on, drawn to get all the favours. Expect he’ll be popular in betting. SUPERFLUOUS has raced in higher grade at his last six outings. Unfortunately looks like being back/wide and not convinced that’ll be the pattern of the day?  MYSTERIOUS FORTUNE rolls to the top.

Numbers: 5 – 11 – 6 – 7

Suggested Bet – STRAPPING PROPHET EACHWAY


Quaddie (Race 4 – 7)

1,2,3,7

3,5,6

4,7

5,6,7,8,10,11

Market Market