Races

Scott Embry’s Wednesday Ascot Preview

RACE 1

KING’S FLIRT and TOO DARDY were both impressive last start maiden winners. They run into handy types SPIRIT MAN, ONE COOL GAL and MADAME MAGIC in what should prove a strong 3 year old 0MWLY. Going to side up with TOO DARDY who has shown versatility in two runs back and can either follow King’s Flirt across, or sit back off speed as he did last start. Looks a nice animal in the making. KING’S FLIRT demolished average maiden opposition on debut winning by 6.5L running away from them. No surprise to see her remain undefeated. MADAME MAGIC is looking for further but rail out midweek racing should suit her pattern. SPIRIT MAN chased hard behind Divine Inanna.

Numbers: 2 – 6 – 5 – 1

Suggested Bet – TOO DARDY WIN


RACE 2

AMERICAN SONGBOOK was really well supported in betting at his return to racing but was afforded no luck from a tricky alley. He had to cover ground and he did a few things wrong in the home straight. Thinking he can settle more prominently from his favourable draw and strikes a weak maiden. ROMANTIC RULER finished 6.5L off King’s Flirt at his return. We’ll see in Race 1 how strong that is as a form reference. IT SO HAPPENS raced very fiercely for the first 1000m on debut and had nothing in the tank late. Shades coming off helps. ELUSIVE PRO is a one paced rolling type.

Numbers: 5 – 3 – 8 – 2

Suggested Bet – AMERICAN SONGBOOK WIN


RACE 3

PRO LATTE put the writing on the wall on debut. Sent forward by Pike she lobbed an ideal spot in running and then loomed large on straightening before blowing out in the last 100m. Given three weeks to get over that initial outing and strikes a race where she can be ridden conservatively and use her turn of foot late in the race. DARK LOOKS went around in a C1 on debut and wasn’t disgraced. Only finished 2.5L off them and after the Luke Campbell claim drops 4kg back into a maiden. Watch. SCENIC STRIKE went around 50-1 at his return but ran out of his skin. Huge effort and if he reproduces he’ll be in the finish. SLAVICA settled a long way off King’s Flirt and Romantic Ruler on debut. Get a sighter into that form in Race 1 and Race 2.

Numbers: 10 – 14 – 6 – 12

Suggested Bet – PRO LATTE WIN


RACE 4

ROCKY PATH is 0 from 18 at Ascot, however, if she’s ever going to pinch one it’s on a day where the rail is out and the SW is blowing. She gets those two conditions on Wednesday and her runs this preparation have been good enough. Solid effort behind The Admiral and then half a length off Paigey’s Turn (finished third in a 60+ to Soviet Spy on the weekend). Throw at the stumps in an open and even race. MOSQUITO is not an easy horse to catch either and he is yet to pinch one at Ascot after 9 attempts. Hit and miss but on his day he’s good enough. ROCKSTAR STATUS has been freshened since a disappointing midfield performance behind Queen Of Jerusalem. She’s better than that. KELVIN can be a tease but he was bolting up the home straight last start and Twice A Fortnight made that form look good on the weekend at Pinjarra.

Numbers: 8 – 5 – 6 – 7

Suggested Bet – ROCKY PATH EACHWAY


RACE 5 

STARCHIENNE is continuing to make her way through the grades and continues to be placed to perfection by William Lewthwaite. Country maiden, metro C1, country 58+ and now a metro C3. The way she’s racing she’s looking for a mile, the wider gate suits her better than the inside gate last start at Geraldton and her racing pattern is highly compatible with William Pike’s riding style. If they’re swooping then she’s clearly the one to beat. DIVINE QUEST probably can’t match her pound for pound in a sprint home but she’s racing well enough to finish in the money at odds. EEE PEE CEE was slowly away last start and that was race over for him. SECRET DEPLOY is sadly not the same horse as he was 12 months ago.

Numbers: 3 – 6 – 2 – 4

Suggested Bet – STARCHIENNE WIN


RACE 6

DESERT VIXEN gets another chance back into a C3. Won this grade first-up by over 1L beating home subsequent C5 winner Madam Kisses and then has contested a pair of Westspeed Platinum races. Banking on the pattern of the day being get back, run on and if correct she’s very much a live chance. MISS FIELD similarly can settle rearwards from the wide gate and sustain a run. Her fresh win with 60kg when she ran straight past Lady Tornado speaks for itself. REGAL ACCESS can roll them along and kick into the corner. SABINO can track the every move of Regal Access.

Numbers: 2 – 3 – 1 – 6

Suggested Bet – DESERT VIXEN WIN


RACE 7

COMEALILBITCLOSER (not a typo) has found a winnable race. Again banking on the winners coming three and four off the fence he should find a position in the moving line and comes back from 2100 to 1800m. This looks about his sweet spot, Paul Harvey jumps aboard and Lou Luciani swaps visors for blinkers. Not a friend of punters, source of frustration for trainer and connections but fingers crossed he’s found his race. MAKTASTIC ran a ripper at his WA debut. Kept coming behind a nice filly in Fine Touch and drops weight after the claim of Brayden Gaerth. ANOTHER CHINO resumed at 1650 without a trial behind Megami. Improves off that. CRUISEY ROY is better than what he produced last week. Only win was off 6 days.

Numbers: 7 – 2 – 4 – 5

Suggested Bet – COMEALILBITCLOSER EACHWAY


RACE 8

AWESOME RIVAL has put the writing on the wall at her last two. Disappointing first-up at Narrogin but many horses don’t go a yard on that circuit and in hindsight the 1100m was too sharp for her. Second-up ran well behind stablemate Cerridwyn and subsequent winner Lady Tornado. Was equally good a run (if not better) than Vonsnip and meets her 1.5kg better at the weights. Last start finished a solid second to Deetea and now gets to 1400m. Ready to win. STARRING KNIGHT has a tough barrier on paper, however, by this stage of the day it could prove to be a blessing in disguise. Comes through the same race. VONSNIP is racing well and gets a soft run midfield. JUSTAMIDDY gets some weight relief.

Numbers: 6 – 2 – 8 – 1

Suggested Bet – AWESOME RIVAL WIN


Quaddie (Race 5 – 8)

3

1,2,3,6,9

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,11

2,6

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