Races

Scott Embry’s Wednesday Belmont Preview

Posted on | Posted by Scott Embry

RACE 1

SHARPASSA won three of five barrier trials leading into her debut where she was caught wide and did things wrong in the home straight (lay inwards badly) and finished third behind Miss Finkmeyer and Bambino Chino. Second-up Jason Miller put a set of winkers on and a lugging bit and she was far too sharp for her opponents, which included handy maiden filly Hot Chix Lane. Rises up 4.5kg into a 3 year old 0MWLY but it looks just as thin as her maiden. BAMBINO CHINO meets her 4kg better from their 7 January encounter but that was really the only time she has turned up on race day and she’s drawn outside the other speed. GANGSTER GODDESS commands respect with the booking of Pike but may want further. NISTIRITH is quick but can she cross? Not convinced.

Numbers: 3 – 4 – 5 – 6

Suggested Bet – SHARPASSA WIN

RACE 2

CINQUE STELLE steps out for the first time for trainer Steele Casey who has a handful of Peters Investments horses. She trialled super at Belmont Park back in October and then was spelled before reappearing last Monday (2 Feb) when again winning a barrier trial in dominant and impressive fashion. She looks a professional and they did pay $325,000 for her at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale back in 2024. Looks to make a winning debut here. OSCARS NO GROUCH is also seemingly no slouch (okay, I’ll stop). He was an alarming drifter late on debut at Northam and didn’t fire but has again trialled nicely for his return to racing. Not a fan of the 930m back straight trials but he looked good. FINADO hasn’t raced for over 600 days dating back to May 2024 but did show glimpses back then. SPONGE CAKE gets it soft.

Numbers: 7 – 5 – 1 – 10

Suggested Bet – CINQUE STELLE WIN

RACE 3

EXCESS BAGGAGE trialled up brilliantly at Belmont leading into her return to racing and was thrown into the deep end by Luke Fernie when contesting the WA Breeders Classic at Bunbury. She was beaten 2.5L by Playin’ It Sweet and Talkanco, two high class, proven fillies who are both >m80 rated already. Back into a C1, tongue tie added and will sit back and look to zap them late. ETERNAL WINE trialled well on two occasions and met with support first-up at Ascot in a 3 year old Plate. Loomed like the winner but didn’t give a yelp when asked for an effort. She’s better than that. STYLIN won well on debut at Kalgoorlie and then wasn’t disgraced in a 3 year old Saturday at her second start. FEARLESS TALK has been hard to catch across the years but the trials really caught the attention.

Numbers: 7 – 6 – 10 – 8

Suggested Bet – EXCESS BAGGAGE WIN

RACE 4

GIRLS DAY OUT can either lead or box seat, and from either position she’ll have fans off the back of a strong first-up win dropping 3.5kg start to start. There’s a good deal of speed in this and drawing inside gives Lucy Fiore options that many others don’t have. TYCOON HARRY dropped back into a C5 (60+) 1000 at Ascot three starts ago and with the 3kg claim for Holly Nottle was simply too quick and too classy for rivals. Since then he has gone to a 66+ 1000 and finished second to Amaroo Star (winner of three from three this prep) and beat home stablemate and dual subsequent winner Sonoftheboss. Well placed. MALLETIER won a Wangaratta maiden over 1000m leading all the way and then backed it up at Packenham in a BM64 (~C3). Recent barrier trial was sharp and Luke Fernie goes right back to the gear he wore in those two wins (lugging bit and tongue tie). Hard to beat at his WA debut. BERBERE is more than capable on his day.

Numbers: 8 – 1 – 6 – 3

Suggested Bet – GIRLS DAY OUT WIN

RACE 5 

WONDERFULLY MADE looks on paper to be gifted a great opportunity to win a second race on her way towards the Ascot 1000 Guineas, Natasha Stakes, WA Oaks and potentially WATC Derby at the end of her campaign. First-up in a 3 year old 0MWLY she toyed with her rivals to pull away and win by nearly 1.5L. Second-up she steps to a mile, takes on very exposed (and relatively limited) opposition and should be taking care of them. She should simply be to classy for these. ANTZ PANTZ BABY backs up off 7 days, drops back from 1800 to 1600, drops in grade from C3 to C1 and is better suited drawing off the fence. Obvious improver. HOT LIKE CHILI ran out of her skin at 150-1 last start. BONDI’S SON caught the eye fresh.

Numbers: 4 – 5 – 11 – 7

Suggested Bet – WONDERFULLY MADE WIN

RACE 6

MODELISTIC is going to be tough to follow with much confidence, partly because she’s the winner of 2 from 18, but more so because she’s got no early tactical speed and always leaves herself vulnerable to race shapes that don’t suit and to traffic as she encountered last start in the race won by Glanced. The bar plates went on and it didn’t seem to worry her because she looked to be winding up well enough in behind tiring runners to suggest that dropping 2kg here she’s an eachway chance. SUPER ROMANI is building into the prep and gets out to his preferred distance and into the weakest race of his campaign. He should be nearly ready now. FLINDERS LANE sprinted clear of them at Ascot last start but didn’t go around a horse. This looks tougher 4 weeks later but Pike sticks. SAVORSKI did win a race at Bunbury when the shades went on. Wonder what effect the visors will have.

Numbers: 8 – 1 – 2 – 7

Suggested Bet – MODELISTIC EACHWAY

RACE 7

AZENA showed a bit of tactical versatility last start when Holly Nottle jumped aboard for the first time. She led that race at Pinjarra over 1400m and it took a highly talented Challenge Stakes bound Vatican Storm to pick her up with a gap of over 2.5L back to Princess In Red in third (who she now meets 2kg better at the weights too). This race has a bit of depth to it for a C3 but nothing as talented as Vatican Storm. TOUSLED CROWN walked in a C1 race but did beat up on battlers and then was found out in a Westspeed Platinum. Freshened up and back in grade to suit. SHOW THE WAY put in a blinder first-up and then was again really impressive late second-up. Just hard to follow up on a horse that is 1 from 19 with a great deal of confidence. PRINCESS IN RED gets a senior and has been in consistent form all prep.

Numbers: 5 – 7 – 6 – 1

Suggested Bet – AZENA WIN

RACE 8

FIVE DOWN was $51 into $14 four back, $21 into $11 three back, $21 into $14 two back and $31 into $26 last start. His last two have been in 66+ company when racing outside the handicap and if (IF) he jumps this looks a great race for him to control and dictate and pinch it back into a C3. Going really well, just needs to do things right at the start to give himself a fighting chance. SLICK has won back to back races going from a maiden to a C1 and now into a C3. She’ll get a near identical run to last start and it would be no surprise if the fence was a fast lane at Belmont’s first meeting back over summer. MASMELO is likely on a WA Oaks path and couldn’t have trialled up any better for her return. TOO MUCH TALK has had his issues but Jarrad Humphries got him back to his best last preparation and his return to racing behind Ripper Rupert was really strong.

Numbers: 7 – 8 – 13 – 1

Suggested Bet – FIVE DOWN EACHWAY

Quaddie (Race 5 – 8)

4

1,2,7,8,14

5,6,7

1,7,8,13

Market Market



Recent Articles