Races

Scott Embry’s Wednesday Belmont Preview

Posted on | Posted by Scott Embry

RACE 1

ZAALAH has not been a friend to punters starting her career but has also done nothing wrong. She has been beaten at $1.70 on both occasions but this looks an even weaker maiden than her last one when she was (again) heavily commissioned. Should roll to the top and expecting her to take some running down at 1700m. LOVE STRIKES is the only horse ‘proven’ at the trip having competed well in recent staying events. TRADE MASTER continues to race well but is very one paced. RETURN TO OZ ran well enough fresh.

Numbers: 5 – 4 – 1 – 2

Suggested Bet – ZAALAH WIN

RACE 2

GINGER GREEN was fresh more than a month between runs last start when the target of strong money. Ran into a nice type in Congreve Rocket and he was doing his best work late. Had to weave a passage through and then was able to let down powerfully. He recorded the fastest L200 of the race and the meeting and looks brilliantly suited to cutaway racing. Sits in the box seat and gets his chance when they turn for home. CASTILLO DEL LAGO ran well in a Saturday race last start and before that was strong against the older horses in a C1. POPCORN TENDER never gave up last start behind Champagne Diva. No surprise to ese him turn the tables on her but will that be enough to win the race? CHAMPAGNE DIVA rolls to the top and is honest and underrated.

Numbers: 4 – 1 – 3 – 2

Suggested Bet – GINGER GREEN WIN

RACE 3

DUNE MESSIAH trialled really well for his return to the races this preparation. Was $13 into $4.20 when scoring first-up and then looked plain on paper last start. That form has turned out to be super with Eeyore Wayz now a 60+ Graduation winner and Advocator and Regal Poyse saluting out of the race. Drawn the cutaway, proven in the ground and likely to go around at an eachway quote. DANCE COCKEY raced in exclusively harder races last preparation and showed glimpses of above average ability early in the preparation. CASINO WAR tries her heart out and if she jumps cleanly will settle right over the speed. DIVINE PAIR is on debut in a C1 but did trial like a horse who would be winning races.

Numbers: 1 – 3 – 4 – 6

Suggested Bet – DUNE MESSIAH EACHWAY

RACE 4

CHOICE COMMAND is a capable front runner on his day. This looks a brilliant opportunity for him to find the fence in a race without a deal of speed. Expecting those horses on pace to be suited to the 17m rail conditions and at his most recent he was brave when planted three deep the trip in a 60+. At his best ran now m85 rater Coming Around to 0.8L. Does love running second but we’ll get an eachway quote to find out if today’s the day he breaks back into the winner’s circle. GIANT LEAP is another crack ride for Laqdar Ramoly. Bit of a sticky draw in gate 7, especially for a rare Bob Peters horse who likes to sit close handy in his races. Looks the obvious on paper but at $2.10 you’d rather be seeing the name W.Pike aboard. NEAT ACTION was run off his legs last Thursday and then cut back to the inside which was quicksand. Worth forgiving. GREAT WATERS won well first-up but it was only a moderate maiden.

Numbers: 1 – 2 – 9 – 4

Suggested Bet – CHOICE COMMAND EACHWAY

RACE 5

DARK PROSPECT is so wonderfully placed in this grade by the astute Neville Parnham yard. Neville has been sending older horses back to midweek company with great success for years and Dark Prospect is a 72+ winner and once m80 rater in a 0MWLY race. Compressed weight scale, drawn a gate to settle midfield, genuine tempo on, he jumps off the page and will still open eachway. UNCLE LINO is honest and consistent and seems to be kept fresh by design. Rolls forward and could even take some cover if Mr Delegator starts to roll. HOOLAHOOPS again has no weight on her back and comes from a noted staying stable. SUGAR CAIN should be just about ready to fire third-up.

Numbers: 1 – 2 – 9 – 4

Suggested Bet – DARK PROSPECT EACHWAY

RACE 6

GILLESPIE and NOBLE REFLECTION are both C1 horses in a C3 but both look to have untapped ability and futures ahead of them. Narrowly siding with GILLESPIE with the Michael Lane polish added this campaign. Has always promised to win a few and go through the grades with a real X-Factor to his racing but now with one of the State’s premier trainers he can finally fulfil that potential. Draws a gate to settle close handy and he has trialled nicely. NOBLE REFLECTION trialled as well as Floyd who went on to win a 100k feature first-up. Gate makes things interesting and Azzopardi may have to settle him back but he seemed to appreciate it at trials. VELAGO is another horse with a new trainer. Impossible to catch and impossible to ride, but also hugely talented. EUROTRIP won well last start and looks to get it soft along the fence.

Numbers: 4 – 5 – 1 – 2

Suggested Bet – GILLESPIE WIN

RACE 7

BORN TO TRY had her first start for the Ross Price yard last time out and missed the money for the first time in her short career. Settled rearwards in a ridiculously slowly run race. Was never a winning hope after the first 600m and she did a super job to get as close as she did. Well placed and hard to hold out. CAERHELAN is a hard mare to catch but on her day some of her peak performances would see her very hard to hold out late. PERCEIVE goes round at a big quote for a mare who is going well and draws a gate to sit close handy. RATION ALY got tongues wagging at trials. Long time off but always showed huge talent.

Numbers: 3 – 7 – 13 – 9

Suggested Bet – BORN TO TRY WIN

Quaddie (Race 4 – 7)

1,2
1,2,4,6,7,9
1,2,4,5
3,7,9,13

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