Races

Scott Embry’s Wednesday Belmont Preview

Posted on | Posted by Scott Embry

RACE 1

CELEBRITY ICON did enough in the trial behind speedy filly No Peer to suggest that she would take beating on debut. Trialled without blinkers, blinkers go on for her debut and she is nominated for the Pinjarra Magic Millions. Luke Fernie is having a breakout season with his juveniles and this looks another capable type. ALL THE KING’S MEN made his debut in a hot Crystal Slipper. Smart move from Trevor Andrews to scratch from Monday to save for this. Drawn better and weaker line-up. Sure to have plenty of admirers. SAINTORIO improved sharply first-up to second-up and if he can take another step forward he brings the right form to this. Has tactical speed but will need it from the gate. DIVINE INANNA has the rail to work with and looks professional.

Numbers: 9 – 2 – 1 – 10

Suggested Bet – CELEBRITY ICON WIN

RACE 2

PROBITY should sneak out to eachway territory with all eyes firmly planted on Arcadia Grace at her return to racing. Hasn’t been sighted for 40 days since a competitive effort behind Pat’s Got Sass in the 3 year old Westspeed Platinum feature. First-up run behind The Velvet Queen was luckless and from the barrier he should enjoy a gun run. Honest type who will win a few races. ARCADIA GRACE will go round odds on here. Big win on debut which got all punters excited. Didn’t get much room to move in the 3 year old Classic and had a few excuses in the Belgravia when caught up in traffic. High expectations on her return and with blinkers on will be all the rage. FOREVER DREAMING was luckless first-up and then only gunned down in the shadows second-up. She’s ready now. MISS FIELD created a splash at her WA debut.

Numbers: 1 – 7 – 3 – 9

Suggested Bet – PROBITY EACHWAY

RACE 3

GOLD MERITS was eye catching late last start after trailing them round for the entire race. Got going in the last 200m and really attacked the line hard. Jim Taylor puts the shades back on her (winner in blinkers previously) and she’s drawn a gate to get a soft run midfield. With Snippy Miss and All In Red running well again on Monday the form looks good and in a very moderate C3 the ~$4 looks like a bet. ACERMETRIC is honest and consistent. With Count Grundy and Able Engine likely to roll along out in front it gives him the opportunity to park in behind them. Going well. COUNT GRUNDY will come out running and settle on top of the speed. ABLE ENGINE wasn’t bad at Esperance and finds a nice race in town.

Numbers: 6 – 3 – 1 – 5

Suggested Bet – GOLD MERITS WIN

RACE 4

HART TRADER was brave in defeat last start behind Fine Romance. Has raced well all campaign including finishing within 3L of The Velvet Queen and Border Force in a 3yo 0MWLY at Ascot. Can lead, can sit, either way she should be around the mark in a capacity line-up of maidens. VALBANI has shown glimpses in the past. Looks like she’ll get a nice run midfield with cover in a race where they’ll likely string out. RULING DAME wasn’t too bad on debut. Raced like she was looking for further and finished off better than the beaten margin will read. RESTFUL was caught up in an ugly race last start. She’ll appreciate the speed going on here.

Numbers: 12 – 11 – 16 – 15

Suggested Bet – HART TRADER WIN

RACE 5

MOSQUITO finished off nicely on debut after being well found in betting and then was thrown into the deep end into a Saturday 3 year old Plate when settling last and running last behind Hear Me Sing. That was a race dominated from the front (winner breeze, second horse leader’s back and third horse lead) so understandably never got into the race in that grade and pattern. Looks to have ability and this is not a strong line-up. TOTAL LOCKDOWN is no star. He’ll pinch a maiden eventually but tends to go round short. Should get every possible here. Could be last chance for him. ASPRO DE GRECE trialled up alright at Lark Hill and should kick through into a nice spot. AMERICAN TROOP races like he’ll need much further than this. Work in progress.

Numbers: 5 – 3 – 11 – 4

Suggested Bet – MOSQUITO WIN

RACE 6

CITY REGAL won a trial in January 2021 as a 2 year old when beating Spin The Knife by 2L. Went to the races for the first time in July without a trial and struck a soft6 when breezing and fading badly behind The Front Bar. Again raced on a rain affected track at start number two and was only collared late. First time he has seen a Good4 at the races and David Harrison can get them to go fresh. Keep an eye on the market. MEN’S CLUB comes back to 1000m. Debut performance behind Halatorion and Otheroneson was strong enough to warrant respect. HEAVENLY MISS should punch up into a nice position. TAKEMEHOMETONIGHT was alright fresh down the straight.

Numbers: 5 – 6 – 14 – 11

Suggested Bet – CITY REGAL WIN

RACE 7

NIGHTS MYSTERY is a high speed gelding and last start Holly Watson let him run. It proved to be a successful move because he had everything else uncomfortable and chasing from a long way out. The second horse (Al Quepone) the third horse (Garage Days) and fifth horse (Defending) all won at their next outing making the form look great. Expecting jump and run tactics again. STATE OF POWER has excellent 2 and 3 year old form to her name. Finished within 3L of The Front Bar and He’s A Sizzler. Reads up well for a C1. GARAGE DAYS is starting to put it all together and can go on with it now that he has finally tasted success. NO DICE dominated fresh and should only improve now.

Numbers: 4 – 8 – 1 – 9

Suggested Bet – NIGHTS MYSTERY WIN

RACE 8

MAKFLY was produced first-up no trial back onto the grass by Danny Morton and he was well found in betting and ran accordingly. From the barrier should enjoy a near identical run in transit and likely goes around eachway. Should be there abouts and given every chance by Rawiller. GALLANT RANGER descended upon them fresh at Pinjarra. Didn’t beat much and the 52+/54+ ratings races quite often don’t stack up as form references but to the eye she was ultra impressive. ZOUDINI was unwanted in betting at his WA debut and defied the massive drift. Going off his Victorian form he should only improve with extra distance. INFLATION is a great ride for a 4kg claimer. Rolls straight to the top.

Numbers: 2 – 7 – 3 – 1

Suggested Bet – MAKFLY WIN

RACE 9

KICK A GOAL SON was a tough watch last start. Couldn’t quite get into the spot that Clint Johnston-Porter was looking for in the first 200m and then settled a pair further back than anticipated. Ended up settling rearward in a slowly run race and was set a task to run them down. Thought he did a super job to get as close as he did and looks like he’ll relish the step up in trip again. In great form both stable and hoop. Going again. DANI BELLA looks the obvious danger on paper. Honest mare who races on speed and gets weight relief with Beaux Edwards returning to the saddle. FREO caught the eye with 63kg last start. SPILLINOVA is always a chance in this grade.

Numbers: 8 – 4 – 2 – 1

Suggested Bet – KICK A GOAL SON WIN

RACE 10

PICCOLA SIGNORA sneaks back into a C1 for the first time in her last 7 outings. Ran fourth in a Belmont Oaks behind Chili Is Hot and Sheza Chalmer last preparation as a filly and her return run was solid. Got a long way back, came very deep on the corner and reeled off the second fastest last 600m of the race. Drops from a C3 back into a C1 and in a race where most eyes will be on First Missile she might just sneak under the radar and open an attractive eachway quote. Double figures is worth a gamble. FIRST MISSILE has come back bigger and better this campaign. Stiff not to win first-up and was plunged at the shorts second-up when romping in over a subsequent winner in His Eminence. Clearly the danger. VALENCY destroyed limited opposition last start. She looks an emerging filly. ALMAHER MAN rarely runs a bad race. Blinkers go back on.

Numbers: 5 – 4 – 10 – 1

Suggested Bet – PICCOLA SIGNORA EACHWAY

RACE 11

HE’S ON FIRE is drawn gate 12 of 15 with a 4kg claimer so we’re not expecting any miracles and are well aware of the fact he’s likely to do it tough throughout, however, the last time he sat three deep the trip was over 1100m at Ascot chasing a hot tempo and he was still too strong in the final strides. Kept out of trouble he might just run a cheeky race for young Luke Campbell. MRS AMERICA will be odds on and you can understand why. Comes from a sharp trial behind Sunday Mt Barker winner River Rubicon and looked to be doing it in second gear. She’ll be charging at them late. WHAT ABOUT MOI likely finds this on the short side but thought he hit the line well in his recent trial when winding up late. TO RISE AGAIN hasn’t won for long while but loved his trial and he was super consistent last campaign.

Numbers: 1 – 10 – 2 – 4

Suggested Bet – HE’S ON FIRE EACHWAY

RACE 12

GAMBLERS GOLD has come back well this preparation. Won his maiden and then was getting home nicely in a C1 second-up. We’ll get a sighter into the strength of that form earlier in the program with Zoudini in Race 8. Looks like he’ll get a gun run midfield with cover and the way CJP is riding we’ll follow him in to get the gaps at the right time. Looks the right horse to be on. BUTTERFLY HOUSE looks an above average little filly. Good effort resuming down the straight. TOPPA THE MOUNTAIN had excuses first-up in a C3 and now drops back into a C1. AL QUEPONE won well down the 1000m straight after repeatedly knocking on the door in maiden company.

Numbers: 6 – 9 – 1 – 2

Suggested Bet – GAMBLERS GOLD WIN

Quaddie (Race 9 – 12)

4,8
4,5,10
1,2,3,4,10
1,2,6,9

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