Races

Scott Embry’s Wednesday Geraldton Preview

RACE 1

CASUAL TRADE can get Graeme Hammarquist and Kyra Yuill off to a flyer and start the new Geraldton season in the same way they ended the previous. Had four starts in Gero last preparation and all were solid efforts. Drawn to get the run of the race and on a day where a lot of horses are either first-up no trial or visitors he looks one we can trust to be ready to go. COLOUR ME SON is a visitor from the yard of Cliff Green and both runs this preparation have been strong. Looks the danger on paper. FRIAR TUCK showed glimpses when last in work. ENTERPRISE capable of running a cheeky race drawn the inside.

Numbers: 3 – 5 – 2 – 6

Suggested Bet – CASUAL TRADE EACHWAY


RACE 2

YAMATAI is no star but certainly tries hard. Last three runs has gone round $2.40 at Pinjarra, $4.00 at Belmont and $2.05 at York when finishing in the money every time without winning. Can be forgiven for last start with many horses failing to really handle the York circuit. Mitch Pateman makes a rare venture to Geraldton and would be surprised if he left without a winner. SPOOKWOOF has had a number of opportunities to break through but this looks a ripper for him. If he can hold a position from the inside he’ll be gunning them down late. COLA DECOY can give them something to chase and has no weight after the claim. TIME STARTS NOW should be breaking his maiden early in the season.

Numbers: 7 – 1 – 10 – 3

Suggested Bet – YAMATAI WIN


RACE 3

SANS LE SOU should be $1.50 in this field plain and simple. First-up was a big winner in a relatively strong C3 with Me N Taz and Bolshoi Gal flying the flag for the form reference since. Last time out got further out of her ground than expected and then ended up in a tricky spot in the home straight. Not disgraced and now falls into a lowly C2 at Geraldton. Deserves to be very deep in the red. PELICAN PICK could be worth watching at odds, especially with Troy Turner jumping on. Nobody will forget the way Troy dominated the mid-west in 2018/19. SHIVERS of JOY and TEST OF STRENGTH hit some form at the end of the Carnarvon season.

Numbers: 1 – 9 – 3 – 4

Suggested Bet – SANS LE SOU WIN


RACE 4

NURHACI is yet another Adam Durrant invader who looks poised to score. Could be a big day for the stable and he looks astutely placed into a Geraldton C1. Broke his maiden in style beating home Devil’s Dust in the process and then went into a C1 when gunned down by Bolshoi Gal. Drops 0.5kg with Laqdar Ramoly’s claim and form the draw should sit in the box seat and bully them. QUIRINIDI comes from Carnarvon and is dirt back onto the grass but with the senior rider on and drawn the inside gate could give some cheek. HILLSIDE RULER showed ability in Gero in early 2020. GINGER WILLIE a mad one for novelty players.

Numbers: 1 – 11 – 3 – 4

Suggested Bet – NURHACI WIN


RACE 5

MISS ELLMYA is a lightly raced mare on return. Only had three runs last campaign in a fairly interrupted preparation. First-up was only moderate at York when third but the two runs after in C3 company were strong behind Sweet Dreamin, Gates of Babylon and Bee Quick and then Lido Beach and Olga Louisa. Should have sufficient gate speed to get across from a wide gate. OLIVIA KNOWS resumes here for the powerful combination of Turner & Reynolds. Keep safe. SCOTOPIA and MAKFI AMOUR both come from Sean Rains’ boutique yard and both look capable of continuing on their way through the grades in the region this preparation.

Numbers: 1 – 12 – 7 – 3

Suggested Bet – MISS ELLMYA WIN


RACE 6

ABU DHABI and GREYWOLF are both coming off runs in Carnarvon on the dirt and back onto the Geraldton grass. They both get weight relief into the c70+ handicap and think that they can take beating in a nice little top grade country sprint. Siding with ABU DHABI who reunites with Laqdar Ramoly and should be able to cross from the wide gate. Doesn’t know how to run a bad race and third-up should be primed. GREYWOLF gets in with only 53.5kg after the claim for talented apprentice Hannah Fitzgerald. Couple that with the ideal draw and the grey is hard to beat. MASTER SPLINTER didn’t have the best end to his season but he is talented. THAAD is an interesting new comer to the region.

Numbers: 4 – 6 – 11 – 5

Suggested Bet – ABU DHABI EACHWAY


RACE 7

FETCH MORE AMMO comes from a white-hot form reference race (Miss Marietta, Butterlea Lad, Kelly’s Gem & The Black Watch). Fenella Martin travels a team up to Geraldton and Ryan Hill rides at 54kg at the midweeks. She should be ready to peak and this looks a winnable and open race. Eachway chance. MEGADON only has his second start for the Ash Maley yard and was beaten at Junction last start. Looks horrible form on paper but if you rate him off some of his Belmont and provincial C3/0MWLY form he’s a chance. Like the booking of Jade McNaught and he could sneak under the radar. GOLDEN ACRES was flying at the end of the Carnarvon season and is arguably a better horse on the grass. Michelle Valentine has him in grand form and he actually drops 2.5kg on his last start victory. COOL DYNAMITE doesn’t go a yard on the dirt. Her late season Gero grass form was super.

Numbers: 9 – 6 – 3 – 7

Suggested Bet – FETCH MORE AMMO EACHWAY


Quaddie (Race 4 – 7)

1
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,12
4,6,11
2,3,5,6,7,9,13

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