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Scott Embry provides his best bets for the Thoroughbred meeting at Belmont on Saturday, 25th May 2024. Brought to you by the TABtouch Blog.
RACE 1
WEST STAR was super impressive at Lark Hill recently when powering away late from Pond Master and Zippy Zany who have both run well since that trial. Barrier 11 of 11 is the unknown element but if he can find a spot in running he looks hard to hold out late. LUCKY I AM wanted to go out hard and fast on debut over 1000m at Ascot. She was found wanting late but still battled on into third and with natural improvement second-up she should be in front for a long way. CASHEL PALACE has caught the eye at trials on both occasions. Like way she covers the ground. QUICK AS SILVER trialled well in blinkers and then raced without them on debut.
Numbers: 1 – 7 – 10 – 5
Suggested Bet – WEST STAR WIN
RACE 2 Best Bet
CITY ANGEL looks to have come back in excellent order. First-up in a Westspeed 1000 she beat up on rivals when winning by over 1.5L and then took a huge step into a 66+ and matched motors with The Boss Lady for a portion of the home straight when running second. Drops back into a Westspeed, back to 1000 and doesn't need to lead to win. Very hard to look past. CRIPPALENKO looms as one of the main dangers and he was beaten 1.7L by City Angel when they met on 27 April. LUCKY'S WAY has her first outing over 1000. RUSSIAN SNIPER sits back and has last crack.
Numbers: 1 – 6 – 8 – 3
Suggested Bet – CITY ANGEL WIN
RACE 3
GODDESS OF GIVING resumed in a 66+ when finishing third behind The Boss Lady and City Angel and while she rises in grade into a 72+ she drops down 3.5kg from 59 to 55.5 and most importantly returns to Belmont Park where she is 2 from 2 track/distance. Speed will be on between Capricorn Man / Rock This Town / Puli and expect she'll sit back and look to wind up over them late. CAPRICORN MAN is yet to win at 1000m but with only 53kg on his back can't see a reason why he won't be highly competitive. THOMAS MAGNUM is a 7 day winner and simply a better 1000m horse. CASH AWAY nearly nabbed Premium Choice first-up last prep.
Numbers: 6 – 8 – 4 – 5
Suggested Bet – GODDESS OF GIVING WIN
RACE 4
THE BOSS LADY just continues to get the job done. This is arguably her toughest test to date with 59.5kg against a few good ones including Generosity and Masamune, however, she's holding form and should either (hopefully both) City Angel or Goddess Of Giving salute in races 2 & 3 there will be no queries on the form against the older horses. Settles rearward with Generosity and likely make their runs together. GENERSOITY backs up off 7 days, drops 3kg and has a set of blinkers added for the first time. She did a super job last week from an impossible position on straightening. MASAMUNE has always had a big following and this looks the campaign he lives up to the hype. LOST CITY leads and controls.
Numbers: 1 – 6 – 4 – 7
Suggested Bet – THE BOSS LADY WIN
RACE 5
COOL MEMORY is drawn barrier 10 of 11 but this is a race without much natural speed. Expect that Joey Azzopardi can get across to at least the breeze without burning too much early fuel and from there he'll take beating. Both career wins are at Belmont Park, he's rock hard fit and as we saw last start in the 60+ Graduations the 3 year olds tend to dominate. Great race for him. PREMIUM GIRL was 8 weeks between runs last weekend when fifth behind Best Mood and Generosity. 7 days later she's found a thinner race and gets Paul Harvey. Big danger. MISS ROCKJOY returned to form last start. SUPER ROMANI a forgive last start.
Numbers: 8 – 6 – 5 – 1
Suggested Bet – COOL MEMORY WIN
RACE 6
ANTIQUE MISS is off 7 days, back in grade and has a senior rider on. She's won races previously with 57 and 57.5kg and provided William Pike can find a back to follow three deep with cover into the corner she looks hard to hold out late. Can't ignore how well Michael Grantham's team is going and this mare is ready to win. ON PATROL is becoming a real test of patience. Not convinced he runs out 1600m so coming back to 1400m is a positive and if he was to reproduce his run behind subsequent Listed winner Sapphire Street then he would be very hard to beat with only 53.5kg. Belmont could be key. MY JIMMY was an excellent return to racing. FALCON TRADER could nearly find the top here.
Numbers: 3 – 9 – 7 – 1
Suggested Bet – ANTIQUE MISS WIN
RACE 7
TWAIN'S ANGEL is 4 from 4 undefeated and still looks like she's got improvement still to come. Funnily enough barrier 5 could prove a little tricky early for Madi Derrick drawn outside Treasured Queen and Gift Of The Heart but if she's able to drop in behind them then the filly should be given every chance to go 5 from 5 to start her career. Great placement. JUSTABITTAPRESS is coming out of a moderate 3 year old 0MWLY but it's more about the way he won and the fact he's now dropping to 54.5kg. ROCKIN' RUPERT is flying and will charge late. TREASURED QUEEN is going super.
Numbers: 6 – 10 – 3 – 11
Suggested Bet – TWAIN'S ANGEL WIN
RACE 8
CALIFORNICATION returned in a blaze of glory in the Kalgoorlie Heat when bursting through on straightening to score by 1L on the line. He's big, he's raw and he's super talented – so second-up with an ideal barrier draw and fitness improvement he looms as the horse to beat in the $100,000 final. Genuinely surprised he's not favourite in early markets? Nice horse. ABLOH savaged the line in the same race fresh and won this race in 2023. Draw hurts but they'll fly along early and he'll be charging late. Big respect. SACRED OATH has been extremely impressive at his last two wins in Albany and is a winner off 38 days previously. BLUE LAGOON maps well and has great 3 year old form to his name.
Numbers: 5 – 4 – 13 – 2
Suggested Bet – CALIFORNICATION WIN
Same Race Multi – Californication (Top 2) + Abloh (Top 4)
Always a controversial question: which country region has the strongest form? In 2024 I'm confidently saying it's Kalgoorlie and think that the Goldfields Gallopers Californication and Abloh deserve to head up this market after running the quinella in their heat a fortnight ago. Californication looks super progressive and Abloh won this race in 2023. Both go well.
RACE 9OLY'S CHOICE is starting to put the wins on the board after a frustrating start to his campaign. He arguably could have won five or six races this preparation but he's thrown a few away with poor manners and luckless runs. He has won his last two in style and has looked to have plenty in the tank at the finish. Proven at a mile now and can be ridden with confidence and patience. ZEPHYRA has returned in excellent order and gave Above The Peg windburn when she exploded past him last start. YARRALEA should have finished closer last time she met Oly's Choice. KNOT SECRET is racing very well and gets a soft run.
Numbers: 4 – 11 – 14 – 8
Suggested Bet – OLY'S CHOICE WIN
Quaddie (Race 6 – 9)
1,3,7,9,11
3,6,10
4,5,13
4,11
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