Scott Embry provides his best bets for the Thoroughbred meeting at Belmont on Wednesday, 4th June 2024. Brought to you by the TABtouch Blog.
RACE 1 Best Bet
EN PLEIN AIR looked good at trials behind sharp maiden Zeezea and didn't let supporters down on debut when running past Ocean Outlaw and Maxine's Wish stopping the clock 1.5L faster than maiden average. Heads straight to a 3 year old 0MWLY and maps to get an identical run behind the speed. Looks a handy sprinter. MAGNACHINE trialled super recently and showed in her initial preparation that she would make the grade. Nice starting spot for her. OSCAR CHARLIE burst onto the scene in WA with a big win but was unable to reproduce second-up. MAGNASONIC trialled without blinkers and could lead this from the inside draw.
Numbers: 6 – 7 – 4 – 3
Suggested Bet – EN PLEIN AIR WIN
RACE 2
HOUSEWIFE has only been seen publicly once at trials and looked equally professional and impressive. From the draw should be able to enjoy a stalking run behind the speed and once they fan for home across the cutaway she'll get her chance to burst through. Looks a readymade filly. ZIPPY ZANY met with good support in betting at her return and held her own behind sharp winner Storyville. Fitter second-up and a senior goes on. SCENIC GEORGE comes out of the West Star race which is expected to hold up as a form reference. HEZ GOT THE SAFE has impressive every time he has been to trials. Just hard to get too excited about barrier 14 of 14.
Numbers: 13 – 10 – 1 – 6
Suggested Bet – HOUSEWIFE WIN
RACE 3
PLATO OR PLOMO won down the straight first-up and then wasn't disgraced against the older horses in a 60+ Grad when finishing off as well as subsequent winners Crippalenko and Capre Omina. Can park and ride the speed and zip up the inside. Big danger to the fav. LIFEISBUTADREAM ran well behind Oscar Charlie first-up and then headed to Northam for an easy kill. Went around $1.40 and never looked like being beaten. Goes straight from a maiden into a C3, however, this is about as thin as C3 company gets midweek. Can win again. BUSTERS FREE was a big improver last start. SAINTLY CITY is jump and run.
Numbers: 1 – 8 – 5 – 4
Suggested Bet – PLATO OR PLOMO WIN
RACE 4
SIR EYRELTON was strong on debut behind Skytalker and now has a set of shades added. Simon Miller's horses go at 17% blinkers on first time and provided Jordan Turner can find a half decent spot in running from a tricky draw then the horse looks to have sufficient natural talent to make a race of this. MAXINE'S WISH looks the testing material. Pike likely leads from the inside gate and dictates terms to them. Has been knocking on the door for a while. DESIGNER LABEL and VIRIKAH both looked to have ability at trials and map to get decent runs.
Numbers: 3 – 8 – 6 – 12
Suggested Bet – SIR EYRELTON WIN
RACE 5
PLAYING QUEST has returned to racing well. Resumed in a C3 1200 when finishing half a length off Vampi At Play and subsequent Saturday winner My Jimmy and then backed it up with a solid fifth behind Pro Latte and subsequent Saturday winner Valdarena when held up for a few strides on straightening. Now drops back into a C1 for the first time in the campaign and looks ready to win. KERMIT'S LUCK bolted in on debut on a Soft6 and hasn't seen a rain affected track since. Keep safe and expect sharp improvement. HAPPY AS LARRY went close again last Wednesday. Nice placement, great use of the 1.5kg claim. ELBOW LOUNGE is bursting to win a race but was scratched last week and has an apprentice going on.
Numbers: 3 – 4 – 2 – 1
Suggested Bet – PLAYING QUEST WIN
RACE 6
CRUISE TO RIO was 5 weeks between runs last Wednesday dropping from 1600 back to 1200 and held her own behind Objectify and Sentimental Belle. On the 7 day spin she gets out to a more suitable 1400m and is drawn to get all the favours from barrier 1. Not much between a few of these and likely comes down to luck in running and track pattern. AMARLIE MISS likely settles rearward and concedes them a head start but it also gives William Pike the option to ride to conditions. Winds up out deep if the fence is off, heads to the cutaway if it's a fast lane. Like the filly. RIVERCREST MAGIC broke her maiden well but rises 4kg in weight into a C1. PLATINUM CLASS is going well and is better suited in this grade.
Numbers: 2 – 5 – 3 – 1
Suggested Bet – CRUISE TO RIO EACHWAY
RACE 7
SPLIT JETE had the blinkers added on 2 April 2023 and won four consecutive races before running a minor placing to Amber Glide towards the back end of his campaign. He's a proven wet tracker, he goes well fresh (winner off 91 days) and Steve Burton produced a first-up plunge winner on Sunday at Bunbury. Needs luck from the draw but is capable. PADDY'S LAD won his first two races of his career and then has been in the wilderness ever since. Trialled much better this time in. HIBISCUS LADY was sharp in her trial win and can burn across from the wide draw. HARBIN brings intrigue at his WA debut.
Numbers: 6 – 1 – 8 – 3
Suggested Bet – SPLIT JETE EACHWAY
Quaddie (Race 4 – 7)
3,8
1,2,3,4,7
1,2,3,4,5
1,2,3,4,6,8
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