Scott Embry provides his best bets for the thoroughbred meeting at Esperance on Sunday, 3rd March 2024. Brought to you by the TABtouch Blog.
RACE 1
BRONTE'S DREAM returns to Peter Fernie and her run two starts ago at Belmont behind Hostile Talk, or even three starts ago beaten under 3L by Sonoftheboss (races Saturday at Ascot) is good enough to win this. PROFIT POCKET ran well at her only outing in Esperance back in November 2022. Big respect for all of Tony Tricari's travellers. FLYING THE FLAG is a month between runs after finishing 6L off Miss Esprit. She's gone on to split Petula and Sapphire Street in a 66+ Pearl Classic. GOD'S WRATH has improved a few lengths start to start this preparation. Draw hurts but he has the tactical speed to get across and put himself into the mix.
Numbers: 8 – 9 – 7 – 1
Suggested Bet – BRONTE'S DREAM WIN
RACE 2
BLATANT DISARRAY won a barrier trial over 950m at Lark Hill leading into her return to racing when finishing second behind Mining Legend. Beat home many of her rivals in this and getting out to 1400m looks to suit. Most of these are extremely well exposed and she's the filly who should be improving with racing. SIXTYSLABS and stablemate YAKYAK have been around the mark of recent times. Don't think there's much between them, it'll come down to who gets the better run from two tricky alleys. Slight leaning to Sixtyslabs. OAKWOOD has been the target of money all campaign. The punters just keep buttering up to her.
Numbers: 13 – 7 – 11 – 12
Suggested Bet – BLATANT DISARRAY WIN
RACE 3
UNCOMPROMISED has won two of his last three and the most recent victory was clearly the most impressive when skipping right away to win by 2L this track/distance/grade. He rises up only half a kilo with the addition of Never Sober to the race and so from barrier 2 he'll be hard to beat and is in the best form of his life. NEVER SOBER brings strong metro/provincial form and rarely Ash Maley travels a team to Esperance on Cup Day without producing at least one winner. Beaten 3L Multinational last start in a m72+ he now drops into a c58+. Rolls forward, makes his own luck and is the obvious danger. ROYAL SOLDIER and LINCOLNS LAW tried hard behind Uncompromised last start.
Numbers: 2 – 1 – 3 – 4
Suggested Bet – UNCOMPROMISED WIN
RACE 4
MR SNIPS has been going well all preparation without winning. Thinking in this they'll go very quick (Torpedoman/Mining Legend/Formentera/Paradise Square/Sister Kate/Ebony's Ace) and hopefully that allows Jade McNaught to find a spot. Eachway chance. TORPEDOMAN trialled over 1450m at Lark Hill on Monday and Jess Gray released the handbrake. He lead the trial by over 10L throughout and the eventual margin was 14.5L. Imagine they'll be putting the foot down from the outside gate. BRIGHID didn't look to run out 1600m last start. Freshened and back to 1200. SISTER KATE has been thereabouts all campaign. How good is Rob Payton's yard going?
Numbers: 9 – 1 – 2 – 11
Suggested Bet – MR SNIPS EACHWAY
RACE 5
BUDGERIGAR travels down to Esperance with Team Pearce and his recent metro form has to be respected. Most recently he finished second behind Bleecker Street in a 0MWLY and prior to that he was only 3L off Cerridwyn in a 60+ Grad. Right draw, right placement. TALK SOFTLY has completed a picket fence since winning at $26 in a C2 going back five starts ago in November. Never thought Bondi Bubbles would get rolled in horse of the year but Talk Softly gets his chance in the Sprint! I AM SPARTACUS has finished second at three of his past five – so while he hasn't won a race in over 400 days he's certainly knocking on the door and racing well. VIA MONTE brings alternate form.
Numbers: 6 – 7 – 1 – 5
Suggested Bet – BUDGERIGAR WIN
RACE 6
FAST FLICKER has excellent race form to her name. She's won a C3 at Bunbury and then finished a narrow second to Autumn Rebel in a race where they smashed the clock and skipped lengths away from the third horse. She's a fresh winner, she's an Esperance 1100 winner and she's more than capable of zapping these late. Just going to need that inside pad to be kind. BOOZEROO has enjoyed a great season and seems to relish racing at 1100m. Drops out of 70+ company at his last four including winning in that grade. JERICHO'S ECHO is going super. FIRST LAW has the Bondi Bubbles / Talk Softly form.
Numbers: 4 – 1 – 6 – 2
Suggested Bet – FAST FLICKER WIN
RACE 7
LET'SDEAL went around in a Perth Cup only months ago and now finds himself down in Esperance. His fresh run in a m66+ behind Birdieagle was a ripper and while he's drawn in the carpark he can find the three deep line which tends to be a nice spot in the staying races at this track. Can stay out of trouble and can sustain a run. 60kg doesn't worry a big lump of a horse like him and he's clearly the class runner (only 3 horses inside the handicap). MANAVENDRA announced himself as a potential country cups horse when winning a 60+ Grad at Ascot three starts ago. Hasn't quite gone as well since. Another 3 deep momentum horse. SLUICE BOX will need luck from barrier 1 but he's no doubt been targeted at this. WHEATSTACK THIEF is going super, just not straight.
Numbers: 1 – 3 – 12 – 15
Suggested Bet – LET'SDEAL WIN
RACE 8
KALLAROO finds a 58+ after contesting 2x 70+ races so far this campaign. Drop in grade suits, distance rise suits and he's drawn to get every chance. Caught the eye fresh over an unsuitable 1100 behind Bondi Bubbles and was making ground late behind Talk Softly second-up. Nice set up for him. ROCK OF KAHA won back to back 58+ races at Alban back in November and since then has been solid without winning. Can sustain a run. WESTERNIZE always seems to bounce back to form when he can drop into this grade. CJP a big booking and gear changes too. HABIB is in grand form – his last start win when dropping from 1400 back to 1200 was excellent.
Numbers: 3 – 1 – 5 – 8
Suggested Bet – KALLAROO WIN
Quaddie (Race 5 – 8)
6,7
1,2,4,6,9
1,3,12
1,3,5,7,8,12
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