Scott Embry provides his best bets for the Thoroughbred meeting at Carnarvon on Saturday, 1st June 2024. Brought to you by the TABtouch Blog.
RACE 1
DRAGONFLIES and CALICOS GIRL come through the 1000m maiden behind Ginger Jive at the opening meeting and considering they stopped the clock 4.5L faster than maiden average that's the form reference that most punters will want to follow. Great to see DRAGONFLIES back and firing and hoping he can finally break through for John Kissick and Dennis Couper – iconic duos. CALICOS GIRL won't be a maiden long. She's only a 3 year old filly so she's got plenty of improvement to come compared to the 9 year old gelding in Dragonflies. THE KINGS AFFAIR has her first start for Team Pateman. Respect. LITTLE MISS CHATTE can go well fresh.
Numbers: 1 – 8 – 11 – 10
Suggested Bet – DRAGONFLIES WIN
RACE 2
MADAME PRO looks the kind of mare who can continue her winning ways in the region. She resumed when fifth at Geraldton behind Catch The Red Eye in a handy C2 1200 run and then was really popular in betting when ridden with great confidence by Chanel Cooper who retains the ride here. Only rises 1kg and looks the one they'll have to beat again. MIR has a set of bars going on and comes back 700m in distance with 63kg on his back. Lots of negatives but still expecting him to go well. NORTHERN RULER wasn't too bad out wide fresh. NICK OF TIME can always produce a cheeky run first-up.
Numbers: 4 – 1 – 2 – 8
Suggested Bet – MADAME PRO WIN
RACE 3
CLASSADO had his first look at Carnarvon and the dirt when second behind Madame Pro and beating home key rival here in Townsville. He should only improve for the outing, should only improve with an extra 200m and looks one of the main players in this. TOWNSVILLE can bounce on the lead and there was only three quarters of a length between them in that race first-up. ZERA BLUE broke her maiden at Carnarvon back in July 2023 and has been racing quite well on the grass recently at Geraldton. Keep safe. WESTERN IMPACT was drawn 1 and copped a face full of kickback at the opening meeting. Natural improver.
Numbers: 4 – 5 – 12 – 3
Suggested Bet – CLASSADO WIN
RACE 4
WOJTEK did a fair bit of work in the Crystal Vain race which is going to be a very key form reference race to most loyal dirt punters. That was the highest rating race on the program run ~5.5L faster than 56+ average and now WOJTEK finds himself drawn inside the stablemate Set The Scene in a race where he could almost bully his way to the top. Like this set up for him and Joseph See rode a double at the opening meeting. HAFEY is classy and Aaron Pateman has him breathing fire. Massive respect. SET THE SCENE is a Carnarvon specialist and this is a great use of the Chanel Cooper claim. BUTTERFLY ROCK should be a nice mare for the region.
Numbers: 7 – 2 – 5 – 6
Suggested Bet – WOJTEK WIN
RACE 5 Best Bet
CRYSTAL VAIN has all the hallmarks of a classic Carnarvon plunge horse. He carried 62kg at his first outing on the dirt in the Gascoyne and romped in by over 4.5L in a time that was 5.5L faster than average for the grade. Steps up in class, drops 2kg in weight and is again drawn to park out deep and sustain a run around them. Expect he gets targeted in betting. WUHAN WARRIOR was annihilated in betting at his first start in Carnarvon but couldn't lead and didn't look interested. Different horse if he can find the fence. CALABRIA JOE is only 61 days away from forced retirement. Would love to see him win another. REGAL CITY was alright first-up.
Numbers: 5 – 9 – 2 – 1
Suggested Bet – CRYSTAL VAIN WIN
RACE 6
MANTELLI (and others) come through the abandoned no-race on opening day. On the bright side he got a look at the track and got the initial 'kickback' experience out of the way. Hopefully he can jump cleanly here because if he does he'll land a nice spot close handy with the other fancies and looks capable of making into a handy dirt horse. RAKIURA drops back into a 56+ after running second behind Protected Action in the 64+ at the opening meeting. Logical danger. HERE NO CASH was a nice Broome horse and then lost his way on the grass. PURE DYNAMITE won the 'no race' and was powerful through the line.
Numbers: 1 – 3 – 6 – 9
Suggested Bet – MANTELLI WIN
Quaddie (Race 3 – 6)
4,5,12
2,3,5,6,7
5
1,2,3,6,9
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