Sweet Embrace Stakes – 2023

Track: Soft Weather: Good

A race stacked with talent and will be watching with plenty of intrigue. Skirt The Law is very hard to knock and is coming off the back of 3 extremely good wins. The form around it has stacked up. Blanc De Blanc was brilliant last run. It will need a J-Mac special from the draw but is nicely placed against this lot. Facile was sound last run but will also need some luck from its draw. Lazzago and Summer Loving are also among chances in what is a very even race.

1. Skirt The Law (9)

Has been very good to date and brings in some strong form lines to this contest. Needs a bit to fall into place from the draw but the form behind it has been stacking up and nice to see Ryan Maloney retain the ride. The $2.60 is borderline short enough but it is the clear horse to beat.

2. Blanc De Blanc (11)

Big danger here despite the wide barrier. The form is excellent for this race and hit the line in slick closing splits just behind Learning To Fly in the 2YO Inglis Millennium a few weeks ago. Expecting that form to hold up here and it should prove hard to beat.

3. Salatire (2)

Just even last run, I’d prefer it in something easier.

4. Summer Loving (4)

A nice set up here for Summer Loving and it looks well placed to stalk the speed and get last crack at them. Did make a stack of ground off Barber on debut and that looks the right kind of form for this. Massive hope from the kind draw.

5. Lazzago (7)

Slightly underwhelmed by its run last start but at the same time it was far from poor. An in form Hugh Bowman takes the ride and it maps well to sit midfield and get a tow into the race. Can absolutely win.

6. Facile (10)

Darted along the rails last run and was okay without threatening. Needs luck from barrier 10 but the form around Facile is quite good and Tim Clark is an ideal booking for intent to be on speed.

7. Empress Of Wonder (12)

Has been ultra consistent without winning and has to be one of the better maidens getting about in Australia. Should be around the mark in this but the wide draw is a query.

8. Divine Glory (3)

Prefer in something easier.

9. Portorosa (1)

Interesting runner who made excellent ground on debut and should be suited out to the 1200. The horse that won the race has flopped since so there is a query about the form as well as whether it gets clean air from barrier 1 but not totally dismissing its chances here.

10. One Kind (6)

Can’t have.

11. Smashing Dancer (8)

Can’t have.

12. August Bloom (5)

Prefer others.

The following are the top 4 selections for this years race.

Bryce Parker’s Tips	Jo Jackson’s Tips
2 Blanc De Blanc	1 Skirt The Law
4 Summer Loving	2 Blanc De Blanc
1 Skirt The Law	4 Summer Loving
5 Lazzago	7 Empress Of Wonder