Belmont Newmarket - 6th August

Matt Rigby | On The Money | Mon 8 August, 2011

Where There's Smoke:

The Weapon was touted by one and all to be a special in the first and with William Pike having the choice of at least three mounts, his lead was very strong. $5 was bet in pre-post markets before the scratching of Gracetown. On raceday, the More Than Ready gelding was crashed from $2.60 to $2.10. He got a fair way back and was making good ground at the end. One would think he'd be very hard to toss next start at 1200m.

Out The Gate:

Valley Girl was unlayable, drifting hopelessly from $4.60 to $7 without a taker. Her form last campaign was certainly good enough, perhaps she was not ready for a first up win?

Kincaple was tipped by many as a certainty on Saturday but the market said different as the impressive first up winner eased from $2.30 to $2.70. He went down narrowly to Trustee Brown after getting back and it was still a good run.

Wide of the Mark:

Mantango was stepping up to the mile and with a tendency to over race, even at the shorter trips, the punters rallied nonetheless, backing him from $5.50 to $3.60. The 1600m trip told in the end, Mantango finishine unplaced.

Classy Nugget was specked from $13 to $9 despite a two month gap after his first up failure. He led and ran a long last and I doubt those who backed him will throw good money after bad next start.

On The Money:

The bolter Celebration Girl ($21) would normally be a good result for the bag men, but she was specked from $26 to $21 and not many got left out. She dashed to the front, a circumstance that not many of us could have predicted, and was never troubled.

Kens Double was hammered from $11 to $7 at just his second start for Brett Lewis. His runs this campaign have been just average but then again, this was an average field. He sat 1x1 and prevailed over stable mate Secret Enigma, who was also well supported from $9 to $7.

Lay of the Day:

Moneghetti is an enigmatic animal. With untold ability and a few slashing wins to his name, he usually starts under the odds and Saturday was no exception. Opening at $3.60, he drifted heavily to $6 and once again ran second, leaving what money there was for him, in the bookies bags.

The Big One:

Surprisingly, New Image and All Friared Up were not the best backed runners in the Belmont Newmarket. Bike Aaromba was plonked from $21 to $15 while Premardal was specked from $21 to $12. Both went forward and both failed miserably, finishing second last and last respectively.

A Bad Way to End the Day:

Numerous Secrets was crunched from $7 to $5 in the last and the Pontiff lobbed in front with very little pressure, was headed in the straight by the $21 shot Great and Grey, but lifted his charge to put a dent in the bookies day.