Belmont Tips 17th Aug with Greg Hooper

Greg Hooper | Metropolitan Racing | Wed 17 August, 2011

RACE 1 - WESTSPEED 3YO HANDICAP

No. 16 NINE TENORS. We start the day with good three-year-old event. I think there are two very smart types in this, namely, HYDROFLIGHT and NINE TENORS. HYDROFLIGHT has drawn wide, whilst NINE TENORS has got the nice draw so I'll go her way. She has only had the one start, back in March where she was heavily backed but finished down the track, she was found to be shin sore and was tipped out for a spell. Her recent trial win was a first class, she led and won under a stranglehold and from barrier 4 I think she'll park right on top of the speed and prove the one to beat. HYDROFLIGHT also resumes from a spell, he started once back in January and finished right next to classy types, Foo Foo The Snoo and Western Fever. Her recent trial win was outstanding and if she can get some luck from her alley she'll be hard to beat. BACKGROUND put a good debut performance behind a couple of smarties, Command Centre and The Weapon, back to midweek company he'll go well. KEYSTONE ROSE was a good debut winner, finishing off strong, she's probably looking for further but she should hit the line nicely again.
Numbers 16, 13, 1, 8

Suggested Bet - Nine Tenors win & save Hydroflight if odds allow

RACE 2 - tabtouch.mobi HANDICAP

No. 1 KIM COIN. DANTE'S LAST should lead and KIM COIN should settle outside him and from there I think KIM COIN will be hard to beat. He was a dominant winner two starts back at Pinjarra on a rain affected surface, leading from go to whoa and last time out he battled on well to finish in a blanket go for the minors behind Maschino. If can control the tempo upfront then I think they struggle ti get over him. NOVEMBER RED is ticking over nicely, this is his type of grade, he just needs a little bit of luck from his draw to play a big part. ROCKING BLUES is a hard horse to catch but he is very close to a win, he likes the soft tracks and is drawn to get a soft run.
Numbers 1, 6, 2, 3

Suggested Bet - Kim Coin each way

RACE 3 - racingjobs.com.au HANDICAP

No. 6 SINGLE WARRIOR. This looks a pretty thin race and SINGLE WARRIOR looks the one to beat. He was scratched from Saturday to be saved for this and it looks a smart move by connections. He has excellent stats at this distance and he likes the sting out of the track. With the claim for Michael Grantham he looks very well weighted and should be able to get over these. GET THE NET had things to suit last week, settling off the speed with a fast tempo and getting to the right part of the track. It was still a good effort and he has claims again. The blinkers go on BAROMETRIC if that can help him settle a bit closer in running then he could fill a placing.
Numbers 6, 5, 10, 2

Suggested Bet - Single Warrior eachway if odds allow

RACE 4 - CALL TAB TO BET 132 369 HANDICAP

No. 3 PURE EDITION. This is a very tricky mares' race and the winner looks well concealed. Going for the ultra consistent grey, PURE EDITION. She resumes from an eleven week break but has had the benefit of a 1450m trial to get her up to the mark fitness wise. When last in work she started on seven occasions for a win and six placings. With the claim for Hayley Diener she gets in under the minimum and I think she will finish strong and be hard to hold out. DARK VISION makes her debut for new trainer, Dean White. She finally broke through at her last, not sure the drop back to a mile really suits but she should beat the majority on ability alone. SUNNY CITY is very close to a win, she didn't get the best of luck last start, getting checked in the straight when she was making ground. She should get all the favours from barrier 2. STEALTH CAT is the interesting runner, she makes her debut for the MB Reed stable and has shown glimpses of ability in the past. Any betting for her must be respected.
Numbers 3, 2, 7, 14

Suggested Bet - None recommended

RACE 5 - ozbet.com.au HANDICAP

No. 14 UNION CITY. This is a good quality midweek sprint with a few chances. UNION CITY dropped back to 1000m last start and he put in a much better effort, getting beaten a head by the smart Chester Road. From barrier 6 he should be able to settle in the first few and from there he'll give a big sight. COCKY BOY drops back to midweek company and to 1000m, both are big positives. He appreciates the sting out as well. CATCH DAT KAT returns from a freshen up, he won three in a line a good fashion when last in work. William Pike goes onto CAPRICIOUS LAD, he can improve sharply on a couple of lacklustre performances.
Numbers 14, 2, 1, 9

Suggested Bet - Union City eachway

RACE 6 - WESTSPEED STAYERS' BONUS HANDICAP

No. 4 FAIR HUNTER. Very tricky staying race. FAIR HUNTER was a dominant winner of his maiden at Pinjarra two starts back, sitting over the speed and showing a good turn of foot to never give his rivals a look in. He then put in an even effort here last week, settling off the speed and battling home Ok without threatening. I suspect from his wide barrier he'll be sent forward early and give them something to catch. MAC'S MINT got the job done last week, he did get every chance in running but he won well enough to suggest he has big claims again. GRANDIOSITY is still a maiden but can play a part, she has finished off nicely at her last couple of races and I wouldn't be surprised if Zebook improves sharply. He just never got warm last week. Tough race.
Numbers 4, 2, 13, 1

Suggested Bet - None recommended

RACE 7 - playeronline.com.au HANDICAP

No. 8 MAID OF ULSTER. The High Chaparral mare MAID OF ULSTER resumes from a spell and if she brings her ‘a-game' then I think she'll handle these. She was a dominant winner first up last campaign and her recent trial victory was very soft. Paul Harvey takes the mount and she'll roll forward and park right on top of the speed. Only concern is the softish track as she didn't perform well on a rain affected surface before she was tipped out for a spell. COUTURE CHIK is limited but she'll settle close to the speed and keep battling away. LONE PRINCESS will find it tough from her wide gate but if she can get over without spending too many petrol tickets then she can play a part.
Numbers 8, 6, 2, 9

Suggested Bet - Maid Of Ulster win

RACE 8 - WA COMMUNITY PHARMACY HANDICAP

No. 3 RAFFERTY. I think we can go home with a winner. RAFFERTY is a smart type who should be in for a big preparation. In his first campaign he only won the solitary race but he did beat the impressive Maschino by 3 lengths on that occasion. He also ran a close up 3rd in the $95,000 South West Breeders Classic and was luckless in the Raconteur. He has trialled, but it was hard to take much out of it as it was in driving rain and he was out the back and never really pushed around. I'll take him on trust first up that he is ready to go, because if so, he should be too good for these. PRINCE TED just can't draw a gate! His two efforts this time in have been very solid, making good ground on both occasions. From his wide gate he'll have to settle back and give them a head start again. HI KILMORE broke through last start for an overdue win and he can definitely go on with it now. HONORABLE STAR attacked the line nicely late first up and the step up to 1200m suits. Draw hurts though as he'll have to go straight out the back early.
Numbers 3, 9, 8, 6

Suggested Bet - Rafferty win and Prince Ted save