Belmont tips with Hoops - 28th September

Greg Hooper | Metropolitan Racing | Wed 28 September, 2011

RACE 1 -THE WESTSPEED 3YO HANDICAP

No. 1 THE SOCIAL NETWORK. We start the day with a good little race for the three-year-old fillies. It is pretty hard to go past THE SOCIAL NETWORK; her first up win at Northam was as emphatic as you will see. She settled off the speed and blew her rivals away under a handbrake. This is a tougher race but she should eat the 1700m and she should get punters off to a winning start. With Paul Harvey riding LOUISIANA BLUES, a horse who his wife has an ownership interest, William Pike jumps aboard so she loses nothing in the jockey stakes. LOUISIANA BLUES won well at her second run back from a spell. She tracked into the race nicely approaching the straight, took an early lead and had enough in hand to hold on. She clearly has claims. BELLTORIO and BAY CITY both found the line nicely in the same race and they will appreciate the 1700m. PRINCESS DEIDRE will probably lead again and provided she gets some cheap sectionals she has to be included in the numbers. I'm pretty confident that favourite backers will start the day strong.
Numbers 1, 7, 3, 2

Suggested Bet - The Social Network Win

RACE 2 - WESTSPEED 3YO HANDICAP

No. 1 DIVINE HERO. This looks a thin race and the winner should come from either DIVINE HERO, HARTLEY'S HANGOVER or SWING. The tricky part is putting the correct one on top. I'm going for DIVINE HERO just on the basis he's drawn a little bit better than SWING and at his fifth run back this preparation he should be rock hard fit. He found the line nicely behind Mendicity and with the right run I think he'll be hard to hold out. SWING is a nice filly. She's started twice for two seconds. She looked all over a winner first up but just peaked on her effort. She was first up over 1200m with no trial. That run should have topped her off nicely. HARTLEY'S HANGOVER resumes from a spell with the benefit of two barrier trials. He did find the line strongly in a couple of his efforts in his first campaign. If he can position up close enough from his good draw he could be hard to hold out. I would be surprised if any of others were to get up.
Numbers 1, 10, 2, 8

Suggested Bet - None recommended

RACE 3 - playeronline.com.au HANDICAP

No. 6 BOXO'CHOCOLATES. I think this diminutive mare gets her chance to breakthrough for a much deserved win. She was solid first up, parking wide over the unsuitable 1000m trip and then second up she hit the line better than anything over 1200m. The step up to 1400m looks ideal and she should get all the favours from her draw. With normal racing luck she should be tough to beat. CONAKEY will appreciate the big drop in grade and with the claim for Ryan Hill she looks well weighted. More than happy to forget her last start effort when she found some trouble early in the straight. She will get back and be the one steaming home late. TENDERLEE is another maiden but she has some claims at big odds. She finished behind a couple of decent ones at her recent outing and she was finding the line OK late. AFRICAN DAWN won well at her most recent outing and she should get a charmed run from her inside draw. If TESTA ALTEZZA is taken to the front and rolls along she is not hopeless either.
Numbers 6, 1, 9, 5

Suggested Bet - Boxo'chocolats eachway

RACE 4 - perthracing.com.au HANDICAP

No. 5 ZABEEL ROAD. As a group this appears to be a very mediocre bunch of stayers. I'm going for ZABEEL ROAD to make it back-to-back wins mainly just for the reason that he has clearly the most upside of this field. He did get all the favours at his most recent outing but he was also having his first run over a trip and his first run for a month. With some more natural improvement he looks the one to beat. ONE COOL QUEEN looks very graded in this event but she has never been one of my horses as she invariably finds it difficult to win. She does have the 58.5kg but back to midweek company and with Paul Harvey aboard, logic tells you she will be in the finish. ZIPFER comes down from Kalgoorlie and he certainly has claims. He was able to hold off the stablemate, Rock Prince at his most recent outing. That is not a bad form reference for this race. I expect improvement from both HACKETT'S HEART and VERSONIC and they are a couple who should be thrown into the multiples.
Numbers 5, 1, 6, 3

Suggested Bet- None recommended

RACE 5 - PORTINARI HANDICAP

No. 9 KIM ABILITY. The first two legs of the quaddie look to be very tough races. I'm going for KIM ABILITY but not with a great deal of confidence. He broke through in a fairly convincing fashion two starts back, coming from off the speed and pulling clear late over the mile at Northam. He was then well thought of in betting but finished a long way behind Westriver Kevydon. I'm happy to forgive him for that effort as Westriver Kevydon simply ran his rivals ragged and they were coming in at big intervals. Shaun McGruddy goes back on and I think he should get a nice run from his draw. MAYAN SKY should improve sharply second up over 1700m. I think he will be the one really closing off strongly over the concluding stages. CARLTON STREET is almost impossible to catch but he looks very close to a win. KENBON was beaten a short half head two starts back over this type of trip with Paul Harvey aboard. You wouldn't want to back him as a win only bet though as he just doesn't win.
Numbers 9, 5, 2, 1

Suggested Bet - None recommended

RACE 6 - STOLEN THUNDER HANDICAP

No.2 WESTERN STANDARD. They should really hum along in this as there appears to plenty of exposed speed. WESTERN STANDARD resumes from a spell for his new trainer, Adam Durrant and going his trial he should be ready to run a big race first up. He has traditionally been an on speed horse but with the expected pressure up front I'd love to see him tuck in just behind it and see whether he can finish off strongly. MILTON'S GIFT went up to Kalgoorlie over the round and got the money, coming with a barnstorming late finish. His previous effort at Belmont indicated he was ticking over nicely so it was no fluke. I think he will certainly be assisted with the strong top end speed. SMITHERINGALE won at cricket score odds two starts back but she showed it was no fluke with a solid second at Northam. She's another who I think will be really suited by the strong top end speed. MACCAVAINEY will get a sweet run from his good draw and is not without claims. The interesting runner is CLARK COUNTY who makes her city debut after building up an impressive record in the north-west, obviously this is much harder but she'll no doubt burn forward and give them something to rundown.
Numbers 2, 7, 10, 1

Suggested Bet - None recommended

RACE 7 - BRAVA MENTO HANDICAP

No. 4 CHANIFY. This is a good competitive race and no doubt opinions will be divided. CHANIFY did the right thing by us at his recent outing, defying the big betting drift and saluting in a comprehensive fashion. I see no reason to jump ship for this event. There looks to be plenty of speed in the race with COBBLE LANE, NEDIYMS RULER, STEEL BARS, GALINBA CLAST and FIERY FOX all potentially hunting up early and I think he can settle around midfield with some cover and finish all over these again. The barrier makes it tricky for CASSIDY COWBOY but I do think he looks the clear second pick. His last start effort, although beaten, I thought was a career best performance as he had to race without cover on top of a hot speed and beat all Fortescue Flyer. If he can get some luck from the gate he is a big chance. Of the rest, NEDIYM'S RULER is always a chance in this type of race but he is becoming a non-winner. DISCO BLING resumes from a spell and he has his fair share of ability. He was asked for little in a recent trial. GALINBA BLAST can improve without surprising back to midweek level. CORPORATE PRO got all the favours and won well first up, this is a step up in class but from his good gate and with no weight on his back he should be included in the multiples.
Numbers 4, 13, 3, 14

Suggested Bet - Chanify eachway

RACE 8 -SKY FILOU HANDICAP

No. 5 BLACK TYCOON. This looks a very thin race to finish the day. BLACK TYCOON was backed like he was unbeatable in the last at Kalgoorlie on Hannans Day but he never gave his supporters a sight, missing the kick and finishing well back. I'm going to forgive him for that performance as it was just too bad to be true and if you go back to his first up win, when he blitzed his rivals by 6 length under a throttle hold I'm sure he would have these covered. AMBERSTROEM looks the clear testing material. He simply dominated that race at Kalgoorlie, parking right over the speed and pulling clear late. He's drawn to get all the favours and will be right in the finish. BELL'S VICTORY could be the value runner. He is still a maiden but he has had very little luck in his last couple of starts at Kalgoorlie. With the right run I think he can finish in the placings. DON'T SAY BOO went terribly last start, he is another who can improve sharply. Then there is STEAM ON, I've sacked him until he wins a race but he'll probably go into my quaddie, just in case.......
Numbers 5, 1, 12, 2

Suggested Bet - Black Tycoon eachway if odds permit