Belmont Tips with Hoops - Wednesday 5th October

Greg Hooper | Metropolitan Racing | Tue 4 October, 2011

RACE 1 -THE WESTSPEED 3YO HANDICAP

No. 6 DARK MISS. I'm pretty confident we can kick off the proceedings with a winner. The well-bred DARK MISS was terrific on debut at Northam. She settled off the speed and really found the line nicely over the last furlong. It was no disgrace to finish runner up To Ron's Call, I think he is a serious three-year-old. Although she comes to town I think this is a moderate line-up and provided William Pike can get her some cover in running I think she will be too classy for this field. PURE HEAVEN got the job done first up and she has drawn to get the same type of run again. ABSOLUTE CRACKER drops back from Saturday class where she ran an even race first up from a spell. Drawn well and with the use of the claim she's in the mix. HYDROFLIGHT looks the leader and I think has to be included in the multiples. I thought VOICES OF SPRING trialled the best of the first starters.
Numbers 6, 2, 1, 8

Suggested Bet - Dark Miss each way if odds permit

RACE 2 - WESTSPEED 3YO HANDICAP

No. 14 STRIKING SCENE. I think this is a fairly tricky race with many of the better chances drawn wide. For that reason going for some value and putting STRIKING SCENE on top. He's only had the one start, back in May and he didn't get the best of luck. He tramped deep for the duration, copped a bad check at the top of straight and was not pushed around late. His recent barrier trial was good viewing and from his nice draw I think he can settle close to the speed and give a solid kick home at each way prices. Plenty of other chances, SUCCESS PARK's two race track starts have been sound and although he was pushed out in a recent trial it was still a solid. SKIRMISHER makes his debut for the Ross & Clint Price team, he was pushed out in a recent trial but was finishing off nicely. CAT FIVE has been given a couple of trials, the first was fairly ordinary but he did manage to win the second of them although he had to be ridden with plenty of vigour. The stable mate to my top pick JAVELIN JACK also comes into the race with claims after his debut performance. Plenty to choose from here so looking for some value with my top pick.
Numbers 14, 12, 7, 3

Suggested Bet - Striking Scene each way @ double figure odds

RACE 3 - racingjobs.com.au HANDICAP

No. 3 ANGELIC HEART. This looks a very even mares' race with the majority of the runners having claims. ANGELIC HEART has not saluted since April 2009 so you wouldn't want your last on her. However, I did think her first up effort was solid. She took a while to wind up but she hit the line nicely over the concluding stages. The step up to 1200m is in her favour and she should get all the favours from her inside alley. MAVROMATA has impressed at the trials, she looks a big strong mare and hails from a top yard. She should sit right over the speed and be hard to get past. METALLICA is a mare with some scope. She threw away the race first up at Northam but she was then taken to Kalgoorlie and was a fairly easy winner. She's another who should get a nice run from her good gate. The likes of DANTE'S PRINCESS, AMBER DREAM, FELINED, DESIRE PATH and CROSELLE also have claims. This is a tricky race.
Numbers 3, 10, 9, 1

Suggested Bet - None recommended

RACE 4 - perthracing.com.au HANDICAP

No. 4 NEW TIME. This looks the standout on the program. It has been a long time between drinks for NEW TIME, he was a debut winner back on Boxing Day of last year but has since not won a race. He has though raced in Saturday company at every start, bar once, since his debut and has been far from disgraced on each occasion. This is a big drop in grade and he gets a wonderful chance at a confidence boosting win. From his draw he should be able to position up in a nice spot just behind the speed and be simply to classy for this field. Of the rest I thought VICTOBOUGG trialled nicely and he showed he had more than his fair share of ability last preparation, including a solid effort in the listed Raconteur Stakes. From barrier 1 Shooter McGruddy should have him parked midfield getting a cheap run. CHEEKY GIGGLE finally brought his trial form to the races last start, winning well after getting an inside passage. This is much tougher but he should be thereabouts for the placings. VOLUMINOUS is still a maiden but he is another who has shown ability, his trial was good. PRIVATE CITY's last couple in Kalgoorlie were solid and with William Pike going on he should get every mortal. HAAGEN could be the big value runner for the mutiples, he's a horse who is hit and miss but can finish off strong and he was asked for nothing in a recent trial.
Numbers 4, 8, 5, 11

Suggested Bet- New Time win

RACE 5 - CLASS 3F GOLDFIELDS HIGH 1947 HANDICAP

No. 7 LISETTA. I suspect that this mare is set for a very profitable campaign. She had a throat the operation before her last preparation and it obviously worked as she was a different horse to what we had previously seen. She was able to run her rivals ragged first up at Northam, leading from go to who and second up she looked all over a winner but didn't see out the final 100m and was caught on the post. She resumes from a spell without a trial which means she should be nice and fresh and I think she'll hop straight to the front and simply have too much toe for her rivals over 1000m. YSMAEL is a very talented ‘maiden', the 1000m is well short of his best distance but if he can make use of his good draw he should finish in the money. TURING really found the line nicely at his recent outing but from his gate he'll likely get too far back, still he's a chance to fill a hole. Not sure what to do with CALDO, she was horrible at her recent outing but it was reported she may have not handled the softish track conditions.
Numbers 7, 9, 2, 11

Suggested Bet - Lisetta win

RACE 6 - CALL TAB TO BET 132 369 HANDICAP

No. 10 JACKSON ROCKS. On paper this does looks a fairly even affair. Despite his wide draw I'm going for JACKSON ROCKS. He was good first up and ran well in the race that was marred by torrential rain. There should be solid speed with COOKS LANDING and SOONEST both capable of going forward and I think he'll be hard to hold out late. No knock on SOONEST, he's racing well and makes his own luck by racing on top of the speed. Always advantage in these midweek mile races. COOKS LANDING will appreciate the drop back to a mile, he was a good all the way winner in similar company two starts back. XAARABLAZE was solid first up, he's drawn to get a sweet run and has undeniable winning claims. ON THE WARPATH returned to some form last start and is another who should always be included at this level.
Numbers 10, 1, 12, 6

Suggested Bet - Non recommended

RACE 7 - ozbet.com.au HANDICAP

No. 3 KNIGHT FURY. This is one of the strongest midweek races I can recall and it could quite easily be a Saturday class event. KNIGHT FURY is a very talented galloper, the only problem is he has more than his fair share of tricks! He went super first up, parking three wide the trip and beating all the bar the rising star, Maschino. He then missed the kick, refused to settle, tracked around the field four wide, eventually settled three wide with no cover and still had the audacity to take the lead in the straight and give a big kick. He was just found wanting late but that was to be expected after the torrid run he had endured. The blinkers have been removed which will hopefully assist him to race more tractably and if he can jump OK and land a position in the first few then I think he takes a stack of beating. BIG JOSH finally broke through at his tenth start at Northam and he does look like the type of horse that can go on it with. From barrier 2 he should box seat in the run. CRISTIANO makes his debut for the Jim Taylor yard. First up over 1400m suits as he is a bit of a grinder. He had to be pushed right out in a recent trial but I think that is just the type of horse he is. THE WIDDER hit the line like a train at his most recent outing, it was a similar effort to his first up victory. William Pike goes on and if there is some tempo on upfront he will be the one closing off solidly late. DON'T SAY BOO was a solid winner last week but this field contains more depth. Not sure what to do with DEVILISH INTENT, he has a good first up card but his recent trial wasn't that great.
Numbers 3, 8, 5, 10

Suggested Bet - Knight Fury each way if odds permit

RACE 8 -SKY FILOU HANDICAP

No. 1 COME FLIRT ME. This looks a fairly moderate line-up to finish proceedings. I'm going for COME FLIRT WITH ME whose two efforts this preparation have been good and with William Pike retaining the mount he does look the one to beat. I liked the effort of DARK HUMOUR last week, she led and gave a big kick but was just no match late for the top two. If she is able to find the front and get some cheap sectionals she could be hard to get over. PRINCE KODIAK has undeniable winning claims, he's in career best form. The huge watch in this race for me is the first starter, VIKING. He's only had the one trial, back in March and he did run on strongly under little riding. It's a big ask to win on debut over 1400m with no trials since March but if there is money for him then he has to be respected.
Numbers 1, 10, 2, 12

Suggested Bet - None recommended