Gumby's Gossip - Belmont 8th October

Gary Wright | Metropolitan Racing | Fri 7 October, 2011

Today see's the final day of the racing season at Belmont before we make the much anticipated return to summer Headquarters at Ascot next Saturday. It's a pretty good card today with a few horses going round who will be looking towards the bigger upcoming races over the next few weeks, and looks a day for the punters, with most races featuring just a few winning chances.

Race 1- Westspeed 2Year Old Plate- 1000metres

The first event for the 2 year olds for the new season, and its always going to be hard to line up just trial form, with some of that form only over the 400metres, so this is probably a race to avoid from a punting point of view. I will go with most pundits if forced into a selection and tip Miss Solis to win on the back of some good trials recently, and a nice barrier draw. Trainer Simon Miller has a high opinion of this horse, and thinks she will race tractably with the addition of the blinkers here so will stick with her. Others to impress from trials are The Danehill Rose, Roc n Doc and Wheatbelt Swallow, so if having a novelty investment, they probably loom as the ones to put into those bets.
Numbers- 8-10-4-6

Suggested Bet- Watch the race, no bet

Race 2- Burswood Opening Day @ Ascot next Saturday Handicap- 1600metres

A small field here but choc full of talent, this should be a good race. Ringmeister was extremely unlucky in the Hannan's Handicap when the saddle slipped so it will pay to forget he went around in the Goldfields. Previous to that he won a 1400 metre race here when racing first up, so go on that form here I would suggest. He will appreciate the 2kg claim with visiting apprentice Adam McCabe on board and could possibly bowl along in front and be hard to run down in this race. I will tip him in a tough race over the promising Great N'Grey who is going for a hat trick of wins at this track, and will also come in well with claiming apprentice Ryan Hill on board, there isn't a lot to separate both of these horses. Gum Nut Guru won well here last Sunday and although he has been up for a long time shows no signs of tapering off in his form and will also provide stiff opposition in this event. Western Jewel ran a slashing first up second to Philby here recently and will be further improved by that run, and will no doubt be aiming for a Perth Cup appearance down the track.

Numbers- 4-5-2-1

Suggested Bet- 4- Ringmeister- Each Way

Race 3- Yellowglen Melbourne Cup Day @ Ascot 1/11 Handicap- 1600metres

Rubitawny came home like a train at her last start to mow the field down at Belmont two weeks ago, and this highly promising Rubiton mare can go on with it here. That was on a day most winners raced near the front of the field so it was made even more meritorious. She has won three of her first four starts and looms as the testing material again here. She is weighted 2.5kgs higher than her last start win, but it's hard to pick something to beat her with any confidence. Fortescue Flyer ran second to Rubitawny in the same race and whilst she meets her 2kgs better I cant really see him turning the tables. The addition of blinkers is an interesting gear change on him. Westriver Kevydonn won brilliantly at Northam at his last start and could go well here in much stronger company and Kenbon and My Big Al are both racing well and will be strong novelty chances in this.

Numbers- 6-1-4-5

Suggested Bet- 6- Rubitawny- Win

Race 4- racingjobs.com.au Handicap- 2000metres

Another pretty good race for the stayers here with some good form exposed. Sound Barrier has been knocking on the door for some time now, and really does get his chance to bring up a maiden Belmont victory today, on the final day of the season. He has run three seconds at his last four starts here behind some good horses, has a nice draw and regular jockey Jason Brown to boot. Lots of things that point to a very forward showing in this race. Will tip him to break through finally in this race from Mr Moet who has shown some extremely promising form in his eleven start career to date, he was a nice winner here on 21st Sept ahead of subsequent Belmont winner Come Flirt With Me, and will provide stiff opposition in this race. Malaika has also been racing nicely for Donna Baillie and the ever consistent One Cool Queen look the ones to fill the minor placings here. Senor Da Gama has also been screaming out for extra ground and gets his chance here over the 2000metres, but you can't have them all.

Numbers- 6-5-3-9

Suggested Bet- 6- Sound Barrier- Each Way

Race 5- Westspeed 3YO Handicap- 1200metres

Mendicity has run two very good races in her short career at the racetrack and will go for her in another good race today. She won well at her last start at the Sunday meeting at Belmont on 18th Sept, and can go on with things here, and is another good ride for Jason Brown. Opposition will be plenty though, with some very promising up and coming gallopers contesting this race. Red Hot Sax won well here two weeks ago and was the only non-favorite to salute that day, a day the bookies would hope to forget, even though she was a solid second elect in that race. Ron's Call blitzed a maiden field at Northam at his last start, which included subsequent midweek winner Dark Miss, so must come right into calculations also. The Lynward Park Syndicate also seem to have a very promising filly engaged here called In The Mood which we should keep a close watch on after a nice second last start here on 21st Sept. All in all a very good race.

Numbers- 4-2-10-7

Suggested Bet- 4- Mendicity- Each Way

Race 6- playeronline.com.au Handicap- 1400metres

This may be a race in two for the main prize, with Philby and Moneghetti both in sparking form lately, and its very hard to separate the two, certainly both should be in your quaddies today. I will go with Philby on the strength of a better barrier draw and the fact he won over this distance last start, where as Moneghetti is back in distance 200metres and has drawn the outside gate here. Moneghetti certainly comes in better on weights from their respective last efforts, so it really makes it hard to decide between the two in this race. Rebel Fury ran a nice race second up behind Luckygray and will probably fill the minor placing here, with Hide The Loot sure to be running on. A couple of interesting returns to the racetrack also in this race, last year's Northam Cup winner Sentenza and last year's Kalgoorlie Cup winner Sunrange both have their first start back since those respective victories, but don't expect them to be winning chances until later in their preparations.

Numbers- 6-11-10-7

Suggested Bet- 6- Philby- Win

Race 7- Look for the Tick Guaranteed Pools Handicap- 1000metres

The best event of the day here with some of the best shortcourse sprinters in the state engaged. Werd has hardly put a foot wrong over the last season and should be improved by the outing when winning first up a few weeks ago at Belmont. He will certainly appreciate the claim for Adam McCabe though, having been given 59.5kgs from the handicapper, but will drop 2kgs on that. His record at the track and this distance is almost impeccable and will tip him to go on with it in this race. Morant is a very promising horse also, boasting similarly impressive stats at this track and distance and will no doubt provide stiff opposition. He has won his last three starts in weaker company but certainly looks up to the rise in class. For Your Eyes only had a disappointing campaign last time in, caught very deep in the Beaufine and losing the rider in the Newmarket, but if anywhere back to her old form will also come right into calculations, she did boast a 4 from 4 record over the 1000metre distance before the unlucky Beaufine run. The Entourage may be the next one in line for the quartet punters but don't think this Flying Spur gelding is quite up to the other three, in what is a terrific sprint race.
Numbers- 3-6-2-9

Suggested Bet- 3- Werd- Win

Race 8- Perth Saints FC Handicap- 1300metres

The last event of the Belmont season sees the highly impressive Rafferty start as what may be a reasonably short priced favourite on the back of his last start explosive win here on Sept 24. That day he sprouted wings from the back of the field and won going away from Galoubay over 1400metres, so probably the only real concern is the drop back to 1300metres here. Still, it was too good a run to not sit up and take notice of and he looms as one of the better bets of the day today. The barrier draw probably isn't a great concern as Rayce Neilsen, engaged to ride the horse to take advantage of his 3kg claim, will probably drop him back in the field anyway. The main danger may be Jappaloop which has been running some good races here lately, and is working up to a maiden victory, and also Ginsberg on the strength of his first up run behind Luckygray two weeks ago is certainly not to be ignored. The Widder, Rose Of May and maybe Silent Hero might be quartet chances but can't see them getting near Rafferty here.

Numbers- 2-12-1-11

Suggested Bet- 2- Rafferty- Win

Best Bets- Race 3 No 6 Rubitawny
Race 8 No 2 Rafferty