Gumbys Gossip - Belmont 6th June

Gary Wright | Metropolitan Racing | Wed 6 June, 2012

GUMBYS GOSSIP- Belmont- Wednesday 6th June

Midweek racing at Belmont this afternoon with an eight event card, including some good races early on in the programme for the two and three year olds, featuring a few Saturday City placegetters from recent weeks, who get their chance to notch up a victory today. The last event also sees horses with good provincial form engaged, in a good race to finish the day.

Race 1- Lisa Tobin Westspeed Handicap- 1200metres

A very good two year old race to commence racing today at Belmont, some very promising types engaged in this race and a couple of horses commencing having shown good trial form. I was impressed with the run our Toppers Halo last start on a Saturday meet here at Belmont, when running on into second behind Mister Panon, all indications are that he is improving with every start and from a nice draw in this big field today I think he can give you a good sight for your money. He does rise 3kgs from that last start on May26 but does seem to have more than his fair share of ability and he will be the on top selection today. Top Stuff raced very well in her previous campaign, her best effort was running the Karrakatta Plate winner Lukes Luck to a nose back in November, her first up run in this campaign wasn't anything to write home about, but she did crack quite a mention in the stewards report that day, so maybe we forgive her that aberration and go on her form last campaign, she looms as a danger in this race on her previous efforts. Star Of The Orient has also shown a lot of promise in his four race starts and must be respected today, he comes in nicely on weights with the allowance for Jordan Mallyon, and has also drawn well at the difficult 1200metre Belmont start, so has to be given some thought. A couple of first up horses today include All West for the Daniel Morton stable and Always Special for Grant Williams, they have both impressed in trials and you may get nice each way odds today if you fancy them enough to put a few hard earned dollars on either of them.
Numbers- 2-11-1-3
Suggested Bet- 2- Topper's Halo- Each Way

Race 2- Westspeed 3YO Handicap- 1700metres

Another good race upcoming here with some horses showing extremely good form of late. One of those is Just Hoping, he was just caught on the line in a Saturday race on May 26 when leading all the way down the straight, it took a good one in True Gold to reel him in that day, so if racing close to the speed or even in front again this afternoon, he may prove hard to run down in this. Operational looms as the biggest danger, he impressed when running home well over the mile here at Belmont on May 23, and looks ready to go on with it, certainly the rise to 1700metres doesn't look as if it will cause any concern. Cat Five was entered for a race at the washed out meeting at Pinjarra last week, and I had tipped him in that race, so I would think he will also prove to be a major player this afternoon, drawn nicely for the Simon Miller/Pat Carbery combination and we expect another good showing from this One Cool Cat gelding, following on from a narrow runner up placing to Dickens here at his last start back on May 16. Real Glow has also been impressive in her four race starts so far, this is a rise in class but she does look as if she may measure up to this sort of class, so must also be respected in a good midweek 3 year old race.
Numbers- 4-5-2-10
Suggested Bet- 4- Just Hoping- Each Way

Race 3- Westspeed 3YO Handicap- 1000metres

Gracetown has been around the place at most of his nine starts and gets his chance this afternoon, the 3kg claim for Mitchell Pateman may just prove crucial here over the 1000metres. His main danger appears to be Tax A Million who will have to carry 2kgs more as he approaches full race fitness after a spell. Gracetown ran a good race behind Painted here on May 16 at his last start and if running up to that sort of form looks to be an each way proposition here today. Tax A Million did run in such good races as the Belgravia, Fairetha and Lee Steere stakes in his last campaign, so connections obviously have a high opinion of this Hurricane Sky gelding, he will certainly be one of the big chances in this race today. Rack Em Up was extremely disappointing when a hot favourite down at Pinjarra last start, if we can forgive that run he looks to have some sort of chance as well in this event, based on his two previous starts in January at the Pinjarra track, so it may pay to include him in novelty bets today, and one who is racing very well is Settle Strada, unfortunately drawn the outside barrier at the 1000metre start, but if Lisa Forrest can get him across easily he may just prove hard to run down in the straight.
Numbers- 1-3-5-2
Suggested Bet- 1- Gracetown- Each Way

Race 4- tabozbet.com.au Handicap- 1200metres

Silbar has been most impressive at his two runs back this campaign finishing just behind Pure Adrenalin here on May 9, then going to Northam and a runner up behind the improved Pegatrick on May 24, and he gets his chance to post a victory today in a field that isn't overly strong for a midweek city race. Jordan Mallyon hops on board and claims 2kgs bringing this Mossman colt in with 56.5kgs, and the blinkers go on him today also in an interesting gear change, he really does look as if he should win this race this afternoon. Backhouse Street showed great ability at his first two race starts with a maiden win and a runner up placing at Bunbury but then seemed to go off slightly, finishing down the track at his next three starts. However first up again this afternoon and from a nice barrier you would expect him to perform well here. Bendit has improved of late, running some good consistent races, although he still is only a winner once from seventeen attempts, still he comes into this race with claims on his recent form, as does Major Dream, a placegetter at his last two starts down at Pinjarra.

Numbers- 5-2-7-9
Suggested Bet- 5- Silbar- Win

Race 5- perthracing.com.au Handicap- 1200metres

Foxy Commander has been racing in a rich vein of form this time in, and I will back her to continue on this afternoon. She did beat the promising Royal Rhapsody at Pinjarra two starts ago and followed that up with a creditable third to Ready On Time here last week, she is now at full fitness after four starts this campaign and looms as a very strong winning chance today. Captivating Spirit appears to be the main danger to her, she was only beaten 3 lengths by Doubtable here on May 9, Doutable has certainly gone on with things since then, and last start she was sixth behind Morning Mist here at Belmont on May 23, another that is now at full race fitness and this looms as good race between the pair, possibly Foxy Commander may come out on top but they are both extremely good winning chances today. Say Stars has also run some good races especially in her last racing campaign, and she is third up today so also should be approaching peak race fitness, and is certainly in with some sort of chance in this field here. One that may be pretty good odds could be Queen Of Quilts, she is still a maiden but this beautifully bred mare may just improve somewhat today in this field.
Numbers- 4-3-5-10
Suggested Bet- 4- Foxy Commander- Win

Race 6- twitter.com/perthracing Handicap- 2200metres

A typical distance race here with quite a few chances and I would suspect a pretty open betting race. I will tip Media Alert on the strength of his last start fifth to the promising stayer Leoluck here last Saturday week at the Roma Cup meeting. He did come home well in that race when a lot of that field looked as if they were standing still over the final 100metres, so the rise up to 2200metres today doesn't look as if it will hold any fears for her. The 3kg claim for apprentice Ben Paterson will come in handy also bringing her weight down to a nice 56.5kgs, and I will go with her in a very even affair here. Luminol also has form from the same Leoluck race, he ran ninth that day, but his previous run behind Atchison was full of merit and it may pay to go on that effort when assessing his form. Endless Sacrifice has been up for a while but continues to race in very consistent form, and must always be a chance in these type of distance races, with Pippaline another with a chance in this race, following on from a good second to Greymates at her last start, she has been improving steadily this campaign.
Numbers- 1-2-6-7
Suggested Bet- 1- Media Alert- Each Way

Race 7- facebook.com/perthracing Handicap- 1000metres

Royal Culture has put the writing on the wall in his last few starts and today looks to be the day he breaks through. This isn't a strong field by any imagination and going on his last three efforts when placed every start, the time is right for him this afternoon. Last couple of runs he has come home very well for placings behind Painted and Desire Path at this track in similar midweek fields, and if settling just a little more forward today, she should run over the top of these, certainly Jo Azzopardi will be looking for a good pace on so she can utilise her good finishing burst. Catch Dat Kat may be the main opposition here, he was reasonable first up behind Painted and his record second up is 100 per cent, something worth noting, experienced jockey Troy Turner is on board this afternoon also, the regular rider for this gelding. Twilight Hero impressed first up behind Excelorada and if he can reproduce runs like that he will be well in the mix in this campaign. Edadi is probably best of the rest, he has been close up at three runs since a spell and this isn't an overly strong field today.

Numbers- 3-2-7-8
Suggested Bet- 3- Royal Culture- Win

Race 8- PR Punters Club Handicap- 1400metres

A good race with a capacity field to close the midweek programme this afternoon, some good up and coming horses engaged here. Victobougg was ultra impressive on the Pinjarra circuit during April and May, producing two wins and a second in three runs during that period. His last start at Belmont he had lots of excuses, so it will definitely pay to forget that run, he was wide all the way, couldn't get a run in the straight, and simply was racing against a better field than he meets today. Drawn beautifully in barrier two he can give you a very good sight for your money, and would be a definite inclusion for quaddie punters. Another that impressed during the Bunbury carnival is Cyclonic Halo, he won very easily on Cup day down there and followed that with an unlucky fifth when resuming at Belmont back on May 23. The main factor in tipping Victobougg is the preferable barrier draw, Cyclonic Halo has to overcome a wider draw today, but both of these horses will make their presence felt today. Another lightly raced mare in Tiffany Yellow should also be around the place, she won well at Northam and followed that up with a good effort here two weeks ago when third to Wildwood, she is certainly on the up after just three race starts. One that will improve today will be Discoverers, he was racing well during the Ascot season, and is down on the Saturday class races he has been contesting of late, although it seems Peter Knuckey has decided to ride Cyclonic Halo this afternoon, but you would still have Discoverers in calculations in this race, and to be an inclusion for quaddie punters.

Numbers- 4-12-14-7
Suggested Bet 4- Victobougg- Each Way