Belmont Preview, Saturday 16th June

Gary Wright | Gumbys Gossip | Fri 15 June, 2012

Another eight event card at Belmont this afternoon with some good racing ahead, a good two year old race to start the day, and the highlights being the Winter Championship and 3 year old Handicap later in the day featuring good fields.

 

Race 1- Westspeed Nursery Handicap- 1200metres

A very good two year old race to start the day here, with some good form exposed. Dominating was just that at his first race start a fortnight ago here at Belmont, when well supported into a firm favourite and he duly saluted that day, producing a powerful finishing burst to down Saturday Skies. He meets that horse 1.5kgs worse this afternoon, so the predicament for punters is if Saturday Skies can turn the tables. Both are very promising youngsters but I think Dominating will probably appreciate the rise in distance to 1200metres today, and has a lot of improvement in him, so he is the selection in this race. Saturday Skies has been very impressive in his seven outings to date and must be respected here, he has been racing extremely well in this sort of company for quite a while and looms as the main danger to Dominating. Others who are showing promise and should perform well are Star Of The Orient, a easy midweek winner last week here and Dueton, who similarly won a midweek race at Belmont on May30, both look to have good appeal for novelty punters in this opening race.

Numbers- 2-1-3-4
Suggested Bet- 2- Dominating- Win

Race 2- tabozbet.com.au Handicap- 2000metres

A small field here with only the six runners engaged, but some good stayers to go around in this event. Chester Road looks awfully hard to beat again, he should take up the running once again and if Peter Knuckey is allowed to stroll along in front like he was last start, then this Tiger Hill gelding should have a kick at the end of this race and give trainer Adam Durrant another winner in a staying race. He should appreciate carrying 3.5kgs less that his last start as well, so its really hard to see him being run down today, unless something puts pressure on him a long way out. Mabel Grace has been the perennial bridesmaid quite a number of times, and that looks like continuing this afternoon, she wasn’t ridden the best last start but still would have struggled to rein in Brother Patrick that day, so she will probably have to settle for another second placing here. Hibernian has been up for a while and performed very well, especially in the Country Cup races, and will no doubt be around the place again today, but I would think he would find it hard to beat Chester Road or Mabel Grace home, and Talent Show may improve a little today as the distances increase for her.

Numbers- 2-1-5-7
Suggested Bet- 2- Chester Road- Win

Race 3- twitter.com/perthracing Handicap- 2000metres

A much tougher proposition to try and find the winner of this race, will Once A Week return to its old form, can a maiden in Just Hoping win a city class race, what sort of run will Endless Time put in, all make this a difficult race to predict with authority. I will go with Just Hoping, he has been placed at all four race starts so far, he is ideally drawn to take up a position in front or near the lead, and the field isn’t really overly strong for a Saturday City class race. His last start second to Operational was a good run, he was held up for a run for quite a way down the straight, and with a little luck today may just break through for an overdue victory. Once A Week at her top would probably start favourite and duly win this race, but she just hasn’t raced that well of late, her last start behind Leoluck was just a run, and its difficult to tip her until her form improves a little. Endless Time does mix her form a lot, her last start second to Snooza was a good run, her previous three efforts were quite poor, so you really do take this mare on trust every time she steps out. Ladysea may also run a reasonable race today, she won well at the midweeks here on May16 before well beaten behind Chester Road in a small and stronger field last start.

Numbers- 10-1-4-3
Suggested Bet- 10- Just Hoping- Each Way

Race 4- perthracing.com.au Handicap- 1650metres

Three weeks ago Full Steam Ahead put in a huge performance when running third to Devilish Intent over 1400metres when three wide for most of the race from an outside barrier. He does have to contend with another draw in the “river” this afternoon and that will be the biggest hurdle to him returning to the winners list here. However this race is over the 1650metres which may suit him more, and punters will hope Paul Harvey can weave his magic and get him into a reasonable position in running from that horror barrier draw. He meets one of his main rivals Devilish Intent on 2.5kgs better terms from their last meeting on May26, a big factor in his favour today. He is the on top selection here in this race, hoping he can overcome the shocking barrier draw. Devilish Intent will no doubt prove hard to beat today, he has fared much better with a good draw in five and should race in a good position throughout and give punters another good sight for their investments. Saezuri ran a good race last start when a close up third to Mavromata here two weeks ago and is always a chance in these type of races and one at each ways odds may be Doubtable, he is racing in career best form at present, his last start win in the main race on the Monday holiday programme at Northam was terrific, is rising in class here today but may lead this field into the straight and give them something to catch.

Numbers- 6-5-8-2
Suggested Bet- 6- Full Steam Ahead- Win

Race 5- facebook.com/perthracing Handicap- 1200metres

Morning Mist looks the testing material in this race today, she has won five of eight starts for the Grant Williams stable, and from an ideal barrier draw with the services of Paul Harvey, I will tip her to continue her winnings ways this afternoon. She returned to racing with a good midweek win over Silver Trader on May 23, so she should be further improved on that run, and ready to run a big race in Saturday company here. Texan is another that has been racing extremely well of late, although he does rise 4.5kgs in weight on his last effort when winning here two weeks ago, and is drawn near the outside also, still his form is too good to ignore and he should still be included in quaddie bets this afternoon. Mcscar made an auspicious return to racing when he led all the way here on June 2 fighting off all challengers up the straight, and if he can reproduce that sort of run with a postage stamp weight after the claim of Renee Forrest is taken into account, then he may give you a good sight for your money once again. Follow The Road is probably the next best, has been just behind the placegetters of late, and a real smoky could be Let’s Go Secret, now in the stables of David Harrison, he may only have Esperance form to recommend him, but has a very good first up record.

Numbers- 8-2-7-4
Suggested Bet- 8- Morning Mist- Win

Race 6- Westspeed 3YO Handicap- 1200metres

One of the best races of the afternoon here with some very promising up and coming gallopers engaged in this. One of those is Checkpoint who ran another good race her last week when a close second to Black Uma over the 1400metres, he has been switched back to 1200metres today with only a weeks break but does look to be one of the major chances in a good race here. His previous effort was full of merit when storming home to beat Democratism at Belmont on May 19 and he will be the number one selection in this race today. Tiger Pete couldn’t have been more impressive in winning last start when he flew home to win easily here on Jun 2, is up against a stronger field today but its very hard to ignore that run, it was a beauty, the barrier might be more of a problem today, he may have to settle a little further back than he did that day, but he must be respected on his last start victory. Scorn Saxon ran second to Tiger Pete that afternoon and meets him on 1.5kgs better terms today, so has to be considered a chance in this race as well, she has finished no further back than fourth in her seven race starts and shows a lot of promise, and Just Wicked has won well at her last two starts for trainer Adam Durrant, she does have an outside gate and 59kgs to contend with today, but she is certainly another good up and coming filly in the making.

Numbers- 2-6-7-1
Suggested Bet- 2- Checkpoint- Win

Race 7- Winter Championship- 1400metres

Caves Road looked most unlucky not to win at his first start back from a spell when second to Solsay here on Jun 2, he was charging home at the finish that day but just couldn’t catch the winner who had a huge pull in the weights that afternoon, but today he does look one of the bets of the afternoon. He has a superb record second up, has the 3kg claim for in form apprentice Jo Azzopardi and a perfect barrier draw to boot, so he ticks a lot of boxes in this race today. Almachino has been racing in wonderful form and holding that form well, she appears to be the main danger to Caves Road here, perfectly drawn to get a good run for the Parnham stable, expect her to play a part in the finish today. Capricious Lad is another who has held his form well over the last couple of months, that culminating in a win here last week over Devilish Intent, and Miss Tipsy Topsy flew home last start when third to Solsay, she probably needs a good pace on, as she will no doubt drop back and try and run home over the top of them again today, but she will probably get that here with Ten Aces probably setting a good pace up front, so watch for her late in this race.

Numbers- 1-7-10-3
Suggested Bet- 1- Caves Road- Win

Race 8- PR Punters Club Handicap- 1200metres

A very open race to finish the days racing with plenty of chances in this final quaddie leg. Precious Snippets lost no admirers at her first start back from a spell when fourth to Mcscar here two weeks ago, she came home well in that race, on a day the frontrunners dominated and no doubt she will strip fitter for this assignment today. She is perfectly drawn in barrier four this afternoon and should settle in a good position and be right in the finish. She raced in brilliant form before going for a spell and must be considered one of the better chances in this race. Even Astar will probably set the pace in this race and could prove very hard to run down if left alone in front, this grey mare has gradually improved during her long campaign and last start was only just run down in the concluding stages, she looms as a good each way proposition in this race today. Miss Dandy is first up here, she raced in great form in the summer, winning three races in a row before her last start failure, she has a nice draw at the 1200metre start today and must be considered on the back of that rich vein of form in her last campaign, and Durrahmoore was never out of trouble last start, has blinkers added today and comes in well on weights here, she may be one that improves at good each way odds in a good race to close the programme.

Numbers- 6-3-4-5
Suggested Bet- 6- Precious Snippets- Each Way


Best Bets

Race 2           No 2    Chester Road
Race 7           No  1     Caves Road