On The Money - Belmont 22nd June

Matt Rigby | On The Money | Mon 24 June, 2013

On an average day at the office with below average holds, there were a few good moves for horses 20/1 and above with mixed results.

Race 1:

Itsahymn was the short priced favourite and didnt let his backers down with a convincing win. Opening at $1.70 he drifted to $1.80 but there was still decent support for him. Mountain Haze ($6 - $8), Leicachino ($6 - $9) and Aint Bad ($6 - $8) all drifted and it was hard to lay anything in the first. 

Race 2:

Some of the pre-post bookies bet $1.40 about the hot pot in the second, Smoko. But nothing like that was seen on race day and he was steady throughout at $1.26 and $1.28. War Prince drifted ($5.50 - $7) and Amber's Hero went from $19 to $21. The rest were never a chance. Smoko just another impressive Snitzel youngster and could be WA's next good horse. 

Race 3:

What should have been a good betting race, simply was not. Global Flirt was unlayable as second favourite ($3.80 - $4.60) while Operational was steadily backed in from $2.80 to $2.60. Big Attitude ($$7 - $9), Cyber Crime ($7 - $8) and Lethal Jones $7 - $10) were all drifters and made it very difficult to round up a good book. Add to that, Bridgestone was plonked from $21 to $8, despite his bad form. It made for some very anxious moments rounding the bend but when Bridgestone got into the clear and just plodded, the bookies let out a sigh of relief. Cyber Crime had saved us yet again and is shaking his non-winners tag. 

Race 4:

Dominating did just that to the betting market. Despite the highly publicised bar shoe, he was backed from $1.80 to $1.70. There was specking for Ten Aces ($13 - $11) and why wouldn't there be with the help of the in form Chris Parnham and his claim? New Time ($10 - $14), Yount Lionel ($4.40 - $6.50) and Tudor Lad ($7 - $9) were all virtually unwanted. Dominating did everything but win his fourth race for the campaign, being trumped by that familar Jim Taylor quinella.

Race 5:

Sweet Serenity was pounded from start to finish. It was puzzling they picked one out in what we thought was a relatively open race. $6 was bet and the best available at jump was $3.70. She hadn't won a race since 2011. The early favourite, Stacks On was false and the market treated it as such ($4.20 - $7). Classique Ivory had friends ($6 - $7.50 - $7), as did Tax A  Million, specked at $12. Dare to Doubt was specked again at $21 and closed a $16 shot. He was never a hope going back from the draw. Right Time got to $21 before firming late into $17. Tax A Million was ridden a treat by Parnham but was nailed late by Classique Ivory. Sweet Serenity looked like she would figure but realised who she was and could only manage third. 

Race 6:

Once again Terkel was the lay of the day in our eyes. We pushed hard out to $3.20 before the money came strongly, smashing him back into $2.70. The only way we could see him winning was to get to the front with ease. The big story in this race was the plonk on Classitheatre. A series of cash punters wandered round the ring having thousands on the Stephen Rowe charge. As much as $26 was bet and the price at jump was as little as $12. Secret Ruler ($7 - $9) and Bizet ($7 - $11) were the drifters while Union City was specked from $7 to $6. Terkel certainly got across, but was just made to do enough work by Lee Rani and Pure Adrenalin and was left wanting in the final 100m by the plunge horse, Classitheatre. This was a decent, old fashioned "go". 

Race 7:

Dream Lifter was the obvious favourite for the Guineas and remained that way throughout betting ($2.80 - $2.90). Northpace ($$6 - $4.80) was the one they wanted in the ring and as much as $9 was bet in pre-post markets. We laid good bets about Summah's Touch early at $12, but interest in the others saw several corporates betting $21 about the winner as they jumped. Its A Bit Shady was specked from $10 to $8 while Grand Crusade wobbled from $5 to $7.50). The other big money was for Hussy By Choice. She was suspect at the mile, but was the only pace in the Guineas and she certainly didnt disgrace herself ($5 - $6 - $4.60). Summah's Touch another example of why Adam Durrant is WA's leading trainer. 

Race 8:

When We Were Kings has been a great bookies horse, particularly at his last two runs. With Staeck back on board however, he was always worthy of some extra respect in this weakish race. Despite this, he was not slammed like he was at the previous two runs ($4 - $4.20 - $4). Black Romeo eased from $4.20 to $4.60 and Stompin was yet another Wolfe runner that was heavily backed ($26 - $13) and did little. Bus Stop had friends ($16 - $13) as did Ultimate Success ($6 - $7 - $6). Dan Staeck proved why he is one of the state's leading riders at present, prevailing by a nose over the blowout result, Malaika ($31). 

It was an even day between punter and bookie, probably tipped in the punters favour by the last result. 

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