Expected weather: Partly Cloudy 22°C
Expected track rating: GOOD4
Rail position: 6m
Race 1 - 11:53AM PENFOLDS PLATE (1000 METRES) – FULL FIELD
4. PORTALIAN is a first starter by Frost Giant and is out of the same dam as Sweet Ora and Listed winner La Famelia, the latter of which was trained by Mick Price in Victoria. He trialled sharply on Monday 12 June at Belmont clocking 60.37 when coming from just off the speed. He looks to have his share of ability.
6. THUNDERSTRUT has won two trials at Lark Hill leading into this event. Without winning, she showed ability in her only three runs to date but seems to have furnished into a nice filly since then. Expect the daughter of Choisir to get every possible chance to show her best.
1. SALUBRIOUS is to be ridden by someone other than Jerry Noske for the first time in his career. Brother Jarrad takes the reins which is no disadvantage. The blinkers come off and trainer Dion Luciani is likely to have freshened the gelding up after becoming cast in the barriers last week before being scratched. The relation to Cox Plate winner Maldivian has ability but we’re still waiting to see it.
7. CARESS YOUR SOUL sped along in the lead last start over 1100m before being headed by Cognac and Thirsty Work. She looks a pure speed filly so back to 1000m should suit the daughter of Street Boss.
SUGGESTED SELECTIONS: 4-6-1-7
SUGGESTED BET: 4. Portalian – EACH WAY
Race 2 - 12:33PM PERTH RACING YOUNG MEMBERSHIP HANDICAP (1600 METRES) – FULL FIELD
9. SHOW HONEY is looking for three in a row after winning a maiden at Ascot first up before beating her own age (three-year-olds) on Saturday 3 June. Both of those wins were over 1200m but the most recent in Saturday class suggested that the daughter of Showcasing is looking for further. Out to 1600m is the key positive.
1. GEIGER GEM ran a nice second last start when narrowly beaten by No Say In It. No Say In It has since come out and run a narrow second against the older horses so the form looks solid. Carrying 60kg is the query but the slight gear change and good draw are both positives to help attract betting support.
3. RICH RED will start at big odds after having excuses for two seemingly poor performances on paper. Two starts ago he was badly hampered and desperately unlucky in the straight behind No Say In It (the same race contested by Geiger Gem) and last start he pulled up with a slightly elevated heart rate in the WA Day Cup (1600m) at Northam where he didn’t look to travel at all near the rear of the field. A more positive ride should see him bring his best to the track and is worth a speck at the big odds.
5. KIMBO'S GIRL receives the services of now senior rider Aaron Mitchell. Mitchell has sat on the filly only once under raceday conditions and was beaten by Glimmer Girl at Northam on Thursday 27 October in 2016 on that occasion. Despite coming from off the speed last start, she looks to be the likely leader on paper. The daughter of Patronize should be rock hard fit to hold on to a placing as she might just be level below the better three-year-olds.
SUGGESTED SELECTIONS: 9-1-3-5
SUGGESTED BET: 3. Rich Red – PLACE
Race 3 - 1:13PM TABTOUCH HANDICAP (2100 METRES) – FULL FIELD
3. MY MAGIC MISS is a mare in fantastic form and there is no reason to drop off now. There was a lot to like about her win last start when Joseph Azzopardi took off at the 1000m mark to loop the entire field in what was a true staying test. Barrier one may be cause for some concern as Azzopardi (who keeps the ride) will probably want to get out and rolling early again. But trust that the in-form hoop can get the job done again from the awkward draw.
5. DARK MUSKET gets the blinkers added to find a length or two after an ok sixth last start behind My Magic Miss. He drew inside last start and failed to hold a prominent position which was probably the difference between him challenging for the win and finishing where he did. Expect rider Dan Staeck to make a move at about the 600 to 500m mark and finish off strongly. Don’t forget, this horse was Group One-placed behind Perfect Reflection and Delicacy...
1. RESPONDENT hit the line well last start in the same race as My Magic Miss and Dark Musket. He peaked on his run about 100m out which is no surprise in hindsight as he was stepping up to 2000m after running in the 1200m Roma Cup. The former Derby winner will get every conceivable chance to win from barrier three.
2. NORTH RIDGE found the line well in the same race as the aforementioned three runners. Randy Tan keeps the ride after finding a plum spot in running last start before finishing a narrow second. He will handle the 2100m without question.
SUGGESTED SELECTIONS: 3-5-1-2
SUGGESTED BET: 5. Dark Musket – PLACE
Race 4 - 1:53PM KIRIN MEGUMI HANDICAP (1200 METRES) – FULL FIELD
1. MAD BRAD drops in class to benchmark 66+ grade after running well behind the likes of State Solicitor, Red Paddy and Just Act Natural in 72+ grade. Despite being allotted the top weight of 61kg by the handicapper, Randy Tan’s 2kg claim will be a key factor to the gelding’s chances. A nose away from State Solicitor first up and an unlucky 11th last start should see him go close to winning this moderate affair.
5. THE CELT won nicely last start in tricky six-horse three-year-old field. He registered good time on that occasion and beat Top Of The Class and Sweet Ora. Back to Belmont where his record reads four starts for two wins and two seconds is another significant factor when making wagering decisions.
4. SWEET ORA is yet to win this preparation due to racing against older horses and lugging big weights against her own age. She gets the right draw in barrier three and Clint Johnston-Porter claims down to 57kg. Let’s hope she shows her best and can register a win for connections.
7. PRESENTATIE actually wasn’t bad last start when running on into seventh over the unsuitable trip of 1000m. Expect vast improvement out to 1200m especially with the speed expected from The Celt, Lenience and Secret Doubt.
SUGGESTED SELECTIONS: 1-5-4-7
SUGGESTED BET: 1. Mad Brad – EACH WAY
Race 5 - 2:29PM AMELIA PARK LODGE HANDICAP (1000 METRES) – FULL FIELD
2. SLIK SAM is a fresh specialist having won only two races and both of them when first up. His recent trial was excellent without blinkers and the important piece of focussing gear is applied for raceday. Aaron Mitchell elects Scalpel over this galloper which is a concern but his each-way price is too good to refuse.
5. SCALPEL’s win last start only looked fair to the eye but the time recorded of 57.72 was good after sitting outside of the leader. The two-year-old Illustrious Tycoon recorded a slightly faster time over 1000m on the same day but there did look to be improvement to come for Scalpel.
6. YEAH DARDY is a smart up-and-coming son of Demerit. The win last start in Wednesday grade was very good after trialling well prior. William Pike riding adds confidence for bettors as WA’s leading jockey is in great form after riding two winners at Belmont on Wednesday 14 June and four winners on Thursday 15 June at Pinjarra.
10. BOUNCE DOWN returns from a break after two solid trial hit outs. The light weight and soft draw could see him run a cheeky race at each-way odds.
SUGGESTED SELECTIONS: 2-5-6-10
SUGGESTED BET: 2. Slik Sam – EACH WAY
Race 6 - 3:05PM HEINEKEN HANDICAP (1400 METRES) – FULL FIELD
11. LUKE'S GOLD was well backed in betting last start before coming out and beating smart performers Karlakee Miss and Hopetoun. That was a weaker class race but this horse seems to relish the long Belmont Park straight and is two from two at the track. With a solid tempo expected, Luke’s Gold has the ability to run over the top of them once again.
5. DARK ROYALTY surprised many pundits when winning so impressively last start in equal grade. The expected solid tempo will suit this Kalgoorlie-based galloper as we saw him sprint wonderfully to put away a handy field last time out off a fast speed. The inside draw suits again.
8. WAR GOD has been in fantastic form this preparation without winning. Runner-up last start behind Dark Royalty and second the start prior as well behind State Solicitor all read well leading into this race. Brad Parnham may be forced to ride the gelding slightly colder which won’t be the worst thing for the son of War Chant as he does possess a turn of speed.
2. ASTRONOMITE had excuses two starts ago when pulling up with an elevated heart rate after sitting three-wide. However, the son of Medaglia D’Oro had no excuses when finishing third last after box-seating behind the leader last time out. Back to 1400m is the key to seeing the gelding return to his best. The wide draw will actually suit if apprentice Fred W Kersley can get cover. An improver at odds.
SUGGESTED SELECTIONS: 11-5-8-2
SUGGESTED BET: 11. Luke’s Gold – EACH WAY
Race 7 - 3:45PM HYPERION STAKES (1600 METRES) – FULL FIELD
1. SCALES OF JUSTICE doesn’t need much of an introduction. The reigning Railway Stakes winner was desperately unlucky first up over 1400m in the Group Three Belmont Sprint. He was caught three-wide and was beaten by a very good sprinter in Rock Magic, which had all of the favours in running. The margin was only a neck so when considering ground covered, it was a mighty, mighty effort by the Group One winner. Dan Staeck will have no worries leading from barrier five and should be winning comfortably. If there is one caveat for the likely favourite, it’s the unanswerable question of how much that gut-busting first up run took out of him. On class and form though, he should be winning.
3. DISPOSITION is the obvious second pick after flashing home late in the Belmont Sprint to claim third. The multiple Group One runner-up tracked into the race beautifully from the second half of the field before getting clear at the 250m mark to set sail for the frontrunners. 1600m is no concern as he may never have won over the distance but has placed at Group One level behind Lucky Hussler over the mile.
2. IHTSAHYMN hit the line wonderfully well in the Group Three Roma Cup over the unsuitable distance of 1200m. He is a weight-for-age performer which should find the wire well again heading towards his grand final, the Group Three Strickland Stakes (2000m).
4. ZARANTZ has been freshened up since winning the 3200m WA Cup and trialled very swiftly over 950m at Lark Hill on Tuesday 6 June. He was narrowly beaten in this race last year by Wink And A Nod and he should hit the line strongly again as he is a class runner. He is another which will be primed for the Strickland Stakes.
SUGGESTED SELECTIONS: 1-3-2-4
SUGGESTED BET: 2. Ihtsahymn – PLACE
Race 8 - 4:25PM JAMES BOAG'S PREMIUM HANDICAP (1600 METRES) – FULL FIELD
8. HUMANITY steps out to 1600m for the first time since contesting the Group Two Sky Racing-WA Guineas last year. He should be fit fourth up and appreciate the mile as he is by versatile middle distance sire Al Maher and out of O’Reilly mare Zumanity, which was Group Two-placed over 2400m. He can beat the older horses at a price here.
12. ROYAL ATTRACTION found the line excitingly last start when first up over 1500m at Pinjarra. That win spelled big things for her preparation moving forward. Watch for her to run on powerfully from well back in the field.
11. JETOOMY has hit the line well at his two starts this preparation. Out to 1600m should see him show his best and he will get better over even further. Lucy Warwick rides for father Justin and a win would not surprise.
10. AIRLIE SUN won the WA Cup nicely last start with thanks to a strong ride from Jason Whiting. The inside draw will see him get all of the favours in running and the son of Haradasun should be able to contest the finish.
SUGGESTED SELECTIONS: 2-12-11-10
SUGGESTED BET: 8 Humanity – EACH WAY
HAVING A BET?
BEST BET: Race 3 – 3. My Magic Miss
BEST VALUE: Race 4 – 1. Mad Brad
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