Race 1 - 11:53AM TABTOUCH PLATE (1300 METRES)
THE WINNER
Jarrad Noske elected to take up the running just before the 800m mark on Salubrious and it proved to be the winning move. Once in the lead, it was a matter of trying to hold off the short-priced favourite Street Fury, which he did, before connections defended a protest successfully.
THE GOOD
Ouqba Jack still wanted to do things wrong in the run but managed to work home nicely along the inside to record the fastest last 600m sectional of the race. There’s a win and a bright future ahead of him.
THE BAD
$1.40 favourite Street Fury led early before handing up to eventual winner Salubrious. She had every possible chance to run him down but wasn’t good enough on the day. Still worth following.
FASTEST LAST 600M
Ouqba Jack – 35.97
Race 2 - 12:33PM D'ORSOGNA HANDICAP (1000 METRES)
THE WINNER
The race was set up perfectly for Pretentious Chant which recorded a career best effort when winning in benchmark 72+ grade. 23.51 seconds for the first 400m was clocked by Chinetti in the lead so they went fast and the backmarkers ran on accordingly. Pretentious Chant should go on with it after promising a lot early on in his career.
THE GOOD
It’s It rode the speed once again and was excellent to hang on second. He has races like the Beaufine Stakes and HG Bolton Sprint at his mercy.
THE BAD
More Aces seemed to have the dream run in transit, behind the leaders, and the form on the board to suggest a good effort but he tailed off to finish a bad last. No abnormalities were recorded after the event.
FASTEST LAST 600M
Woolibar – 33.83
Race 3 - 1:13PM AUTO CLASSIC BMW HANDICAP (1200 METRES)
THE WINNER
Clint Johnston-Porter was necessarily aggressive when winning on Karlakee Miss after enjoying a dream run in the race, just behind the leaders. Johnston-Porter managed to squeeze through a run along the inside, in the straight, and connections would have been happy to see the smart filly hold off Top Of The Class, Friaresque and Royal Missile.
THE GOOD
Top Of The Class, Friaresque and Royal Missile all worked home well late to hit the line within ½ of a length of the winner. Top Of The Class was excellent back to 1200m and staying at 1200m for Friaresque didn’t seem to be an issue. The former will likely be kept to sprint trips while the latter should improve over further.
THE BAD
The Celt was disappointing considering he looked to get every possible chance in running after settling on the rail. He did get trapped behind the fading Veuve De Vega but, on form, should have finished off better than he did. Trainer Vaughn Sigley mentioned that the gelding may not have handled the seven-day back-up.
FASTEST LAST 600M
Royal Missile – 34.60
Race 4 - 1:53PM SCHWEPPES HANDICAP (1600 METRES)
THE WINNER
Luke’s Gold flew home from the rear of the field after sitting three-wide with cover and won narrowly with the featherweight of 52kg on his back. Randy Tan is riding in great form and Vaughn Sigley’s recent strike rate is excellent.
THE GOOD
Astronomite put his poor form behind him with a grinding run-on effort after sitting three wide for the trip. He finished third and was only a couple of lengths off the winner, which followed him everywhere he went. Stocks looks to be up to peak fitness and is not far off a win. A soft track will suit him.
THE BAD
Helms Gate was solidly backed into $2.80 favouritism but gave nothing after lovely run in transit on the fence. In hindsight, the fence may not have been the place to be in running. No abnormalities were found after the race.
FASTEST LAST 600M
Luke’s Gold – 35.89
Race 5 - 2:28PM LAVAZZA HANDICAP (1000 METRES)
THE WINNER
In what was a bunched field all of the way through the race, Vandemonian rattled home late after a quiet ride on the fence from Peter Knuckey. It was a deserved win after being unlucky last start. He has now won three of his last four starts.
THE GOOD
Last start winner Cherie Amour flashed home late for second after settling in the back half of the field. Third placegetter Cataplexic ran an enormous race for third at $81 after tying up last start when third last at Pinjarra. Massachusetts is not far off another win too.
THE BAD
Incredible Hulk was desperately unlucky when trapped behind tiring runners in the straight. He got clear late but is one to watch for next start.
FASTEST LAST 600M
Massachusetts – 33.90
Race 6 - 3:05PM PERTH RACING TWITTER HANDICAP (1200 METRES)
THE WINNER
Meteoroid bounced terrifically from barrier 10 and commenced forward to sit outside of leader Gigante. Once she shook off Gigante in the straight, Meteoroid was not for catching, registering her sixth career win.
THE GOOD
Candlelight Star and Just Magical rattled home from well back in the field. Candlelight Star will now move to Justin Warwick’s stable and be targeted towards more city class riches. Just Magical put the writing on the wall in his first run in Western Australia. There are wins in store.
THE BAD
Gigante looked to lead comfortably out in front before compounding in the straight. His effort in the Group Three Roma Cup when beaten by 2 ¼ lengths by Rock Magic may have flattened him for the rest of the preparation. He will now be sent for a spell.
FASTEST LAST 600M
Candlelight Star – 34.24
Race 7 - 3:45PM WAROA-BELMONT GUINEAS (1600 METRES)
THE WINNER
The best horse in the race won. Variation became the first horse to accomplish the WA Guineas-Belmont Guineas double with an exceptional win. The ride from Brad Parnham was one that will be fondly remembered after box-seating from barrier 11. Railway Stakes, here we come.
THE GOOD
Gatting found the line well but just laboured late with the lack of match fitness. The WATC Derby winner looks primed for the Listed Aquanita Stakes (2000m) and Listed Belmont Classic (2200m). No Say In It smashed through the line and the 2000m of the Aquanita Stakes will suit him to a tee.
THE BAD
Minus Looks had a seemingly trouble-free run in the lead but pulled up stumps with 200m to go. Leading may not have suited him and the inside part of the track also may not have been the place to be.
FASTEST LAST 600M
Gatting – 35.18
Race 8 - 4:25PM AMELIA PARK HANDICAP (2000 METRES)
THE WINNER
Not Again Ken showed his customary turn of speed in dazzling fashion once again, but this time out to 2000m. At his second time of trying at a distance over 1705m, the Mark Wright-trained galloper was super when winning by 1 ½ lengths under Glenn Smith. With a turn of foot like that, he will be winning many more races.
THE GOOD
10-year-old Verdello Blue was given a lovely ride by apprentice Fiona Bell and battled away to the line gamely to finish third and beaten only ¾ of a length. A win this preparation is not far away. Jetoomy was three-wide, without cover, at the back of the field and finished off his race superbly for fifth. Bergio took inside runs in the straight after settling in the second half of the field. The son of Demerit finished fourth and 3 ½ lengths off the winner for trainers Geoff Durrant and Jason Miller and jockey William Pike.
THE BAD
Cappo D’Oro was second again and for the fifth time in a row. A win should not be far away for the son of Medaglia D’Oro but how long can the punters stay faithful?
FASTEST LAST 600M
Bergio – 35.16
PERFORMANCE OF THE DAY
Two excellent performances were seen in the feature race of the day. The Listed WAROA-Belmont Guineas showcased our two best three-year-olds, winner Variation and runner-up Gatting. Reigning WA Guineas winner Variation clearly possesses a stack of ability and was treated to a superb ride by Brad Parnham to win. In defeat, recent WATC Derby winner Gatting was just as good running second and recording the fastest last 600m sectional of the race underneath Matthieu Autier. The cream truly rose to the top and the Aquanita Stakes over 2000m will be a mouth-watering contest, once again.
RIDE OF THE DAY
From the outside draw of barrier 11, Brad Parnham put the race beyond doubt after going 350m. Parnham slid forward on Variation and managed to push Western Temple on to the rail and enjoy the run of the race behind the two leaders. From there, it was hard to see the son of War Chant losing and, in the end, he did not let favourite punters down.
#BelmontParkPerth
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