Expected weather: Partly Cloudy 17°C
Expected track rating: SOFT5 – SOFT7
Rail position: 7m
Race 1 - 12:38pm 2017 Freshman Sires Plate (1400 Metres) – Full Field
OVERVIEW: Three last start winners and two debutants are among the 11 juveniles set to compete. Boom filly Ocean Jewel is one of the aforementioned last start winners which won impressively on debut over 1200m. The Simon Miller-trained filly looks to get to the lead comfortably and dictate terms. Al Capitano was forward on debut when run down by Pearl Trade and could be another which strides forward from barrier nine. Tempo will be at a premium as Ocean Jewel should get her own way out in front.
9. OCEAN JEWEL got further back than expected last start but Jospeh Azzopardi managed to pick his way through along the inside of the Belmont Park straight to record a nice debut win over 1200m. Out in distance to 1400m should suit.
6. AL CAPITANO sat just off Time On My Side last start when beaten by Pearl Trade. The son of Al Maher should appreciate the step up in distance and don’t be surprised to see Steven Parnham roll forward from barrier nine with no other pressure.
4. HONORFIC won nicely two starts ago over 1400m and then was good again to the line when running second behind Trackta over the same distance. Two runs over 1400m is a big positive leading into this.
3. TRACKTA got the better of Honorfic last start after being beaten by that galloper prior. They go head-to-head again and Trackta is another which has the fitness under his belt. A likely type moving forward.
SUGGESTED SELECTIONS: 9-6-4-3
SUGGESTED BET: 9. Ocean Jewel – WIN
Race 2 - 1:18pm Awesome Rock Handicap (1400 Metres) – Full Field
OVERVIEW: Five runners come into the race with good form, having either won or placed at their most recent starts. Detango is one of those last start winners and Friaresque will appreciate getting out to 1400m after running third last start. Speed will come from the inside in the way of Scottish Trader and Checkers. Men Of Mukinbudin, Cubitt And Cundy and Harry Thomas will all push forward too. Expect Harry Thomas to lead and the tempo to be solid.
1. DETANGO is in great form and is looking for three in a row. She is a very nice progressive mare which will appreciate the step up to 1400m. The soft track should not be an issue and Clint Johnston-Porter’s 1.5kg claim down to 57.5kg will come in handy.
6. FRIARESQUE has shown plenty of ability in his 10-start career. The son of Blackfriars was excellent second up over the seemingly unsuitable trip of 1200m. He is another which will improve third up and out to 1400m.
3. CHECKERS is such an honest galloper. Was gritty when second last start behind Detango and the start before behind Gomer Wipple, when also second. The good draw should see him forward with cover.
8. CUBITT AND CUNDY’s recent trial was very good and he appreciates the softer track at Belmont. Jason Brown can push forward and find a forward spot in running before running on strongly. He just needs a little bit of luck to go his way at the big odds.
SUGGESTED SELECTIONS: 1-6-3-8
SUGGESTED BET: 1. Detango – WIN
Race 3 - 1:58pm King's Troop At Taunton Vale Handicap (1000 Metres) – Full Field
OVERVIEW: Four last start winners Gold Shimmer, Two Silver Trees, Vandemonian and Kramden meet in a race where they are sure to go fast. Expect Pop Hero to be forward with cover and Kramden, Two Silver Trees, Stirling Estate and Greco to all be near the speed.
10. I AM INCREDIBLE is a gelding which doesn’t settle well in running and will appreciate the solid tempo to aid that drawback. He can sit just off them and go bang in the straight.
4. VANDEMONIAN has won three of his last four and is flying at the moment. He is another which will appreciate the solid tempo and sit just off the frontrunners before sprinting late in the straight.
2. POP HERO is a noted soft tracker which draws well after being caught wide last start from the awkward draw. He was only 1.25 lengths away from Vandemonian on that day and meets him better at the weights.
1. GOLD SHIMMER won nicely last start when second up. Apprentice Fred W Kersley claims 3kg off his back should get a lovely run along the fence. It should be a push button ride from the good draw but hope that Kersley can hold on to his whip after dropping it at a crucial stage of the race last start. Gold Shimmer still won so no harm, no foul.
SUGGESTED SELECTIONS: 10-4-2-1
SUGGESTED BET: 10. I Am Incredible – WIN
Race 4 - 2:33pm Lucky Street At Darling View Thoroughbreds Hcp (1200 Metres) – Full Field
OVERVIEW: It’s a rare occurrence when maternal siblings race against each other but it takes place here with Mad Brad and Flying Time going head-to-head in another speed-riddled race. Majinika will go forward from the good draw, Star Glitter will be prominent, Proceedwithcaution will be close with the top weight of 61kg and Delicate Miss and Lenience are natural ‘go forward’ horses.
6. MAD BRAD appears to get the run of the race from barrier three and receives the riding services of Jarrad Noske. His soft track record and the senior going on are two major positives.
10. THE CELT is worth forgiving last start as he didn’t handle the seven-day back-up and finished down the track. There is a lot to like about this galloper jumping from barrier one with senior rider Patrick Carbery on. His six start record at Belmont is also a positive having won twice and placed three times on the winter track. One to watch closely.
8. FLYING TIME enjoys his runs spaced and hasn’t raced since Saturday 3 June when he put in an even performance behind Dark Royalty. Flowing into the race with speed on will suit.
7. THUNDERCLAP NEWMAN has to be included at the big odds first up. The son of Song Of Tara doesn’t usually go over 1200m but the soft track brings him right into play. The recent trial was good too.
SUGGESTED SELECTIONS: 6-10-8-7
SUGGESTED BET: 6. Mad Brad – WIN
Race 5 - 3:10pm Rommel At Mogumber Park Handicap (2100 Metres) – Full Field
OVERVIEW: After skipping the Group Three Strickland Stakes last week, Rosewood Hill drops back to this much easier benchmark 66+ event where she looks hard to beat on recent form. Fathoms Of Gold will obviously lead but he hasn’t been himself and shown his usual free-flowing brilliance out in front this preparation so the tempo he goes at is a query. Verdello Blue won’t be far off him either. Tempo will be genuine if Fathoms Of Gold bowls along like we’ve become accustomed to.
4. NOT AGAIN KEN has shown a lightning turn of foot in his two recent wins and, on breeding, he should handle the soft going as his dam won twice and placed four times from nine attempts on rain-affected going.
1. ROSEWOOD HILL is obviously a smart customer having won four of her last five starts. She will be hard to beat but apprentice Fred W Kersley will have to think his way through the race from barrier one.
12. NO SAY IN IT ran a blinder for fourth in the Belmont Guineas after getting back to last in running. He has trialled recently as Lindsey Smith obviously thought that he needed a hit out for fitness. The three-year-old should be up to this with the light weight, Pike on board and from barrier two.
10. JETOOMY was brave last start when running on for fifth after sitting three-wide without cover. There will be no such issue from barrier three and he will be in the finish.
SUGGESTED SELECTIONS: 4-1-12-10
SUGGESTED BET: 4. Not Again Ken – EACH WAY
Race 6 - 3:45pm Aquanita Stakes (2000 Metres) – Full Field
OVERVIEW: According to ratings, this is a race in two and Variation and Gatting are miles ahead of the rest of the field. Noble King looks to make the running from the inside draw while Western Temple and Dusty Storm will not be far away. Tempo will be slow depending on the tactics adopted by Peter Knuckey on Noble King but Variation will need luck to slot in from the widest draw.
2. GATTING won the WATC Derby earlier this year so he has proven staying prowess. Along with that staying ability, he has the brilliance and turn of foot which saw him win the time-honoured feature in April. Out to 2000m after an excellent 1600m run in the Belmont Guineas, he looks hard to beat.
1. VARIATION steps out beyond 1600m for the first time in his career. He has all of the ability but whether he can stay the extra 400m is the query. The awkward gate is a concern too but trust that Brad Parnham can weave his magic like he did last start in the Belmont Guineas. He wears saddlecloth one for a reason…
3. WESTERN TEMPLE will be prominent in running and is another which can improve out to 2000m. The son of Dream Ahead might still be a few lengths off the top two though.
6. JACKPOT PRINCE put in a marvellous staying performance last start when sitting three-wide for the entire 2100m journey at Belmont on Wedensday 28 June. He can clearly stay so it will be interesting to see the tactics taken up by rider Joseph Azzopardi.
SUGGESTED SELECTIONS: 2-1-3-6
SUGGESTED BET: 2. Gatting – WIN
Race 7 - 4:20pm New Kids On The Block-Belmont Oaks (2000 Metres) – Full Field
OVERVIEW: A competitive race for the fillies but the class factor is lacking with the Elegant Blast the top-rated galloper. The only leader on paper looked to be Thunder Boom but the blinkers come off suggesting that they might try to ride her cold. Otherwise the lead will be up for grabs so don’t be surprised to see a muddling run race.
8. PERFECT DREAM ran on well last start into third behind Jackpot Prince over 2100m. She is by Commands so she will handle the soft track and William Pike rides the polished daughter of VRC Oaks placegetter Storm Alert. A bright staying future awaits.
6. IMAGINARY is the least fancied runner of Grant and Alana Williams’ team but looks to get the run of the race behind a slow speed. Peters Investments horses never lead so she’ll be sitting off whichever galloper does decide to take up the running.
3. FONTAINEBLEAU has a wicked turn of speed as we saw two starts ago when winning over 1700m. The daughter of Alfred Nobel was sound to the line last start but you would have preferred to see her savage it. Back out to 2000m will suit the Lynward Park Stud-owned filly.
1. ELEGANT BLAST hit the line strongly last start in the Belmont Guineas despite sitting three-wide without cover for the whole trip. Lucy Warwick elects this galloper over stablemate Vain Stryker.
SUGGESTED SELECTIONS: 8-6-3-1
SUGGESTED BET: 8. Perfect Dream – EACH WAY
Race 8 - 4:55pm It Just Has To Be Vert De Grece Handicap (1600 Metres) – Full Field
OVERVIEW: A very competitive benchmark 72+ race to finish off the day. Don’t be surprised to Stocks roll across to the front from barrier 11 with the apprentice on board. Now is the time to be positive as the gelding has fitness on his side and enjoys softer tracks. Don’t be surprised to see Saker sit handier in running. There doesn’t appear to be a heck of a lot of tempo in the race.
5. LUKE'S GOLD won well last start and seems to have a genuine affinity with the Belmont Park surface and course. It could have something to do with him being a handy horse too. He will be running on strongly.
1. STOCKS can glide over from the wide draw and take up the running without doing too much work. Last year’s Listed Farnley Stakes winner is ready to win.
12. SAKER can sit handier in running and should be better with the run under his belt last week after a month-long let up.
4. GRANLARADO ran on strongly last week in the soft going when first up. The one week between runs is a little concern but the horse must be doing well and he appreciates the soft going.
SUGGESTED SELECTIONS: 5-1-12-4
SUGGESTED BET: 5. Luke’s Gold – WIN
HAVING A BET?
BEST BET: Race 3 – 10. I Am Incredible
BEST VALUE: Race 4 – 7. Thunderclap Newman
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