Belmont Saturday Perth Racing Preview BY JOSH RODDER The track is a Good (2) as of Friday lunchtime. The penetrometer is 5.9. (Perth measurements are different to those in the Eastern States, because of a different sand based track.) The rail moves out to nine metres to avoid wear and tear on the inside pad. It was true last Saturday and six metres midweek. There has been 12ml of rain since last Saturday, but the surface will be very firm for racing – note that times were very fast last week. Track manager Gordon Menzies has watered the track this week, including on Friday. FORECAST: SATURDAY – EARLY SHOWER, THEN FINE. MIN 11, MAX 20
Race 1– Baileys Coffee Hcp [3YO+] [Open 81+] 2000m 2:55pm [EST] Hard to find any betting value in the first and it will pay to tread warily in a distance race with a small field. There’s little to no speed, so I expect them to dawdle, with turn of foot or an early tactical move an advantage. Friar’s Touch (1) and Marine Drive (4) should dictate the speed. Peter Giadresco has done a terrific job to get genuine galloper Friar’s Touch back to Saturday winning metro form. Last week Duncan Miller gave Friar’s Touch a superb ride in a fast-run 2000m race when they smashed the track record of Star Encounter. There is enough in his career form card to say he will back up and, and with Duncan Miller again claiming 2kg, he should get every possible chance. It’s hard to tip against winning form in a race devoid of winners. Marine Drive is very honest and is racing in top form. There is a small weight turnaround on Friar’s Touch for a ¾-length defeat last week, so he will keep the favourite honest. Goldtown (2) is not a true stayer, so a walk and sprint home over 2000 metres will probably suit. He can sprint quickly and
Peter Hall is one of the best distance jockeys in the state. His record aboard Goldtown is tip-top, with four winning rides from five WA successes. Impact Rating (3) is genuine and if it does turn into a staying test, he is the best stayer. His past two Kalgoorlie runs were very good for a race like this.
and still has upside in this campaign. Boorara Road (6) did not have much luck last start, when hitting the line stylishly for a second to Mineours Luck. He has a second at this distance range to Ma Chienne at Bunbury during the round. With the speed on, he will zoom to the line. King Kool Kat does not win, but always gives his all. With a light weight he will give loads of cheek from the front.
VERDICT Try to nail a multiple bet as skinny as you possibly can. (1) Friar’s Touch to beat (4) Marine Drive, the Wolfe pair of (2) Goldtown and (3) Impact Rating, with (5) Tearinupthecountry a definite for a place.
Race 2 – Baileys Irish Cream Hcp [74-86] [3YO+] 1650m, 3:35pm [EST] This is not the strongest race; again, play it safe and wait for the better-class races as the day proceeds. Expecting a genuinely run race despite the small field, with King Kool Kat (7) and Black Douglas (5) dictating front end pressure. Expect Brave Knight (2) to lob in a sweet 1 x 1 trailing spot and Dress Suit (1) to box seat. Brave Knight has found the right race on the seven-day turnaround following a much better showing last week. I know he had every possible chance last start, but he ran two form horses to a ½ head x neck and was holding the margin in the run to the line. Three starts back he was good enough to finish within a length of Reverend Lovejoy in the Coolgardie Cup and in this grade, with the run he is going to receive, he gets a great chance to break back into the winner’s stall. He has a superb back-up record – eight days into the Coolgardie Cup and he has won at Ascot off a three day back-up. Duncan Miller must be credited for his improvement since joining leading WA trainer Neville Parnham’s set-up. He has really taken a step in the right direction and could be in for a big day if he gets it right. The favourite Brunello (4) was strong to the line with 59kg, winning at Kalgoorlie during the round, and the second placed Eden Park has since franked the form with an honest midweek Belmont second. He will get a cushy run from a favourable draw (2)
VERDICT Keen to gamble on (2) Brave Knight, with (4) Brunello the danger. (6) Boorara Road, (7) King Kool Kat, (1) Dress Suit and (5) Black Douglas place claims.
Race 3 – Kilkenny Hcp [3YO] [Open] [65+] 1000m, 4:15pm [EST] Some promising young horses will try to emulate juvenile season form as they take on one of the fastest horses in the state, Kid Choisir (1). Many resume without a trial. Watch the clock because they will be cooking with early. Either Kid Choisir or (2) For Your Eyes Only will lead, with Black Nijinsky (3) handy. Kid Choisir has been oh so impressive winning three from three this time in, and staking his claim as a three-year-old who can give his older rivals a big shake in the Festival of Perth Racing feature sprints. Last start, when taking on older horses for the first time, he sat outside a 23.73 lead time, and cruised away to an authoritative victory. Behind him were the talented subsequent winner Shock Value and experienced speedster but well-beaten fourth Centrum, who subsequently gave unbeaten sprinter Hay List a real race. Yes, KC has 60kg, but over 1000m with the experience of Paul Harvey, who has only taken two rides with the lightest at 56kg, the impost will present no problem. Kid Choisir has a wonderful temperament, walking around the mounting yard nearly half asleep, a terrific quality for a horse who will eventually travel east to compete. The Corporation (4) raced without luck in his two-year-old year, including an unlucky fourth in the Magic Millions. There was a