Belmont Saturday Perth Racing Preview BY JOSH RODDER Track is a Slow (6) as of Friday lunchtime; penetrometer is 6.4 (Perth measurements are different to those in the Eastern States, because of a different sand based track). The rail moves back to the inside position. It was nine metres last Saturday and 15m midweek. There was 18ml of rain on Thursday night and 50ml for the week, with more showers predicted. According to track manager Gordon Menzies the pad in the inside position is in good shape. FORECAST – A FEW SHOWERS EASING BY THE AFTERNOON. MODERATE TO FRESH W/SW WINDS. MIN. 11
MAX. 18
dominating. Last start before a break, at Pinjarra, he led on his ear, dominated and won with his head on his chest. I reckon he is in a similar vein of form. In his early days he was a barrier rogue, but he has always shown ability and suggested he would eventually make a genuine Saturday grade horse when his quirks were ironed out. From barrier three he should get a charmed, onspeed run and prove hard to get past. It is wide open outside him. Kenile (14) was enormous first-up for new stable when he made early run at leaders from well back and stuck on bravely. He finished alongside Colour Correct and Goldy Junior in that race – they have won well midweek to frank that form line. His win was at Ascot last October when running down Volcanic Causeway, so we know the ability is there. Mr Nicoffski (4) should have won clearly last start and gets a nice run in transit. Julimar Boy (12) was out of luck last start at Belmont behind Kim Currency, and if they do overcook it in front, look out – he will be sweeping home in conditions he will appreciate.
Races 1-4 Race 1 -1/2,3,5,7
VERDICT
Race 2 - 2,1/3,6,7,4,9
Best bet of the day is (10) Delta Bay, so bet accordingly. (14) Kenile is the value, with (4) Mr Nocffski and (12) Julimar Boy. Include (8) Let's Go Secret, (1) Game Park, (7) I'm A Toff and (6) Gloting in wider multiples.
Race 3 - 6,5/4,7,8/2,1 Race 4 - 7,12/6,2,4/9,5
QUADDIE FIRST LEG
Race 5 – Perth Racing TV Hcp [3YO+] [Entires & Gelding] [62-74] 1200m, 5:10pm [EST] Not huge depth to this race, which is expected to be run at an even tempo, with very little exposed pressure. Game Park (1) will be prominent from inside gate, with Delta Bay (10) either on his outside or crossing to lead. These two can dictate terms to suit themselves. I am extremely keen on the chances of Delta Bay. This lightly raced five-year-old has not finished out of the money in five starts and returns from a spell here. Outstanding horseman Bruce Watkins has fitted his charge with three trials at Lark Hill for his first-up assault, and his last trial was the most impressive of the three – he led and
QUADDIE SECOND LEG
Race 6 – Be A Perth Racing Corporate Member Hcp [68-80] [3yo+] 1600m 5:50pm [EST] Competitive race that will be run at a genuine tempo, with pressure on throughout, giving all horses their winning chance. Black Douglas (11) can lead, with Airforce (14) and Rocky Range (2) crossing from wide gates to apply pressure. Volcanic Causeway (9) next in handy position. I am quite keen on Gondorff (7) again. His last win had to be seen to be believed – no hope at the 200 metres, before seeing
daylight inside the final 100 metres and descending on the leaders to score. A son of Montjeu, he was always going to appreciate the wider open spaces of Belmont with the fire out of the ground, and his last two runs when ridden quietly from wide gates have been enormous. I just hope from the nice barrier they don’t fall into the trap of riding him more positively. Quiet ride means awesome finishing burst! From barrier three he will lob closer, three back the fence and with daylight in the straight should win again. He is on trial for a trip to Kalgoorlie in September. Rocky Range is ready to win. Loomed large last time against Kasabian and just peaked on his run. Looks cherry ripe now, but the barrier does not help his chances. He is the horse to get past. Midtime (8) is a gay deceiver who is forever running on. He will be suited with the speed on and watch for him late again. On The Warpath (10) had no luck first-up at 1200m and rises quickly to 1600m, where William Pike, if positive, can use the outside pressure to lob fifth or sixth, one off the fence. From there he will get his chance. Last Curtain (12) is always a chance with the right run – two starts back he blew away lesser opposition. If he can tuck away midfield and spend no petrol, he will be launching late.
VERDICT Bet with confidence on (7) Gondorff. Next are (2) Rocky Range, (8) Midtime, (10) On The Warpath and (12) Last Curtain. Include (1) Lord Lonsdale, (9) Volcanic Causeway, (15) Mystical Xaar, (16) Vain Spirit, (5) Royal Cobra and (6) Burnzy in wide exotics.
QUADDIE THIRD LEG
Race 7 – Goodwood Sprint [Listed] [3YO+] [Open] 1300m, 6:25pm [EST] The feature event for the afternoon is a cracker! There is not lot of front end pressure expected, with Star Laser (3) likely to take up the slack, with Megatic (2) on his hammer. Expect Idyllic Prince (4) and Escadaire (8) to be handy from nice draws.
The track condition is the key here. If Belmont holds up to the rain we have had (and expect on Saturday morning), Megatic is the clear top pick. He has two wet track runs in Sydney where he failed to fire, so that has to be a query. Belmont is the best winter track in the land, especially considering the rain and traffic it has to handle. For that reason Megatic should be okay in the going. The only Group 1 winner in the race, he ideally placed at weight for age – he would be giving away plenty of weight under normal handicap conditions. He is on trial for an east coast mission, where if he encounters dry tracks, he will be a player in races like the Toorak and Waterford Crystal Mile. From barrier seven here he should camp outside the lead and prove the horse to beat. Last start in the Bolton (1200m, Listed May 9) gave he away 7kgs to top class young galloper Grand Nirvana and came up short by a nose. If he handles the conditions he wins. Save on Idyllic Prince who trialled really well earlier in the week. He won this race last year after a similar trial performance and he was right with Megatic at the finish of the Bolton Sprint (fourth), but he meets that horse 5kgs worse. He is by Scenic and will handle the conditions, however barrier one means he will need to be ridden more forward than usual. He will be finishing strongly. Escadaire is on track for the Hannans at Kalgoorlie and following a gem of a Harvey ride proved too strong for Vain Raider in the Newmarket (1200m, Listed) two weeks back. Harder here at weight for age, but he will look the winner at some stage. The big improver will be Classy Nugget (10) who raced without luck first-up. He showed last year he was well and truly up to this level. Beat The Storm (6) was the other eyecatching run out of the Newmarket (fifth) and he will be thereabouts.
VERDICT Back (2) Megatic and save on (4) Idyllic Prince. (8) Escadaire is the next pick. Include (10) Classy Nugget, (6) Beat The Storm, (3) Star Laser, (9) Foxy Boy and (1) Guyno in wider multiples.
will be speed galore and intense front end pressure. Solidwickedcruel (3), Late Night Flight (11), Legend Express (5) and Amianan (4) will all be right there early. Eagle Rock (7) box seats, with Halo Pass (10) and Brunello (12) handy. I am leaning to Eagle Rock who dominated his rivals after a well-judged front-running ride by Jess Hill over 1400m here on August 9. Only just broke 50 seconds for the first 800 metres, then went for home on the corner and won with something in hand. He is still on the way up after four runs this time in. His form in Sydney was exceptional around the likes of Chasm on rain-affected tracks. He will get the right run again and will take plenty of running down again. Brave Knight (2) suggested he was in for a very good campaign, following a solid effort firstup third behind Eagle Rock. He zipped home in a sub-34 seconds final 600-metre section and from barrier five with William Pike on board will loom large. It could be a great way for Pike to say goodbye to Perth as he embarks on a Hong Kong riding stint this weekend. Henry The Pharoah (14), the horse with the wrongly spelt name, flashed home from near the tail of the field first-up when 2nd to Kim Currency over 1200m here on August 9. His second up form off a let-up is very good. He will go back from his wide gate – watch for him flying late. Important that Steven Parnham carries his stick in the left hand with Henry’s tendency to lay in badly. The big improver can be Brunello. Blinkers go back on and he pulled up with mucous in his trachea last start when near last to Kim Star here on August 1. His form with blinkers in Melbourne was excellent and he is much better than his last run suggests.
VERDICT Back (7) Eagle Rock and save on (2) Brave Knight, with winning claims to (14) Henry The Pharoah and (12) Brunello. Any of (6) Silent Hero, (1) Broome Time, (8) Found And Kept, (9) Striken and (11) Late Night Flight would not surprise.
BEST BETS Race 5 – No. 10, Delta Bay
QUADDIE FOURTH LEG
Race 8 - Ascot Vale Estate Handicap, [74-86], [3YO+], 1400m, 7:05pm [EST] A tough race if you are trying to get out. Destino (13) is an early scratching. There
Race 6 – No. 7 Gondorrf
VALUE BET Race 4 – No 7 Condy Park, each way
QUADDIE (FOR 50 CENTS) 1,4,10,12,14/2,7,8,10,12/2,4,8/1,2,6,7,8,9,1 1,12,14 ($337.50) 4,10,12,14/2,7,10/2,4,8/1,2,6,7,8,9,11,12,14 ($162) 10/7/2,4,8/Field ($21)
Good luck and happy punting! Tune in to all the racing action from the west with the PR.Com subscriber's package for $200 a year - just $4 a week. Josh Rodder www.perthracing.com.au