Belmont Selections & Staking Plan: Wednesday 16th February

9 races to look forward to this afternoon at Belmont with a late start of 2:29pm due to the heat forecast. Rail out at the 12m pad.

Race 1 – 2:29PM GLENROY CHAFF MAIDEN (1000 METRES)

8. Harmika – 4. The Coolakin King – 5. Critical Altitude – 7. Vranyo

Harmika

Very stylish trial in lead up, huge on debut when 2nd behind Policere after being wide without cover throughout (2nd fastest L200 after torrid run) before being unsuited in a crawl, sit and sprint affair behind Red Fifty Three. Looks the one with the best exposed form and off the trial has a sense of class. Map looks awkward from barrier 8 for the returning CJP so only betting if we see our price.

3.5 Units WIN @$2.20+ SP

The Coolakin King

Have really liked trials, stable flying last 7 days, has tactical speed and looked to have plenty under the hood in all prior 3 trials. Nice draw to hold a spot or potentially even try lead.

0.5 Units WIN

Race 2 – 3:04PM CROWN PERTH MAIDEN (1650 METRES)

3. Sessions Peak – 13. La Galexia – 4. Lautre – 10. Valbani

Sessions Peak

I think Sessions Peak’s looks really hard to beat here. Comes out of high rating maiden over the track/trip where you could consider him very unlucky as he was chopped out badly once they straightened before finding a late split and just missing the bob on the post. As mentioned, very unlucky there I thought and happy to butter up, I thought the main dangers would settle further back in the field and Knuckey can take luck out of the equation and potentially even roll to the top, can sit on speed and be the one they have to run down.

1 Unit WIN

Race 3 – 3:38PM TABTOUCH BETTER YOUR BET HANDICAP (2200 METRES)

9. Champagne Gal – 3. Darcele – 2. Cafe Nera – 1. Rhythm Star

Race 4 – 4:10PM RELIABLE ASSET MAINTENANCE HANDICAP (1200 METRES)

7. Galaxy Cat – 1. Cobbanco – 8. No Dice – 3. Toppa The Mountain

Galaxy Cat

This horse has actually been backed from $16.00 into $8.00 since yesterday afternoon when I finished my form, so there’s been some really strong early support for Galaxy Cat who I thought was pretty big fresh up the Pinjarra straight. What was most impressive for me about that run was that she was the only on-speed horse to still be fighting out the race at the business end in that she settled 2nd in the run, and those who settled 1, 3 and 4 were all tailed off at the rear. She should get it quite soft out in front here back around a bend and thought she would you give you a great sight at an each-way quote.

1 Unit WIN

Cobbanco

The other horse that interests me here is Cobbanco, who is just an absolute line chaser. Hasn’t been beating anything too flash but has been doing it in races I’m not sure have been run completely to suit. This is the strongest field he has faced but he drops in weight after the claim for the apprentice and the 1200m is far more suitable than the 1000m which he was still able to win at last start. He’s a ripper and won’t be too far away from the action

1 Unit WIN

Race 5 – 4:40PM QUAYCLEAN HANDICAP (1200 METRES)

7. Reliable Choice – 2. Guard The Safe – 1. O’Laras Prince – 5. Dazzling Dane

Race 6 – 5:10PM FREE ENTRY TO BELMONT PARK HANDICAP (1200 METRES)

5. Arcadia Grace – 3. Gorgeous Gus – 1. Sir Rachelot – 10. Wise Words

Arcadia Grace

The race just really wasn’t run to suit for her last start, getting so far back off such a slow tempo and never in the hunt, still reeling off the fastest L800/600/400/200 splits of the race quite comfortably. For her to reach the heights expected of her early, she simply has to be taking care of this field. Am happy to bank on her doing so here today if we see our price.

3 Units WIN @$2.20+ SP

Race 7 – 5:40PM FURPHY BUNBURY CUP AT ASCOT 5TH MARCH HANDICAP (1300 METRES)

8. Pepper Assault – 7. No Mean Feet – 2. Sichern – 5. Irritable Rodnee

Pepper Assault

Pepper Assault was a complete forgive run 1st up at Pinjarra when caught off the track throughout on a really solid tempo. I thought prior to that run she trialled up very stylishly behind some types who would be very short in a field of this nature so I’m willing to rule a line through that and am expecting a much better showing here with a nice draw and a senior jockey going back on.

1 Unit WIN

No Mean Feet

He hasn’t won for almost 3 years but I think No Mean Feet is capable of giving a bit of cheek here at a big quote. Was very unlucky last start in what was a stronger CL3 event than this and think they can be a bit more aggressive here from the draw to find a spot either on-speed or just in behind. Lucy Warwick has been absolutely flying this past week and is booting home winners at any old prices and although its been a while between drinks, he definitely holds each-way claims in a very open race.

1 Unit WIN

Race 8 – 6:10PM AUTUMN ASCOT RACING CARNIVAL 19TH MARCH TO 25TH APRIL HCP (1400 METRES)

2. Phoneme – 5. Al Magico – 1. He’s A Lucky Lad – 4. Great Charade

Race 9 – 6:40PM MRS MAC’S HANDICAP (1650 METRES)

7. Hoolahoops – 1. Kohli – 2. Blazing Away – 3. Captain Burglar

Hoolahoops

In the last I’m happy to be with a galloper that’s made the trip all the way from the great south and that horse is Hoolahoops. Now, I know some listeners might not be replay watchers and despite the fact it wasn’t in as strong a field as this, but go and have a look at her last start win down in Albany, it was really quite an incredible win what she was able to do there. She’s only been with Angela Smith for a short while after racing in town with Justin Warwick and when you look at the data, her figures from when she was racing in town in races of this nature really stack up. It’s pretty clear to see that Angela has got this mare back in form and with a featherweight 53.5kgs on her back, she’s a very easy each way investment to round out proceedings.

1 Unit EACH WAY

Staking Plan

Race 1 Harmika 3.5 Units WIN @$2.20+ SP/The Coolakin King 0.5 Units WIN

Race 2 Sessions Peak 1 Unit WIN

Race 4 Galaxy Cat 1 Unit WIN/Cobbanco 1 Unit WIN

Race 6 Arcadia Grace 3 Units WIN @$2.20+ SP

Race 7 Pepper Assault 1 Unit WIN/No Mean Feet 1 Unit WIN

Race 9 Hoolahoops 1 Unit EACH WAY

7.5 Units locked in, potential for 14 if we see our prices races 1 and 6.

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