FREE: Belmont Selections: Saturday 18th June

Happy to put Wednesday behind us and kick straight into Saturday. With plenty of rain forecast Friday and race day Saturday (the BOM are getting paid to virtually throw darts at the moment) it is unknown whether we will see all the rain and we end up on a soft 7, or we miss most of it, dry out and land on a soft 5.

Race 1 – 11:59AM HAPPY 70TH COSTA MADASCHI PLATE (1000 METRES)

7. Work In Progress – 1. Rumour Says – 8. Feels Playful – 5. Ebony’s Ace

Work In Progress

Happy to label this a 2 horse race between the fav and this Danny Morton filly but currently the price differential ($6.50 Work In Progress opposed to $1.70 Rumour Says) is far greater than anticipated (and should be) so this is the way we will side up. As impressive as Rumour Says debut win was, I think the work this filly has delivered at her past 2 trips to the trials have been outstanding. The first of those she held off very nice debut winner One Cool Gal in very soft fashion, before the most recent travelled up 3 and 4 wide throughout, just ambled up to them under a hold and was still well held together through the line, shaken up I think she could have smoked them. Barrier 8 makes things interesting, I feel Chris will follow Rumour Says across to sit on her shoulder, which makes for a terrific race as I suspect they are the only two genuine winning chances.

1 Unit WIN View Bet365 Odds

Race 2 – 12:34PM FREE ENTRY TO BELMONT PARK HANDICAP (2200 METRES)

8. Reliable Star – 2. Sluice Box – 7. Pretty Friar – 6. Gunnago

Reliable Star

Another race I am happy to label a 2 horse race and current prices allow for a nice back/save option. I think Reliable Star is ready to win now out to a suitable trip. Has had 2 runs at the mile to lay her platform for the rise up to the staying trip, last start got back from a wide gate in a big field and travelled into it beautifully before being held up for the entirety of the straight, hit the line virtually still on the bridle. Drops 2kgs at the weights and gets Johnston Porter, the smaller field suits to sit back off them and be saved for one final sprint and bar Sluice Box, should be taking care of these. Feel she’s primed and the camp are flying.

3 Units WIN View Bet365 Odds

Sluice Box

Sluice Box and Shaun McGruddy are just a match made in heaven. Goes for him like no one else. Dropped back to the mile last start under Rawiller and hit the line nicely in a good race, back up to the staying journey, gets his man back aboard and in what looks to be a sit/sprint staying event, he is the only one with a turn of foot to match Reliable Star. Saving.

1 Unit WIN View Bet365 Odds

Race 3 – 1:09PM TABTOUCH WESTSPEED PLATINUM HANDICAP (1400 METRES)

3. Arnie’s Boy – 9. Glamour Packed – 3. Gates Of Babylon – 2. Snippy Miss

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Race 4 – 1:49PM AMELIA PARK HANDICAP (1200 METRES)

6. Colossal – 4. Cobbanco – 2. Sniparoochy – 5. Hardly Ever

Race 5 – 2:29PM CROWN PERTH HANDICAP (1400 METRES)

6. Galactic Storm – 1. Native Chimes – 2. Stylax – 8. My Boy Eddy

Race 6 – 3:05PM ASCEND SALES TROPHIES HANDICAP (1400 METRES)

9. Startrade – 6. Watch Me Dance – 5. Excellent Dream – 8. All Day Session

Race 7 – 3:40PM WAROA-BELMONT GUINEAS (1600 METRES)

3. Otheroneson – 1. Devoted – 2. Rokanori – 6. Searchin Roc’s

Otheroneson

I have him my top seed here, for good reason I hope, as I think he’s a superstar. Last start avoided the Raconteur and instead went to a handicap against the older horses. In a mile race run 11.5L faster than average to the 600m, he was wide without cover and had no right to win that race but he was just simply too good. Was a remarkable win. He’s proven at the mile, should land close to or on the back of Devoted from the gate, and am confident he can announce himself a rising star of WA racing on his way to a Railway prep in November. The scary part is, I don’t think he’s completely the finished product.

3 Units WIN View Bet365 Odds

Devoted is another horse getting to their Grand Final coming off a PB performance and has done nothing wrong. Ridden very close in the Raconteur, looked as though CJP might be caught wide but he chose to do some work early to get to the box-seat. Hit the front early in the straight and really held them off well bar Rokanori who was the only horse pulling ground off him late. Not sure he was suited to being ridden so close and Bob said he feels his most effective trip will be getting out to the mile. In a race with next to no speed and the way he jumps could almost land in front early which I don’t think they’ll want, likely lands in that stalking role on the back of the pacemaker and is the first to hit the front in the straight. Can he hold off Otheroneson?

Rokanori gets the winkers on first time for the GF. Got a perfect run in the Raconteur and thought maybe he was entitled to do a bit more late there? Perhaps being harsh as he was really the only one pulling ground off Devoted, but I’ve got 2 in front of him here in my rankings. Thought Devoted did more work and had a less economical run.

Searchin Rocs could potentially play pacemaker here, winner of the Champion Fillies at the mile last prep, I thought she hit the line nicely in the Raconteur after being held up briefly at the top of the straight when the winner was off and gone and that was after completely bungling the start. She’s a real fighter and really kicks when challenged, so I think leading here could be a real positive for her if they do choose to go that way as I don’t think there will be too much pressure (if any) for her to absorb either.

Incredible race, the highlight of the Belmont season thus far.

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Race 8 – 4:15PM TABTOUCH BETTER YOUR BET HANDICAP (1600 METRES)

5. No Apology – 2. Billy Ray – 13. Atlantis Beach – 7. Pat’s Got Sass

No Apology

If we are going to follow Otheroneson headfirst into the Guineas, then it would make sense to follow up with this SJ Miller galloper given he was only 1.3L off Otheroneson last start. That’s going to prove a very strong form race I think and thought this guy’s run in said race was very good, hit the line super strong. Draws perfectly in 4 here for Brad Parnham who can hold a position, steps up to what I think is his pet trip at the mile at his 4th run of the prep and absolutely loves it wet if we do get the forecast rain Friday and on race day. SJ Miller’s stable is ticking along very nicely at the moment and think this bloke is building really well, will pose a good bet on Saturday in a good race.

2 Units WIN View Bet365 Odds

Race 9 – 4:50PM PENINSULA DINING ROOM HANDICAP (1000 METRES)

2. Nowhiteflag – 7. Forest War – 11. Sneaky Chance – 6. Trevern

Staking Plan

• Race 1 Work In Progress 1 Unit WIN
• Race 2 Reliable Star 3 Units WIN/Sluice Box 1 Unit WIN
• Race 7 Otheroneson 3 Units WIN
• Race 8 No Apology 2 Units WIN

10 Units out Saturday, good luck if following, keen to land a few results to bounce back.

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