Races

Scales Of Justice Headlines Belmont Sprint

Trainer Lindsey Smith is banking on Scale Of Justice’s class to overcome any fitness concerns when he resumes in the $150,000 Group 3 Belmont Sprint (1400m) on Saturday.

Scales Of Justice headlines a cracking edition of the Belmont Sprint that also includes Roma Cup champion, Rock Magic, Disposition and emerging talent, Pounamu.

Scales Of Justice holds favouritism in the Belmont Sprint after he emerged as one of WA racing’s hottest prospects in Group features at Ascot last summer.

The richly talented four-year-old led to win the Railway Stakes (1600m) and then ran a close second to Stratum Star in the Kingston Town Classic (1800m).

The Belmont Sprint is the first leg of a winter treble for Scales Of Justice with the Hyperion Stakes (1600m) and Strickland Stakes (2000m) also on his agenda.

Scales Of Justice hasn’t officially faced the starter in seven months, but Smith believes he is close to his top after warming up with two 950m trial wins.

“He is about 90 per cent fit and is not that far off,” Smith said on Tabradio’s The Sports Daily.

“His trials were good and he has pulled up good from them.

“Horses of his class you always think will go close.

“I don’t expect them to win, but I am hoping.”

Meanwhile Chris Gangemi says Rock Magic is in fine order after storming home to post a dominant win in the Roma Cup two weeks ago

“From gate one and over 1400m at Belmont with the long run in he should be able to get into the race and be hard to hold out,” Gangemi said on Tabradio’s The Sports Daily.

“Hopefully he should prove very hard to beat again.”

Rock Magic will be joined in the Belmont Sprint by stable mate Durendal to give Gangemi a potent two-pronged attack.

The five-year-old ran third in the Roma Cup, his fourth minor placing since crossing the Nullarbor from Melbourne.

“His work on Saturday was probably the best he has produced for us,” Gangemi said.

“He should sit in the first four or five and be in the finish again.”

Co trainer Todd Harvey is confident his talented gelding Tradesman is primed to run a bold first-up race in the Belmont Sprint.

After two trials Tradesman returns to the race track after running third to Star Exhibit in last December’s Perth Cup (2400m).

“He is coming off two solid hit outs and is as good as we are going to have him,” Harvey said on Tabradio’s The Sports Daily

“I think he is a genuine group horse who is honest and always thereabouts.

“I think he is going as good as last time in if not a little bit better.

“He won last time first up over 1400m beating Scales Of Justice.

“Taking a line through that form it gives him a chance.

“He goes really well fresh and we’ve primed him for this race first up.

“We wanted him cherry ripe and we are looking forward to Saturday.”