Races

Greg’s Belmont Best Bets

Greg Hooper’s Preview

RACE 1

VEUVE DE VEGA showed terrific fight last start when he was challenged by the very talented filly Elegant Blast. He may have had her covered if they went an extra 10m. He drops back to 1200m however he should either lead or box seat and get his chance. DAINTY TESS was backed like a special last week however she found High Conviction too strong. She should improve off the quick back-up. SLIK SAM was an impressive debut winner. The 1200m will suit. STORM DANCER the pick of the debutantes.

Numbers – 3 -1 – 2 -8

Suggested Bet –  Veuve De Vega save Dainty Tess


RACE 2

COOL PASSION has dominated her rivals at her last two starts over 1000m. She leads and is too slick for these. MALIBU STYLE ran well first-up. Any give in the ground assists his chance. KING RIVER the other hope.  GIGANTE can round out the first-four.

Numbers – 3 -5 – 8 – 2

Suggested Bet – Cool Passion win


RACE 3

STRAVIGO took on the older horses in local debut where he led and was nailed on the post by a seasoned sprinter. He should improve off that run and be hard to beat against his own age group. IT’S DYNAMITE ran well first-up over this trip and then was caught wide last week over this trip. She gets the sweet run from gate 1.  MYSTIC MAID excels over this trip as does Sovereign Hall.

Numbers – 4 – 8 – 1 – 3

Suggested Bet –  Stravigo win and It’s Dynamite


RACE 4

PROPERANTES was very good first-up. He got a mile out of his ground with a big weight and picked up strongly over the final furlong. He should settle much closer to the speed in the small field and drops 3kg on that run. Second-up last preparation he goes very close to beating Neverland with clear room. MILITARY RULER is the clear second pick. He comes from the same race as Properantes and was a similar run. Expect him to be right on the pace in this race. MUSKETS AT DAWN is very honest and can give a big sight in front. NORTH RIDGE next best.

Numbers – 4 – 5 – 6 – 2

Suggested Bet –Properantes save Military Ruler


RACE 5

Widely travelled stayer GRIS CARLO gets his chance to break a long drought in this year’s Strickland Stakes. He improved sharply in the Hyperion where he box seated and looked a hope until being worn down the final 50m. The increase in distance is ideal and Ryan Hill will likely fire him straight to the front and endeavour to rate him to perfection. He is a former Naturalism Stakes winner at Caulfield over this trip. WINK AND A NOD is the class. The query is the 200m however she did appear to be finishing better  than anything else in her Hyperion win. ZARANTZ was enormous in the same race. If he improves off that he goes close. IHTSAHYMN next best.

Numbers – 6 – 8 – 5 – 1

Suggested Bet – Gris Carlo each-way


RACE 6

MAX ALMIGHTY broke a long drought at Northam when charging clear in the feature sprint of the day. He should get a lovely run just behind the speed and can make it back to back wins. SOCIALLY UNIQUE looks the clear danger. He returned with a big first-up win. DON’TGETCAUHT has been tuned with two nice trials and can run a race fresh. EUROSUN is a bank for the first-four.

Numbers – 10 – 7 – 3 -6

Suggested Bet –  Max Almighty and Socially Unique


RACE 7

This is the race of the winter to date. It contains some high-class three-year-olds who we may see contest some of the better races as Ascot. SCALES OF JUSTICE has been brilliant in his last two wins. The wide gate will make it difficult however offsetting that to a degree is the fact that P Harvey takes the mount. UNIVERSAL LAW has been starting a short priced favourite when racing the older horses all preparation. This looks a lovely race for him. GREAT SHOT can lead or box seat. He’s a powerful type and the one to run down. BEAUCOUNT is the inexperienced runner but he is very talented.

Numbers – 3 – 2 – 5  – 12

Suggested Bet – Scales Of Justice and Universal Law


RACE 8

STATE SOLICITOR put on a clinic first-up. He beat very little however he looks a horse that will charge through the grades and this is effectively a midweek race on a Saturday. BJON TO LOVE resumes from a long break. He’s trialled well twice. ILLUSION OF LIGHT finds it hard to win but will be around the mark. NARDINI is hot and cold but if she reproduced her win from two back she wouldn’t be without claims.

Numbers – 13 – 10 – 9 -11

Suggested Bet – State Solicitor win


QUADDIE

RACE 5 –  5, 6, 8

RACE 6 – 3, 7, 10

RACE 7 – 2, 3, 5, 12, 14

RACE 8 – 13

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