Races

Michael Heaton’s Saturday Belmont Preview

Posted on | Posted by Michael Heaton

RACE 1

HARBOUR RISE was a great run at $31 on debut when getting crossed early and having traffic issues in the straight but he was strong through the line under little pressure. He showed some tactical speed in his last trial and now steps to 1200m in a race without much exposed pace so he should land in a great spot from his good draw. ACE QUEEN SUITED was a slashing run first up over 1000m then broke through second up when enjoying the run of the race. She’s drawn sticky here but she’s versatile and is 1 of only 2 winners in the 13-horse field. IN GOOD NICC has a tough draw to overcome but she had no luck first up and caught the eye late. MERIVALE LOUVAIN took her impressive trial to Bunbury when scoring a nice win on debut but the outside alley here hurts.

Numbers: 2-6-10-7

Suggested Bet – HARBOUR RISE EACH-WAY

RACE 2

HOPE TO RULE has had a terrific preparation and gets a suitable speed map here where she should be able to stroll to the top and dictate terms. She’s been racing in and around this grade and hasn’t missed the money in her past 4 starts. MOHEGAN RULER hit the line powerfully first up and second up then got caught in an awarded position on straightening last week before working to the line okay late. He now backs up off 7 days, draws a gate and the step from 1300m to 1600m looks a big positive for him. FLAMING RONDA is coming from easier races but she’s looking for 3 on the bounce and should enjoy a soft run throughout. STRAPPING PROPHET has run second at his past 4 starts across 2 preparations and likely ends up back in an awkward position from his low draw.

Numbers: 6-3-4-1

Suggested Bet – HOPE TO RULE EACH-WAY

RACE 3

LAST STYLEBENDER faced his toughest test to date last start and was a solid run to stick on for fourth to Xentaro/Lord Shiva/Nonesospicy in a 66+. He now drops back into a Graduation in a race he can lead and he rises only 0.5kg after Holly Nottle’s claim (who led throughout aboard him when winning 2 starts back). NONESOSPICY was very good in the same race last time out and actually drops 1kg despite dropping in grade after the clever use of Natika Riordan’s claim who has ridden her well before. ETERNAL WINE ran a strong second to Long Service Leaf first up and showed last preparation she’s a progressive short-course sprinter. LEMMOR started to put it all together at the end of her last campaign and whilst this is tougher, she gets a suitable map first up and has a sharp turn of foot.

Numbers: 2-3-6-7

Suggested Bet – LAST STYLEBENDER EACH-WAY

RACE 4

SPECIAL COUNSEL is only coming out of maiden and C1 wins in questionable company but the manner in which he’s been winning is that of a nice horse with a stack of upside. His maiden win was enormous, his last-start win was simply arrogant and he now drops 4kg in a race where there should be a 3-wide line for him to blend into. OUR MATE ARCHIE was a big run first up when finishing a narrow second to Linchpin. The step to a mile suits, he gets a good claim with Holly Nottle and he’s shown previously he’s capable at this level. THINK PINK DAZE steps to unchartered territory at 1600m but she hasn’t had much luck lately and has finally drawn a gate. WILD THINGS is only a C1 filly but she drops 7.5kg from her last start and can surprise.

Numbers: 8-2-11-16

Suggested Bet – SPECIAL COUNSEL EACH-WAY

RACE 5

ANTALTIC SPIRIT is absolutely humming. She’s only coming out of a last-start midweek win but she was the only horse to win along the cutaway on a day where the winners were coming down the middle part of the track and she’s produced huge late figures at her past couple of starts. She now drops 4.5kg and will appreciate the expected hot tempo. THE CALABRESE has returned with a bang this campaign and should enjoy the run of the race tracking the hot speed. LORD SHIVA will likely set that speed and it appears the faster he goes the better. KAY TEE WHY has been around the mark but is still going a length or 2 below his best this preparation.

Numbers: 9-7-8-4

Suggested Bet – ATLANTIC SPIRIT EACH-WAY

RACE 6

SPICY THANG scored an impressive win first up for Trevor Andrews’ yard when jumping from 16 of 16 and doing it at both ends. She ticked the 1200m box in emphatic fashion, drops to 53kg after Holly Nottle’s claim now and she should enjoy the run of the race. SHMOOV MOOVA has had an up-and-down preparation but his last-start effort was super after stepping slow and then recording big late figures in a 72+. He now drops back into a 66+ with a similar race shape and can surprise if he jumps cleanly. BRAZEN BUTCHER smashed the clock first up off a 10-month break when taking care of moderate opposition with 60kg in 00:57:78 for the 1000m (more than 5L faster than Atlantic Spirit’s C5 win on the same day). It’s a huge leap from a C1 to a 66+ but he drops 5.5kg and looks progressive. MAGNIQUE is going well and can ride the speed again.

Numbers: 13-3-14-6

Suggested Bet – SPICY THANG WIN

RACE 7

Outstanding race. HOT AND HIGH tasted her first defeat when beaten a nose in a tight photo finish at the hands of Vatican Storm in the Raconteur Stakes. She now gets a 2kg weight swing in her favour, she raced like the step to 1600m shouldn’t be an issue and she looks the map horse from a draw which gives her options. LIKE CLOCKWORK dodged the Raconteur last start but has been enormous in defeat at her past 2 starts. She’s a talented filly who can measure up. VATICAN STORM has a tougher task here having drawn horribly and conceding a 2kg swing to rivals from the Raconteur but he’s a highly progressive 3YO. LADIES PRO looked the main danger to Hot And High in the Raconteur before getting scratched on race morning and must still be respected despite the setback and now racing 5 weeks between runs.

Numbers: 12-15-3-13

Suggested Bet – HOT AND HIGH WIN

Same Race Multi- Hot And High (Top 2) + Like Clockwork (Top 4)

HOT AND HIGH tasted her first defeat when going down by the barest of margins in the Raconteur Stakes. She can turn the tables on Vatican Storm with a 2kg swing in her favour, a lovely draw which gives her options and she raced like the step to 1600m shouldn’t be an issue. LIKE CLOCKWORK dodged the Raconteur last start and has been enormous in defeat at her past 2 starts. She can measure up at his level.

RACE 8

AWESOME BOY was allowed to roll last start and he bounced straight back to his best. He crossed the field from barrier 16 of 16, rocked them along and then hung on to defeat Hey Pino (good run last week) and the progressive Like Clockwork (lines up in the Belmont Guineas). He now steps to 72+ grade but drops 1kg and can work across from his awkward draw to produce a carbon copy. SUPERSESSION is going great guns at the moment and whilst 1400m has always been a stretch for him, he was only beaten 2L in a 78+ which contained Snippy Which and Opportunistic 2 starts back. OLYMPIC PARK is a lightly-raced 4YO returning from a 16-month lay off and will likely benefit from the run but he showed in his spring 3YO campaign in 2024 that he’s a horse with plenty of talent. EARTHSTORM was a good run at a big price last start and now steps to her preferred distance.

Numbers: 6-3-8-5

Suggested Bet – AWESOME BOY WIN

Quaddie (Race 5 – 8)

4,6,7,8,9

3,13,14

3,12,13,15

3,5,6,8

240 combinations

Market Market



Recent Articles