Races

Michael Heaton’s Saturday Belmont Preview

Posted on | Posted by Michael Heaton

RACE 1

DEFENDING is in a rich vein of form. Has run the fastest last 800m, 600m, 400m and 200m sectionals at his last four starts and been a booming winner at two of his past three. Can position up leaders-back here from good draw here to stalk the leaders every move and then pounce late. AIN’T NO OTHER MAN is knocking on the door for an overdue win but has lacked a killer blow. Always travels like the winner and has finished second to nice types at three of his past four starts. This is easier. SHE’S PUZZLING backs up from a nice trial win on Monday and showed a level of progressiveness last campaign. May have to drop to the rear of the small field from the draw here but will get the last crack at them. FAMOUS JURNEY looks like the likely leader and is racing well.

Numbers: 4 – 2 – 6 – 1

Suggested Bet – DEFENDING WIN

RACE 2

KOSTA’S CROWN was scratched from a maiden race as the $1.50 favourite on Wednesday in preference for this. Talented type who was huge in the Perth Stakes/Karrakatta Plate/Sires’ Produce last campaign and ran the fastest last 600m and 400m splits of the day despite getting held-up first-up a fortnight ago. Has to step from 1000m to 1400m here but gets a 3.5kg pull on Saintorio and a lovely map for the Pontiff. SAINTORIO got all the favours in front last week but the first-up effort behind Baby Paris was also very good. Backs up off seven days, has the grounding of a 1300m run and should get a gun run parked just behind the speed. LEGACY OF TARA is undefeated at the midweeks and won with authority on both occasions. This is a big step up but she looks talented and can roll forward to be prominent in the run. GALAXY AFFAIR was well-placed first-up and always travelled the winner. This is undoubtedly harder but his form last campaign is good enough to play a part.

Numbers: 4 – 1 – 9 – 3

Suggested Bet – KOSTA’S CROWN WIN

RACE 3

SWEAR TO GOD resumes off the back of a brilliant trial. Showed plenty of promise to win two out of three last prep and his only blemish was when stepping past 1000m and having to burn across from barrier 13 and only be beaten by the eventual Sires’ winner (Snowdome) and Top Show. Well-weighted after the claim and should get run of the race in the box seat. ALL SHOW made an auspicious debut when off the track the entire and flooding home in eye-catching fashion back in April. Immediately turned out for a break and the recent 400m trial win was sharp under her own steam. Big watch. COSTUME PARTY was enormous first-up, no trial to win from a seemingly-impossible position. Consecutive stakes placings to Amelia’s Jewel last prep would make it no surprise to see her go on with it. JUST GO is two from two this prep and the smart use of the claim means he drops a half-kilo staying at the same track, grade and distance as his last win but this is deeper.

Numbers: 1 – 7 – 5 – 2

Suggested Bet – SWEAR TO GOD WIN

RACE 4 

STREET PARADE is brilliantly placed in 1MW company. A Saturday winner defeating Snowdome, a Magic Millions 2YO Classic placegetter to Sheeza Belter and a nose runner-up to Left The Building in the Perth Stakes. Trialled up well, goes well fresh and maps perfectly. GHOST WHO WALKS continues to savage the line, is a Belmont 1000 specialist and has finished in the money at four of his six starts off seven days. Gets both of those things here as well as dropping in grade and can be dangerous if the gaps appear in the straight. GO FORWARD has been plagued by wide draws, wet tracks and unlucky runs this campaign. Big class dropper here but has a sticky draw to overcome and he’s a big risk if the expected rain arrives. MEGA REWARD has come back well, drops 3kg from a gallant effort last start and can park on-speed for Harvey.

Numbers: 7 – 1 – 2 – 4

Suggested Bet – STREET PARADE WIN

RACE 5

SOWAR has resumed in three 72+ races and has charged to the line in each of them. Appears as though he’s been crying out for more ground, gets out to 2000m here and drops back into a 66+ bringing Buster Bash form and with McGruddy jumping on for the first time this prep. AXEL ‘R’ EIGHT faced a tough task after jumping from barrier 13/13 in a fast-run race last start. Drops 3.5kg here and the previous effort when nearly pinching it from General Grant is good enough to measure up. HE’S A LUCKY LAD may have to get a fair way back from the draw but looks as though he’ll only get better as the distances increase. CRESCENT CITY continues to be the target of heavy late betting support. Should get the right type of run here but needs to prove himself soon.

Numbers: 4 – 6 – 3 – 2

Suggested Bet – SOWAR WIN

RACE 6

ALL THE KING’S MEN sneaks in on the minimum at his 3YO return after showing more than enough ability as a juvenile. Finished runner-up in the Sires’ Produce and was three lengths off Sheeza Belter in the Magic Millions after drawing barrier 14/14. Always got the impression he’d make a better 3YO and he maps to enjoy a lovely run here. APPLE SCHNAPPS was beaten less than a length in a 78+ first-up last prep before having vets excuses at his next two starts. Might have to come out running from a tricky draw here but resumes in a 66+ and think his best is good enough to play a part in a race where there are some map queries on other rivals. ALL DAY SESSION has had an unorthodox prep going up and down in distance but 1200 looks his sweet spot at this stage of his career. The draw makes it tough but he’s going well. HEAR ME SING is a talented new-season 4YO returning after a solid autumn feature race campaign but is better suited over further and may have to do it tough from the outside draw.

Numbers: 10 – 1 – 2 – 5

Suggested Bet – ALL THE KING’S MEN WIN

RACE 7

CUP NIGHT should be ready to roll after two sharp trials. Boasts top formlines, gets in well under SWP race conditions and is a dynamite fresh horse. Should get every chance from the inside draw. NOTORIOUS ONE has the benefit of residual fitness from his winter campaign where he largely raced without luck. CJP is the perfect jockey for his quirks and racing style, the small field should suit and he’s capable of launching late with some freshness in his legs. RESORTMAN has been one of the finds of the winter and is racing in career-best form. Has to take on better class of horses here but is undoubtedly the race-fit and in-form horse of the race. COMES A TIME has been doing everything right but will have to elevate to measure up under SWP conditions in this company.

Numbers: 2 – 6 – 3 – 4

Suggested Bet – CUP NIGHT WIN

RACE 8

WESTERN KNIGHT was unsuited by a very slow tempo and also getting held up at the wrong time last start but still managed to reel off some of the fastest splits of the day over 1400m. Up to a mile and with more speed engaged here looks much more suitable for him. GINGER BAKER performed well in this grade at his first two runs back this prep before an even effort in higher grade last start. Up to a mile and a great map look like big positives for him. CASTILLO DEL LAGO gave them something to catch last start before getting reeled in late. Rock-hard fit now, drops back from a 66+ to a Graduation and has the natural speed to overcome the sticky draw. LONEHAND LARRY has raced in higher grade at his last seven starts and his last win was in a 66+ mile with blinkers going on. Gets into a 60+ 1650m with blinkers going back on here and has the benefit of a soft draw.

Numbers: 9 – 1 – 4 – 3

Suggested Bet – WESTERN KNIGHT WIN

RACE 9

BUSTER BASH is vying for a winning hat-trick and rises only a half-kilo after a dominant win in this grade last start. The extra 50m should only be of benefit to him, he looks the likely leader and is the one they’ll have to try and chase down. ADVANCED won like a proper horse last start. The outside draw will no doubt makes things tough but he let down like a horse ready to go through the grades last time out and now drops to the 54kg minimum. SAVAGE ONE is 35 days between runs after a setback and 1650m is probably as far as he wants but he’s a model of consistency, gets in well after the claim & will ride the speed again. FLOYD hit the line brilliantly in the Farnley last start is a big class dropper.

Numbers: 1 – 9 – 4 – 2

Suggested Bet – BUSTER BASH EACH-WAY

Same Race Multi – Buster Bash (Top 3) + Advanced (Top 3)

Quaddie (Race 6 – 9)

10,1,2,5,8,9

2,6,3

9,1,4,3,2,8,5,7

1,9

Market Market



Recent Articles