Races

Michael Heaton’s Saturday Belmont Preview

Posted on | Posted by Michael Heaton

RACE 1

HEZANGELIC is humming. 2 of his past 3 starts have been wins in this grade (including 1 off 21 days) and he now drops back to this grade off 21 days. He set a frantic tempo in front when heavily pressured throughout in stronger Graduation company and finishing a brave third to the in-form Xentaro last start and should get a softer time of it in front here. GO GO GROMMET was scratched last Saturday but reeled off big late sectionals to knock off Mt Shirataku (subsequent winner) last start and he doesn’t have to get quite as far back in this. OVERDRIVE has been very good at both starts back and now gets the best map she’s had this prep. EMPRESS OF INDIA drops in class, gets a good claim and is a likely improver second-up.

Numbers: 1-3-4-2

Suggested Bet – HEZANGELIC WIN

RACE 2

REMINISCENCE looks a colt who is still a work in progress and it’s unlikely we’ll see the best of him until he gets over further but he still looks capable of handling this field on ability alone. Loved the way he found the line on debut before enduring a tough run in Saturday grade at his second start and he made good late ground in his recent trial. CALL ME INVINCIBLE has impressive formlines for a maiden. On debut ran third to Snitzalatte and last preparation finished behind Ladies Pro/Tennessee Spirit/Ninetymilestraight before bumping into horses like Hot And High and Long Service Leaf at his next outing and she could get a sweet run at a price. WESTERN MISS is on debut and trialled like she might want a bit further. ROCKING IN VEGAS has a tough map to overcome but was good first up and was quite unlucky last prep.

Numbers: 2-3-14-1

Suggested Bet – REMINISCENCE WIN

RACE 3

XENTARO went within a head of bringing up a winning hat-trick last start and looks set to get a suitable race shape here where he can park behind the 2 stablemates in Last Stylebender and Lord Shiva who will set the pace. From there he’ll be in a position to strike and be hard to hold out late. LORD SHIVA will have to burn the candle at both ends from barrier 8 of 8 but that might be a blessing in disguise as his best performances seem to be when he goes hard and fast? ATLANTIC SPIRIT is capable of reeling off really sharp sectionals and will be steaming home late if she backs up off the quick spin from her win at Belmont on Wednesday. LAST STYLEBENDER is starting to put it all together but this is tougher.

Numbers: 2-1-4-5

Suggested Bet – XENTARO WIN

RACE 4

MR KARADEC trialled the house down then resumed in a strong 3YO Plate on a Saturday when finishing fourth to Ourgirlcanrun/Vatican Storm/Like Clockwork. He was an even better run in review after stepping slow and racing against his preferred pattern and he now drops sharply in grade to a C1 in a race he could cross to the front in. MISS DEFIES ME was sectionally a very good return first up when making big late ground in an unsuitably-run race and the step to 1400m looks ideal. EFFORTLESSLY loses Pike but has hit the line better than anything at her last couple and now drops 2kg. FRIAR’S LEGACY has been a bit of a tease this prep and now has an awkward gate and map to overcome.

Numbers: 2-7-4-1

Suggested Bet – MR KARADEC WIN

RACE 5

CHIXFROMTHESTIX is only coming out of a moderate 2YO Maiden win on debut but she was particularly impressive. She ran the fastest last 400m of the entire meeting leading, stopped the clock 4L faster than average and carries the same weight here whilst also drawing ideally in barrier 4. ACHY BREAKY scored a barnstorming win first up and looks a filly who will only improve as the distances increase so she might be a slight query staying at 1000m as she’ll likely get back a fair way from the gate. FARNOVA gave a lot of cheek first up when second to Achy Breaky and now gets 2kg on him but drawing outside of Chixfromthestix will make the first 200m interesting. LEVATI DIMEZZO was good on debut, had excuses last start and now gets shades on.

Numbers: 6-1-5-2

Suggested Bet – CHIXFROMTHESTIX WIN

RACE 6

POBLANO is a lightly-raced and progressive 4YO resuming off the back of a nice trial where she made good late ground. She looks a mare with plenty of upside and she should enjoy the run of the race for Pike. ZOURUN RUN is a nice 3YO resuming and brings top formlines. First up last preparation she was beaten less than a length in the Belgravia Stakes by King Of Light/Snitzalatte/Mardusa. SUNLIT FRESCO races first up, no trial and has the natural speed to work to the top and give them something to catch. RIGHT TO SILENCE also resumes without a trial and is capable of a cheeky fresh run at a big price in this grade.

Numbers: 4-1-2-9

Suggested Bet – POBLANO WIN

RACE 7

MOONWALK has drawn the outside and will need a lot to go right but she’s been going particularly well and racing like she’s wanting a trip. PONY UP has similarly drawn awkwardly but was scratched from a winnable race on Wednesday in preference for this and is proven at the staying distance. STARTLING STAR didn’t get the rub of the green in the same race as Moonwalk last start and now gets Pike as well as more ground which suits. DUCHEES DEMERIT drops in grade from a last-start second to the in-form Antique Star and carries only 57kg after the claim but hasn’t won for 1,151 days.

Numbers: 10-4-8-1

Suggested Bet – MOONWALK WIN

RACE 8 

Great race. HOT AND HIGH is undefeated after 5 starts, has overcome some adversity in her runs in doing so and has also been smashing the clock in the process. She’s brilliantly suited under the conditions of this race being rated 8 points higher than the next highest rated horse (Westbound) yet still carrying 1.5kg less than him with only 55kg. This is a top field but there isn’t a huge amount of natural speed engaged so she should be prominent in the run and take a power of beating. LADIES PRO was an incredible win last start and drops 5kg on that effort. She’s a smart filly and looks the danger. WESTBOUND is classy but drops back from 1800m to 1400m and we likely won’t see the best of him until the Belmont Guineas/Aquanita/Belmont Classic. VATICAN STORM was a terrific run first up and looks up to this level.

Numbers: 5-8-1-7

Suggested Bet – HOT AND HIGH WIN

Same Race Multi – Raconteur Stakes – Hot And High (win) + Ladies Pro (Top 3)

HOT AND HIGH is an undefeated and incredibly exciting filly who is versatile, tough and has smashed the clock in her wins this preparation. She’s brilliantly weighted under the SWP conditions of this race and should land on-speed which makes her incredibly hard to beat. LADIES PRO is another talented filly who attacks this off an incredible last-start win and now drops 5kg on that effort with Pike retaining the ride.

RACE 9

CHARINO ran a close second to Black Ora with 60.5kg first up, no trial then was a much better run than reads on paper second-up when jumping from 12/12, going back to last and having traffic issues in the straight. He now steps to 1200m, can position up a lot closer in the run and drops to 55.5kg after Nottle’s claim. NICCIANA ran undefeated filly Hot And High to a half-length after a cagey ride by Cassey Martinan last start and will be hard to beat. She’s unlikely to get near the speed this time around with Norich and Thermosphere Lad engaged but she’s versatile and talented and now gets Chris Parnham aboard. THERMOSPHERE LAD has been super brave in higher grade at his last couple but has another tough task likely breezing outside of Norich again. YORGA PRIDE is undefeated 3 from 3 first up and undefeated 3 from 3 at this track/distance but her 2 recent trials left a fair bit to be desired?

Numbers: 3-11-2-6

Suggested Bet – CHARINO EACH-WAY

RACE 10

LIKE CLOCKWORK was also nominated for the Raconteur Stakes but it looks a smart decision to dodge some sharp 3YOs in preference for this race where she sneaks in on the 54kg minimum. She got a long way back in a race dominated by the leader when dropping back to 1200m last start but rattled home in 00:32:95 and now steps back to 1400m whilst also drawing much more favourably. FAST HARRY trialled up nicely then bumped into Hot And High and Nicciana at his return. He’ll be savaging the line late for Pike. RIVA AQUARAMA didn’t get much luck last start and will appreciate the step to 1400m. AUTO CRUISE is an exciting mare shooting for 4-straight but she already going to be a month between runs in last Monday’s WA Day Cup before being scratched on race morning with an elevated temperature. Proceed with caution.

Numbers: 15-8-16-4

Suggested Bet – LIKE CLOCKWORK WIN

RACE 11

Open and tough way to round out the day. BOHEMIAN DIAMOND has won 3 from 4 first up, 3 from 4 at Belmont and should get a soft run parked in behind the speed. She’s been tuned up with 2 nice recent trials and always has to be respected fresh. TWO TIME CHARLIE is an exciting 3YO who was an impressive winner at his first start for Michael Grantham’s yard when reeling off the fastest closing sectionals of the meeting at Pinjarra to win. The wider draw is probably beneficial for a horse like him who likes to get back and wind up. STORM AWAY didn’t see much daylight last start after 2 encouraging runs prior to that and is another who will be trying to launch late. URQUHARTS BLUFF has been freshened after a highly consistent last preparation and he should enjoy the run of the race.

Numbers: 2-15-7-4

Suggested Bet – BOHEMIAN DIAMOND EACH-WAY

Quaddie (Race 5 – 8)

5,8

2,3,5,6,11

4,8,15,16

2,4,5,7,9,15,16

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