Races

Michael Heaton’s Wednesday Belmont Preview

Posted on | Posted by Michael Heaton

RACE 1

BRAZEN BUTCHER makes his return off a 10-month lay off and couldn’t have trialled up much better. First trial he was under a stranglehold and ran a narrow second to progressive sprinter Long Service Leaf before breaking 01:00:00 in the fastest of the 10 1000m heats at Belmont in his second. Kicking off in a C1 with Pike aboard = very hard to beat. WRITTEN WORDS also caught the eye at trials when cruising to the line under a hold and both his maiden win and Saturday-level placing prep rated highly. SILENT AMARDA broke 33sec in his last 600m first up and the small field suits. SPIRITED STRIKE next best.

Numbers: 2-4-3-1

Suggested Bet – BRAZEN BUTCHER WIN

RACE 2

ACE QUEEN SUITED was eye-catching first up when storming home from near-last to finish third in a much stronger field which included Achy Breaky, Farnova and Luna Will Do. The step to 1200m here looks ideal but she might have to plot the right path on straightening having drawn the cutaway which can sometimes be a poisoned chalice. ARABIAN CHARM was solid in her recent trials and should get a gun run parked in the first four for Pike. BELLA ROCCIA did her best work late in her recent trial and the 1200m looks a nice kick off point for her. THUNDER ISLE likely rolls to the top on debut.

Numbers: 6-9-10-4

Suggested Bet – ACE QUEEN SUITED WIN

RACE 3

Thought ROCK THE FOX showed enough in his trials to run a race in what looks a fairly thin field on debut. The horses he finished around in his two trials this preparation would be well thought of here and he should land in a nice position in a race without much top-end speed. BUSY FINGERS resumes off the back of a strong trial win without blinkers and now gets the shades on for the first time here with Pike. Just wary he might want further and being drawn the cutaway might not be ideal? CAWARRA was scratched from Northam on Monday in preference for this. TIGERO’RILEY can roll forward from his outside draw.

Numbers: 4-1-6-3

Suggested Bet – ROCK THE FOX EACH-WAY

RACE 4

ATLANTIC SPIRIT looks well placed third-up. She’s recorded huge late sectionals at both starts back, zipping home in 33.07 and 32.53, and she’s raced in much higher grade at 5 of her 6 starts in WA. She’s suited dropping back into a C5 and should be launching late. UNDER INFLUENCE has dropped 9 rating points from his peak and was a great return first up when running subsequent Saturday winner Long Service leaf to a head at this track, grade and distance. ALLENTOWN joins Team Gangemi and trialled up well behind Brazen Butcher when gapping the third-placed horse by more than 5L. Well placed as a former Saturday 3YO winner and the trial suggests they might let him run? MASAMUNE an improver back in grade and distance with Nottle jumping back aboard.

Numbers: 2-4-5-1

Suggested Bet – ATLANTIC SPIRIT WIN

RACE 5

PONY UP steps from 1600m to 2200m but she’s a last-start winner in higher grade and won in this grade over 2000m last preparation. She gets in nicely after the claim, puts herself close to the speed, races particularly well at Belmont and is always competitive at this level. THOR’S ANGEL gives the impression of being a handy midweek winter staying type. There wasn’t much between her, REDRYE and AURORA QUEEN last time out and RED RYE gets a big booking with W Pike jumping aboard after getting held up at a crucial stage in that race.

Numbers: 1-5-4-6

Suggested Bet – PONY UP EACH-WAY

RACE 6

TALKAWAY was a good run second up when bursting through late in traffic despite not being fully tested and then was no match for the progressive Herault last time out. Her 2 wins to date have both come on soft tracks and when she’s drawn and settled off the fence – think this looks a better setup for her. CONCETTA’S DREAM was only beaten 1L by Two Time Charlie first up at 1200m when getting held up late and likely appreciates the step to 1400m and being drawn out to wind up and launch down the middle of the track. SO SO LUCKY was an eye catcher first up then was posted 3-deep the trip second up but maps much softer here for the in-form Chris Parnham. RAYNX resumes off the back of 2 trials and her 2 wins to date came the only 2 times she’s ever seen a soft track.

Numbers: 9-10-2-1

Suggested Bet – TALKAWAY EACH-WAY

RACE 7

APPARATUS is absolutely humming under the radar. His efforts 2 and 3 starts back when hitting the line powerfully to be beaten less than a length were super then he was huge in the Provincial Series Final last start when getting held up then launching late to run third at $31. The outside draw here isn’t ideal but there’ll be a moving line for him to blend into which can be a good spot to be when the rail is out and cutaway is in play. ITZBEAST was beaten less than a length first up, looks the likely leader and is well weighted having been a previous winner at this track, grade and distance with 2kg more last preparation. NICKELPLAY looks the other speed in the race and has been racing consistently all prep. TRUE FICTION loses the Pontiff and steps to 1400m but has returned well.

Numbers: 6-1-7-2

Suggested Bet – APPARATUS EACH-WAY

RACE 8

VANDOULA JET is a handy 3YO taking on the older horses again after going down by a nose in this grade last start. Her previous form when beaten only 1.5L & 2.5L by nice types at Saturday 3YO level reads up well for this. CLEANEMUP has been hitting the line strongly this preparation and loves the sting out of the ground. RAINLINE drops back to 1200m, gets a good claim and is another who enjoys a soft track. OUR ROCKY BAY an improver at a price second up after racing exclusively in either 66+ or 72+ Saturday grade at his past 12 starts.

Numbers: 8-2-3-4

Suggested Bet – VANDOULA JET WIN

Quaddie (Race 5 – 8)

1,4,5,6

9,10

1,2,4,6,7,9,10

2,3,4,6,8

280 combinations

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