Races

Michael Heaton’s Wednesday Belmont Preview

Posted on | Posted by Michael Heaton

RACE 1

An open race to kick off on a wet Belmont track with the rail out 20m for the first time since September 2022. GO GO GROMMET has a barrier blanket going on which will hopefully negate his tardy getaways but if not, he’s drawn low with the cutaway in play. He’s still learning his craft but appears to have a lot of natural ability and is suited to the short course. PROTÉGÉ is first-up, no trial off a 9-month break. Smart debut winner over 1200m last preparation and was a heavy8 trial winner prior to that but this is his first 1000m start and he also isn’t the safest beginner. COMIC HERO is unbeaten in four barrier trials and can let the speed unfold in front of him before rattling home late on debut. TOO DARDY is a smart type resuming but drawn awkwardly.

Numbers: 1 – 5 – 7 – 6

Suggested Bet – GO GO GROMMET EACH-WAY

RACE 2

PADDY’S FLYIN’ stormed home in the fastest closing sectionals of the day first-up over 1000m last prep before winning second-up. He’s had the benefit of two trials leading into this, gets a good claim with the in-form Austin Galati and is drawn towards the cutaway. RENATO bolted in a hot form reference race (beating Trespassing, Supersession and Marmooga) at this track/distance at his last start prior to a spell. Drawn well and trialled up nicely ahead of his return. SNAZZLER defeated two subsequent winners (Military Power and Crystalize) two starts ago before being beaten only one length in Saturday grade last time out. Big class dropper here and drawn the cutaway. WINNING ACES hit the line well enough first up.

Numbers: 1 – 2 – 3 – 4

Suggested Bet – PADDY’S FLYIN’ WIN

RACE 3

HEAVENLY LADY ran the fastest last 400m of the day when running second on a soft7 track on debut. Was only fair second-up but hit the line very strongly late last start and the step to 1400m looks suitable. BLACK FOR CASH was beaten only a head at this track/distance last start and chased home Debonnaire at his previous outing. Getting closer to a win. FASHION STAKES comes out of the same race as Black For Cash when going down narrowly as favourite last start but didn’t appear to handle the soft7 surface at her previous run which is a concern here. BILL SELECTS is better suited back up to 1400m and either of her efforts in much stronger company two and three starts back would see her be a sharp improver.

Numbers: 8 – 3 – 5 – 6

Suggested Bet – HEAVENLY LADY WIN

RACE 4 

KING OF FRANCE trialled up well ahead of a nice debut when held-up on straightening and then peeling around heels to hit the line strongly. He ran second to Dreamers Never Die who had the benefit of the white-hot cutaway that day and then was solid without much luck at Belmont on Saturday. Extra 200m and benefit of race experience appears to be in his favour. PRINCESS LACILLA trialled up the best of the debutants and can potentially find the front. KING’S PARADE also trialled up well and can roll forward from his wide draw. BLATANT DISARRAY will be doing her best work late.

Numbers: 3 – 10 – 5 – 9

Suggested Bet – KING OF FRANCE WIN

RACE 5

ONE COOL GAL comes into this on the fresh side 46 days between runs and drops back to the 1200m where her two wins have come. Her last five starts have been in higher grade and she comes out of a blisteringly-fast mile behind Catch These Hands and subsequent winners Mack Mack and Rusty Dreams. AIYZA is stakes-placed and a brilliant winner in higher grade so she’s well-placed resuming in a C3. She’s trialled up well ahead of her return but that was more than three weeks ago now. BOOTS LIKE BRUCE is still very raw but appears to have a stack of natural ability. Loved the recent mid-prep trial but the map looks sticky for him. LONSDALEITE was a sharp improver in his second trial and is drawn to get all the favours for Pike at his WA debut.

Numbers: 9 – 1 – 2 – 7

Suggested Bet – ONE COOL GAL EACH-WAY

RACE 6

DIVINE PAIR hasn’t won in more than two years but is well-placed dropping back into C3 company and is a heavy track winner. 10 of his last 12 starts have been in higher grade and the two starts in this grade he finished second by a nose on a soft7 (August 2022) and second by a head on a soft6 (two starts ago) behind Split Jete (subsequent winner who beat a subsequent 4L winner in Triple Jay). SCENIC ECLIPSE was backed from $26 to $6 before getting things cheaply in front and winning first up. It’s not a strong form reference and she strikes a wet track for the first time here but she also looks the only likely leader again. NYET ran some of the fastest closing sectionals of the meeting to win first-up, no trial at this track/distance and might be able to go on with it now. Looks an improving type. EXTRA SECRET will appreciate the track conditions but trialled only fairly (albeit without blinkers) more than five weeks ago now and has pads going on her front which is a concern.

Numbers: 2 – 8 – 6 – 3

Suggested Bet – DIVINE PAIR WIN

RACE 7

CHINA SPIRIT was a debut winner before never seeing daylight in the Sir Ernest Lee Steere Classic last prep and then resumed with a solid second to subsequent winner Katona in a C3 this time in. He was then throw in the deep end in Saturday grade second-up last start but is well-placed back into a C1 for the first time and with the benefit of what is likely the last week of Holly Watson’s claim. DIRTY CHAI had to go back to last after drawing barrier 13 first up and wasn’t suited by the dawdling tempo but produced a terrific run to weave in and out of traffic and run the fastest final 400m of the meeting. She looks much better placed from a good draw second up. ALMIGHTY MISS was stopped in her tracks multiple times in the straight in the same race last start. She was travelling as though she would’ve been in the finish with clear running and Pike appears to have chosen her over other options here. NOTEWORTHY resumes off the back of a quiet trial when not knocked around.

Numbers: 3 – 7 – 9 – 8

Suggested Bet – CHINA SPIRIT WIN

Same Race Multi – China Spirit (Top 3) + Dirty Chai (Top 4)

RACE 8

CHEERFUL MOMENT is a heavy10 winner and purely and simply a wet tracker (Good: 9: 0-1-2, Soft/Heavy: 13: 2-4-2). He hasn’t been at his best for a little while but also hasn’t struck a rain-affected track for nine months and is now third-up, back in grade and in a race without much natural speed. Throw at the stumps. TALLANGATTA went around $101 in Saturday grade last start but hit the line strongly to run second in a very fast-run race. Now drops back into a C3 and is drawn to get a gun run. CENTRAL FORCE is racing well but rises 3kg from his last-start win in a very weak race which has to be a questionable form reference. PENNYS AFIELD rocketed home last start and gets a senior rider aboard for the first time this prep but has never seen a rain-affected surface before and also rises 300m in distance for the first time.

Numbers: 1 – 5 – 3 – 4

Suggested Bet – CHEERFUL MOMENT EACH-WAY

Quaddie (Race 5 – 8)

1,2,7,9,10

2,6,8

2,3,7,8,9

1,3,4,5

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