Belmont 03/08/2019

Conditions

Rail – 2m
Track – Good 4
Forecast – Max 22, very high chance of showers (90%, 2-6mm), most likely in the afternoon and early evening

Race 1 – Westspeed Platinum Maiden – 1000m – 11:34pm

Tinto Belle has trialled very well and must have skill if Bruce Watkins is bringing her to the city at her first ever start. Tirade has also trialled ok. Bruce Almighty has been travelling well this preparation and should be fit going into this. Alien from Mars has had a year between trials and no trial going into this run. She’ll be one to watch.
8 – Tinto Belle
9 – Tirade
1 – Bruce Almighty
2 – Alien from Mars

Race 2 – TabTouch – Better Your Bet Handicap – 1400m – 12:09pm

Blackwater Bay has trialled well and has Pike on board. Apache Pass had a nice run last start and has plenty of trials under his belt so should go well here. Flying God is another one that has trialled lots and seemed to improve which each trial. That’s Funny Az has faced some good horses in previous races.
4 – Blackwater Bay
2 – Apache Pass
5 – Flying God
1 – That’s Funny Az

Race 3 – Go Racing for Free Before the Footy Handicap – 1000m – 12:49pm

I underestimated Essential Spice last start who just keeps ticking along nicely. Glasgow Girl had a nice run last start when she edged out Metro Boy. I wouldn’t be surprised if she won, with Pike retaining the ride which is a positive. Pym’s Royale usually jockey is back on board and he showed a great turn of foot two starts ago. Cognac’s first one record is ok (4:1-0-0) and he has a new jockey on board due to injury.
6 – Essential Spice
3 – Glasgow Girl
1 – Pym’s Royale
2 – Cognac

Race 4 – Walter Harmer 70th Birthday Handicap – 2000m – 1:29pm

Defiantly is another consistent horse, but she could get in trouble if she gets too far back. Magic Las Vegas is always there but can’t quite get the chocolates. He has raced at this distance before though (6:0-1-2) and was second to Zaratite two starts ago, who was my best bet of the day before getting scratched. Black Russian has won his previous two starts. He is up in class and distance but his turn of foot should get him through. Uncle Lino has good form behind Sugar Cain and Zaratite and is a good horse if you’re looking for some value.
6 – Defiantly
14 – Magic Las Vegas
8 – Black Russian
11 – Uncle Lino

Race 5 – Rosana Smith 60th Birthday Handicap – 1600m – 2:09pm

Play Hard comes from some strong races, including form behind True Attraction and Lordhelpmerun. The Escort has had very nice runs so far this preparation. Four White Fox should be fit third up. Prescience is having his first up run in WA, so I’ll be interested to see how he goes. He won’t be getting any of my money though.
2 – Play Hard
5 – The Escort
4 – Four White Fox
11 – Prescience

Race 6 – Mrs Mac’s Handicap – 1200m – 2:48pm

Uni Time up in class but has placed in the top 3 in all 5 of his starts (5:2-2-1). Lipstick Flickers has had very nice runs the past 4 starts and if you follow one of my superstitions (horse 6 race 6), you’ll be backing her. Tycoon Mikado is another runner for Bruce Watkins and another live chance. He is up in class but 1200m is his ideal distance (4:1-1-2). Wocknwoll has very good Kalgoorlie/country form but can he bring this to the city?
3 – Uni Time
6 – Lipstick Flickers
9 – Tycoon Mikado
7 – Wocknwoll

Race 7 – Amelia Park Handicap – 1400m – 3:25pm

I’m willing to forgive Festival Miss’s run two starts ago as Pike wasn’t on board then, plus that was her only time outside of top 3. Cryptic Love got a win last start and seems to be running well. Get Over It is one to watch if the rain has started to pour down by now. Misty Lad could surprise, though his third up record is good (3:1-1-0).
7 – Festival Miss
12 – Cryptic Love
1 – Get Over It
8 – Misty Lad

Race 8 – New Season Sprint – 1000m – 4:00pm

Horses don’t come more consistent than Don’t Fuss and he’s a horse you’d love to own. Profit Street has trialled well and has a great first up record (9:3-2-3) and track and distance (2:1-0-1) plus it wouldn’t be a concern if the rain came. Lockroy has been running well. Rebel King trialled extremely well, and he could potentially turn the tables here.
7 – Don’t Fuss
3 – Profit Street
4 – Lockroy
1 – Rebel King

Race 9 – Crown Perth Handicap – 1300m – 4:35pm

I tipped Free Trade last start and I’m doing it again here. He’s just a horse going places and another one I’d love to own. Nikitas is ticking along nicely. Multiverse got up at good odds in his past 2 starts and he can do that again here. In Love with Paris comes from the same race as Multiverse.
11 – Free Trade
3 – Nikitas
4 – Multiverse
9 – In Love with Paris

Best Bet

Race 8 – Free Trade

Confidence rating

Quite low as there are some very evenly matched races today. It’s also my first week doing an in-depth preview while being at university (hence the slightly shorter previews), so I’m hoping that doesn’t affect how I look at a race.