Aquanita Stakes Day boasts two black type feature races and will be contested at Perth’s Belmont Racecourse on Saturday.
The rail will be set out six metres around the entire course and at publish, we’re faced with a track rated in the Soft (6) range.
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Race 1 – 1:59PM AEST – Westspeed Platinum Handicap, (1600m)
Run D’affaire Run will take winning form into the first on Aquanita Stakes Day and looks well placed to win again.
The four-year-old son of Gingerbread Man returned to the races with a nice effort to finish second, beaten less than a length by Captain Burglar here at Belmont before saluting at Pinjarra.
Fitter third-up and sticking to a mile, this looks a great opportunity to win in Town again.
Race 2 – 2:39PM AEST – Breast Cancer Research Centre Of WA Plate, (1000m)
Beads broke his maiden here at Belmont a fortnight ago and can continue his rise through the grades on Saturday.
The Star Turn gelding has improved for each of his three starts since debuting, culminating in his impressive last-start triumph.
This is harder, but he has plenty of upside.
Race 3 – 3:18pm AEST – The Walker Family Handicap, (1200m)
Dunbar can return to winning form second-up in the third on Aquanita Stakes Day.
The Vancouver gelding simply didn’t come up last prep and was returned to the paddock after failing to make much of an impact in three starts, but he mustered an eye-catching turn of foot to only just miss here when resuming.
With improvement and under Willie Pike, this looks his race.
Race 4 – 3:53pm AEST – Amelia Park Handicap, (1000m)
I concede that Amasenus will be hard to beat again, but I think that Miss Frost will enjoy plenty of improvement into her second campaign start and she is up to winning.
The Frost Giant mare was nothing short of outstanding during her debut prep, and she returned plenty of eye-catching efforts of a long spell throughout winter and spring last year.
She was caught wide but still finished off well for fifth here when resuming and I’m confident she’ll be in the finish on Saturday.
Race 5 – 4:25pm AEST – Byron Bay Premium Lager Handicap, (1400m)
Real Charisma can record another at Belmont on Saturday.
The Grant & Alana Williams-trained filly hasn’t missed placing in four starts since debuting in January, and she returned from a break to record a lovely win here a fortnight ago.
Willie Pike steers and with any improvement, the horse will take a power of beating again.
Race 6 – 5:05pm – Peninsula Dining Room Handicap, (1400m)
Comfort Me has returned to the races in impressive form and looms as the runner to beat again in Race 6 on Aquanita Stakes Day.
The Playing God gelding finished second, beaten less than a nose here when fresh and simply hasn’t looked back, recording consecutive wins at this track and distance.
He looks to be at peak fitness and can win again.
Race 7 – 5:35pm AEST – Listed Belmont Oaks, (2000m)
This year’s Belmont Oaks betting has opened with a very clear favourite in Sheza Chalmer, and I simply cannot find one to beat her.
Sheza Chalmer needed her first few starts back from a spell to tune up, but ran home well to finish second over 1400m here before comfortably winning the Belmont Guineas last time out.
Getting out to 2000m should prove ideal and I am happy to dive in at the $1.85.
Race 8 – 6:05pm AEST – Listed Aquanita Stakes, (2000m)
Crescent City has found excellent form this time and looms as the runner to beat in the Aquanita Stakes.
The Fiorente gelding filled the minors behind Gold Merits at Northam when fresh and has completed an ideal lead-up to this race, posting consecutive wins over 1400m and a mile respectively.
Breeding suggests that getting out to 2000m will be ideal and his chances are further boosted under William Pike.
Race 9 – 6:40pm AEST – Crown Towers Handicap, (1600m)
I’m Pretty will be tough to beat in the last on Aquanita Stakes Day.
I’m Pretty is yet to taste anything but success since resuming this time, and flashed late to score over 1400m here when resuming, before recording a comfortable win last time.
The mile is perfect at this point of her prep, and she is drawn to receive the run of the race.