Belmont will host Perth’s headline metropolitan program this weekend and the Listed Raconteur Stakes is the feature.
The rail will be set out six metres around the entire course and at publish, we’re faced with a track rated in the Good (4) range.
Race 1 – 1:57PM AEST – Westspeed Platinum Handicap, (1400m)
Bollinger Boy will take plenty of improvement into his second campaign start at Belmont on Saturday and can return to winning form.
The Blackfriars gelding returned some nice efforts last time in and found form around plenty of good gallopers, and he returned with a nice effort to finish second, beaten less than half a length here a fortnight ago.
Race 2 – 2:37PM AEST – Old Mate’s Sports Bar And Eatery Handicap, (1000m)
Brooklyn Pier hasn’t been seen at the races since September, but he races well when fresh and takes a class edge into the second on Raconteur Stakes Day.
The Magnus gelding charged in to score in similar company when resuming last time and went to the paddock safter finishing second behind Gemma’s Son.
He’s had the benefit of a trial in the lead-up to his return and he can fight out the finish.
Race 3 – 3:17pm AEST – Amelia Park Plate, (1000m)
There isn’t a whole lot of form to divulge ahead of this two-year-olds race, but I’m going to give Ultimate Command another chance.
Ultimate Command is easily the most experienced runner in this field, and he has had four starts back from a spell this time, culminating in consecutive second placings most recently.
He has drawn well on the inside of this field and can fight out the finish.
Race 4 – 3:57pm AEST – Crown Perth Handicap, (2200m)
Adornment will take winning form into the fourth on Raconteur Stakes Day and can make it two in a row.
The five-year-old daughter of Medaglia D’Oro needed her first couple back this time to tune up, but flew in to score at Ascot last time out.
Getting out in trip at this point of her prep looks ideal and she’ll have the notable advantage of William Pike in the saddle once more.
Race 5 – 4:40pm AEST – Free Entry To Belmont Park Handicap, (1000m)
Amasenus will return from a short break with genuine winning claims at Belmont on Saturday.
The Time For War mare finishing fourth, beaten just over a length at Ascot when resuming in February before winning each of her three subsequent starts in style.
She has been kept up to the mark with a nice trial and I can’t find a reason why she won’t be in the finish.
Race 6 – 5:15pm AEST – Bluestone Handicap, (1600m)
I’m going to give Kerman Rock another chance in open company at Belmont on Saturday.
Kerman Rock doesn’t win out of turn, but he ran home well to fill the minors in the Group 2 WATC Derby three starts back, and a repeat of that effort in something like this would see him into the finish.
I concede that Tri For Us will be tough to beat, but we can have an each-way play on Kerman Rock.
Race 7 – 5:50pm AEST – Listed Raconteur Stakes, (1400m)
Graceful Girl looks the runner to beat in the Raconteur Stakes.
The Grant & Alana Williams-trained filly hasn’t run a bad race since making her debut, and she steps out in Saturday with an impressive record of 6-3:1:2.
She resumed this time for a close-up second over 1100m at Ascot and was last seen flying in to win over 1200m here.
The small rise in trip suits, as does William Pike in the saddle.
Race 8 – 6:20pm AEST – Furphy Handicap, (1200m)
Serenity Bay flies fresh and she can make a winning return in the penultimate race on Raconteur Stakes Day.
The Rogano mare has finished worse than second just once in five previous fresh attempts, and she found form around some talented gallopers in black type company last time in.
She has a class edge over the lion’s share of these rivals and is drawn to effect.
Race 9 – 6:50pm AEST – Cool Ridge Handicap, (1400m)
Bright Diamond can return to winning form in the last at Ascot on Saturday.
The I Am Invincible mare has recorded three wins and two second placings from her five career starts to date, and she was unlucky not to get there when resuming a fortnight ago.
She strips fitter and will take a power of beating in something like this.