The Group 3 Belmont Sprint headlines the nine-race program in Perth this Saturday and punter’s look to have a few decisions to make with a capacity field lining up for a shot at the prize-money.
We’ve analysed the feature event and every other race on the card in our 2020 Belmont Sprint Preview below.
Point Taken was a narrow winner in her last start at Belmont where she beat home Perceive over the 1200m.
The Jim Taylor-trained four-year-old drops a kilo here with apprentice Chloe Azzopardi jumping in the saddle and I think she looks well-suited getting back to the 1000m deep into her prep.
Azzopardi knows this horse well having ridden her to a win at Ascot back in April, while she’s also the only runner in the field with even some minor form around a soft track.
Condor Heroes returned to the races a different horse back in April winning narrowly first-up at Ascot over the 1000m.
The son of a Not A Single Doubt went on with it to win by four lengths second-up and I’m having a tough time faulting fault him on Saturday where he’ll drop 3kg with Shaun McGruddy on board.
Super Maxi has won three times over the track and distance and is one of the main dangers stepping out with a solid first-up record.
The six-year-old by Redoute’s Choice is the likely leader and has plenty of form on rain-affected tracks to suit.
Chantorque was an impressive winner on debut at Ascot a fortnight ago winning by close to two lengths over the 1200m, but with four of the nine confirmed runners having their first race, this is one I’d rather watch.
Captain Kink strips fitter for his last start second at Ascot where he set the tempo before being run down in the late stages by Resortman over the final 100m.
Mitchell Pateman steered the three-year-old to his maiden win first-up back in April and is in the saddle again on Saturday looking to make full use of the inside draw.
Rocky Path is the one with wet track form and a win over the track and distance.
Mood Swings is another for the minors rising to the 1200m for the first time after winning on debut two starts back at Bunbury.
Double Bubble couldn’t have been more impressive winning first-up at Ascot where she beat home a good horse in Massimo after sitting one off the speed.
The four-year-old by Unencumbered went around at double-digits in her return to the races, but I think she’ll be well found at Belmont on Saturday with plenty of form lines to suit.
The Simon Miller mare has won five from her six starts on soft ground and is a previous winner second-up.
The rail mightn’t be the best spot by the time we get to Race 5, but I’m happy to leave this in the hands of last start winner Shaun McGruddy to figure it out.
Porphyrio is absolutely flying with two wins from five starts this prep and I think she can run another big race here if apprentice Beaux Banovic-Edwards can overcome the wide draw.
The four-year-old ran third over the 1800m at Ascot a fortnight ago, but I think that was the run she needed between starts as she gets back to her preferred distance on Saturday.
Tollman follows a similar setup and we already know he can handle the top weight.
The Paul Roberts gelding won back-to-back starts in his return to the races and has finished runner-up in three of his four starts over the mile. Jade McNaught gets the ride for the first time and has plenty of options from barrier 2.
Festival Miss is one of William Pike’s top rides on the program and I fully expect the pair to improve on their last start second over the 1400m at Ascot.
I’ve been with this four-year-old mare in her last two starts and I think she’s been a little unlucky in each run.
She flashed home late last time out indicating she wants further, while she’s also found success at Belmont in the past with three wins and a pair of placings from seven starts.
More than happy to stick with her.
This is a very strong edition of the Group 3 Belmont Stakes and I could easily make a case for a handful of runners.
Flirtini gets to the right race after rattling home for fourth in the Group 3 Roma Cup and I think she’ll appreciate the 1400m with some of the sting taken out of the track.
The Simon Miller mare has been tough to fault since she returned for third back in April, and with two wins on this track, over the distance, and on the soft, she’s the one for mine.
Angelic Ruler is another of the main dangers coming out of the Roma Cup where she finished fifth from a wide gate.
Chris Parnham replaces William Pike in the saddle, and from barrier 3, the pair map to get a lovely run off the speed.
Pike will have plenty of work to do from barrier 11 aboard Mississippi Delta, but she is dropping in class here first-up. We already know about her turn of foot, so I fully expect her to be thereabouts in the finish.
This is a very difficult staying contest to end the day and I wouldn’t be surprised to see one win at odds.
Petticoat Junction scored a comfortable 3.5L win over the 2200m at Ascot three starts back before winning again seven days later over the same course and distance.
The three-year-old filly is on the short backup again on Saturday after running on for fourth over the 2100m at this venue last week. She remains down in the weights and can come close again with Natasha Faithfull retaining the ride.