Belmont Saturday Perth Racing Preview BY JOSH RODDER

Track is a good 2. The rail goes back to the inside position, after being at the nine-metre position midweek and in the “true” last week at the opening Belmont meeting

The new Belmont pad has raced fairly at its first two meetings for the season, from the above two rail positions. The amazing run with the weather in the west continues on Saturday.

Belmont is a fantastic track that gives every horse their chance. FORECAST FOR SATURDAY FINE. LIGHT TO MODERATE E/NE WINDS TENDING S/SW'LY DURING THE AFTERNOON. CITY: MIN 10 MAX 26

Race 1 - Support Your Local TAB Hcp, [80+], [3yo+], 2000m, 2:09pm [EST] Classy Clan (5) is an early scratching. A small field will contest the middle distance opener; expect it to be a genuinely run race. Anticipate Bet Ahead (4) to make the running, from Mansion House (1) and Mythical Man (6) handy. This will be a tactical battle and I’m not overly keen to get involved. Perhaps stick with classy distance mare Star Encounter (2), who was too good in the Diggers Cup three weeks back, when she lugged 58kg, made a sustained run and outstayed her rivals. She is drawn to box seat here and does not look too badly treated after the three kilo claim for Duncan Miller. The key is for Miller to get out and to get the mare rolling at the right time. Stablemate Reverend Lovejoy (3) has been in career-best form this time in and has the services of William Pike, a big advantage. He is likely to go back with his big weight and I don’t believe he can reel in Star Encounter if she gets a break. Mythical Man is another at the peak of his powers. Not a big horse, so down in the weights suits and he will stay all day.

Mansion House is not the horse he used to be, however can be placed.

THE VERDICT: Not that keen to play. I believe the Durrant pair (2) Star Encounter and (3) Reverend Lovejoy will run one, two, with (6) Mythical Man for third and (1) Mansion House fourth.

Race 2 – Westspeed 2YO Plate, [2yo], 1000m, 2:44pm [EST] There is not a lot of depth to this juvenile event. Hard Candy (8) finds the lead easily, from Frankscall (7) in the box seat and Ella Rose (6) prominent. I like the way Hard Candy has been going about her work on the trial track. Her first public appearance was in a 1000m Belmont trial on April 14, when she worked hard on top of the speed and just missed. Next up, she showed nice physical progression, led easily and coasted to the line to score in slick time at the Belmont trials (1000m) on April 28. In that trial, subsequent Belmont midweek winner Quick Sky was four lengths behind. Hard Candy is by wonderful local stallion Bletchley Park, who has thrown such smart youngsters as For Your Eyes Only, Most Secret and Paradise Park. She is out of the Spinning World mare Spin On In, an Ascot debut two-year-old winner and a half-sister to classy mare Classofherown and the NZ stakes winner Fingalbunt. Bred to be a natural and that she is. Should lead and be simply too fast. The best bet of the day! Converted (1) has raced without luck this time around. With the speed on he can settle back and find the line for some value. Frenchman (2) was very good on debut when he raced a touch ‘new’. Blinkers go on after an impressive Lark Hill trial in the shades. Frankscall is drawn to get the trail behind Hard Candy. Ella Rosa (6) was also solid winning a short-course trial (400m) at Belmont on April 28.

THE VERDICT: This is our banker for the day (8) Hard Candy, and you can bet with confidence. Fingers crossed they let us on. (1) Converted can run into a place, with (2) Frenchman, then a gap to (7) Frankscall and (6) Ella Rose.

Race 3 – Westspeed 3YO Hcp, [60+], [3yo] 1000m, 3:20pm [EST] An important early scratching – Moonlight Drive (2). There looks to be solid speed and pressure here, with Phardera (4) and Pure Fire (1) disputing the front. Golden Act (5) has natural toe and will be right on their tails. I like Golden Act in what should be a big day for astute local horseman Jim Taylor. Golden Act ran an excellent trial over 1000m at Belmont on April 28, when she trailed the lightning fast stablemate Vain Raider and coasted to the line for second place. Vain Raider has since blown away open class sprinters in the Northam Sprint. She showed enough in her first two campaigns to suggest she will win in town and looks to get all the favours on the minimum weight. I was quite impressed with the trial victory of Scenicism (8) on Monday at Belmont (1000m). She sat back and covered her rivals very easily. The speed will suit and her first two career runs suggested she had the makings of a nice filly. She will get a lovely run midfield off the fast speed. Dan The Fox (3) gets back over these short courses, but can really rocket. Debutant Irish Wood (6) showed ability in his most recent trial, but he gives away a lot in experience.

THE VERDICT: Betting is a key guide with so many of these resuming. Back (5) Golden Act and save on (8) Scenicism. Include (3) Dan The Fox and (6) Irish Wood in multiples.

Race 4 - Westspeed 3YO Hcp, [62+], [3yo], 1400m, 4:05pm [EST] A tricky race and it’s difficult to work out an accurate speed map. I’m going with the Darren McAuliffe-trained pair Furocitee (5) and Spitfire Ace (1) to dominate the pace, pushing forward, with Magic Eight (7) and Coppaclip Inn (3) handy. I liked the way Spitfire Ace (back from 1600m to 1200m last week) covered ground with no cover and continued to find the line in a stronger field of 3yos than he meets here. Drawn to suit and, on the back-up, the 1400m trip looks ideal. I believe he will be over the odds. Kingsley Blue (4) will be the spruik horse – again. He has been outstanding at two career runs – both seconds – at Ascot over unsuitable journeys. His final 600-metre sections have been slick and I expect he will be suited by the 1400m at Belmont. The issue is that he is likely to have to go back again from his draw. He will be the favourite and could very easily blow these away. Coppaclip Inn has been very good winning back-to-back races on the provincial circuit (Bunbury and Pinjarra). Fun Spice (2) was a touch disappointing last start and he needs a fast speed to be competitive. General Mosville (6) is a maiden who has showed enough and could be the value for multiples.

THE VERDICT: Back (1) Spitfire Ace on a 1 x 2 unit win and place basis. (4) Kingsley Blue is the danger. (3) Coppaclip Inn, (2) Fun Spice and (6) General Mosville for multiples.

QUADDIE FIRST LEG Race 5- Winter Championship Heat One, [74-86], [3yo+] 1000m, 4:45pm [EST] They will scoot along here with the natural runner Chopin (7) to hit the ground running. Lachino (1) will take the next spot in running, from Marunouchi (4) and Stratazoa (2) handy. Backmarkers may not get a chance to figure in this – I can’t see the above-mentioned four stopping. I like Chopin, resuming on the back of an impressive 1000m Belmont trial win on April 28. He was a first-up winner over the Belmont 1000m last time around, when drew wide. He found the lead easily and just kept going. He is drawn to hold the lead relatively easily and it’s hard to see anything running him down.

Lachino is the class horse in the race. He tried hard when third to the flying Vain Raider in the Northam Sprint (1100m) on May 3. He gets a two-kilo allowance for in-form apprentice Chloe Chatfield and will make his presence felt. Marunouchi is a fast galloper who resumed off a 12-month break last start at Ascot, went a shade quick and got tired, when favourite and 7th to Classofherown. Expect more fight from him. Sheenasaidgrey (3) is a quality 3YO (4 wins, 6 placings from 14), resuming since New Year’s Day. Generalaz (8) should have nearly beaten Ma Ma Machine (6) last week, when held up, and is the best of the swoopers.

THE VERDICT: I’m keen to back (7) Chopin straight out, from (1) Lachino and (4) Marunouchi, (8) Generalaz, (3) Sheenasaidgrey, (6) Ma Ma Machine place hopes.

Quaddie: 7,1,8

QUADDIE SECOND LEG Race 6- Sky Channel Provincial Championship Series Final, [66-80], [3yo+] 1400m, 5:25pm [EST] This will be truly run with Interange (3) and Coronate (1) burning across from wide out for claiming apprentices. Height Of Heights (6), Jay Four Ex (10) and Tulssami (14) handy. I’m looking at a roughie here, Jay Four Ex on an each-way basis. I have really been taken by his two runs for his new stable. From a nice draw, with the 1.5kg claim for Alan Kennedy, he gets his chance. At Ascot on April 29, at his first run for Chris Willis, he covered ground three wide with cover, went for it on the home turn and was nailed late by the above-average Dantes Star (who would more than likely start favourite here on his best form). Then last Saturday, surprisingly, they elected to go back, he over raced, got his tongue over the bit, but was still able to zip home in 33.84. Predicting Kennedy will use Jay Four Ex’s barrier draw (5) and be positive early. He will give backers a great sight. Interange, for the in-form Pateman/Chatfield combo, is fitter for recent racing and you know what you will get from this fellow. He will roll along and take a power of catching. Vain Idol (4) is shooting for a winning hat-trick after back-to-back Narrogin wins. Heavyweight rider Peter Hall takes the mount and if he has any luck from his gate he will be finishing hard. He has lots of ability.

Tulssami was very good at Pinjarra running on strongly when second to White Stripes, then did not have the clearest of runs last start when 7th to Master Marlon at Northam on May 9. Drawn well for in-form hoop Daniel Staeck and will be thereabouts. There are several other hopes, but you can't include them all.

THE VERDICT: Back (10) Jay Four Ex each-way and save on (3) Interange and (4) Vain Idol. Include (14) Tulssami, (1) Coronate, (8) Crown Of Caitlin, (11) Master Marlon, (13) Round Tuit and (6) Height Of Heights in the multiples.

Quaddie: 10,3,4,14

QUADDIE THIRD LEG Race 7 - H.G. Bolton Sprint, [Listed], [95+], [3yo+], 1200m, 6:00pm [EST] A cracking winter feature, with a quality spread. Vain Raider (11) is one of the fastest horses in the state, and will lead. Elliotto (6) to be prominent with Megatic (1) in the box seat. Vain Raider blew away a quality field in the Northam Sprint (1100m) on May 3 and did it with something in hand. He is drawn wide (10), but will have no problem crossing and leading. Whatever beats him will have to smash the clock. The race record (1.09.29) has been held by Sky Filou since 1987 and it is certainly in danger. Vain Raider broke the state record for 1100m at Ascot last spring (1.02:87) and down on the minimum weight he gets his chance to win his first feature. Megatic is the only Group 1 winner in the race – that explains the 60kg. He gets a lovely run from the rails and with Vain Raider likely to give a big kick in the straight he will get his chance to reel him in. Grand Nirvana (7) is potentially the best horse in WA, however he resumes at 1200m without a trial against more seasoned and accomplished short-course sprinters. One thing he does have in his favour is the polish of the master, Fred Kersley, who will have him conditioned for a first-up assault. He was massive in the WA Guineas (Gr2) and Railway Stakes (Gr1) during the festival and if he is able to win this first-up, we may be looking at the next Kersley/Duncan star. A 3yo colt by Scenic from a Bletchley Park mare, he has it all in front of him. I really like this horse! The query is not the horse’s ability, but his mental approach. Hadabeclorka (2) did not relax last time (5th to Megatic in the

Grandstand, 1400m) and is suited fresh back to 1200m. Drawn to get a cosy run and will be competitive on his best form.

THE VERDICT: Back (11) Vain Raider and save on (1) Megatic. (7) Grand Nirvana to be rocketing late, with (2) Hadbeclorka. Include (3) Idyllic Prince, (5) Beat The Storm and (6) Elliotto in the multiples.

Quaddie: 11,1,7

QUADDIE FOURTH LEG Race 8 - Become A Perth Racing Member Today Hcp, [62-74], [3YO+], 1200m, 6:35pm [EST] Solid speed and pressure is predicted. Kim Currency (7) leads Pillow Time (11). Decryptor (4) will be wide out, with Aussie Fighter (14) and Werd (2) not far away. I am predicting a top run from Kim Currency first-up since April 2008. The talented son of Theatre was impressive winning in fast time at the Belmont trials on Monday. That followed another slick trial win back in March. Malcolm Burnett obviously has had some problems with his gifted charge. I’m sure he would have left no stone unturned for a first-up win. The Burnett stable has saddled up nine winners from its past 31 runners in Perth – a sensational strike rate! Kim Currency won his first two career starts, including a 1200m win at Belmont as a 2yo when he ran faster time than older horses Banner Storm and Metal Squall in other events. Resumed last prep with a gallant second to Vain Raider, and from gate four he leads and takes a power of running down. Search Me (6) also resumes and has a ton of ability. Query is the 3yo filly with plenty of weight against older gallopers. She will settle back from her inside gate and come with a rush. Werd was honest second-up (2nd to Dance Works over 1200m at Ascot, May 2) and strips fitter. He has to contend with 59kg, but will get all the favours from gate 6. Lunar Module (8) is the blowout. I liked his trial and he took another step in his career last time in work. A race with many chances.

THE VERDICT: Keen to back both (7) Kim Currency and (6) Search Me for a result. (2) Werd will look the winner at some stage and (8) Lunar Module is the best roughie. Include (10)

Exiht, (11) Pillow Time, (4) Decryptor and (14) Aussie Fighter in multiples.

Quaddie: 7,6,2,8,10

BEST BETS

RACE 2, 8 HARD CANDY

RACE 5, 7 CHOPIN

VALUE BET

RACE 6, 10 JAY FOUR EX Good luck and happy punting! Tune in to all the racing action from the west with the PR.Com subscriber's package for $200 a year - just $4 a week.

Josh Rodder www.perthracing.com.au