We’re racing at Belmont on Saturday and nine talent-rich fields have been taken.
The rail will be set out four metres around the entire course and at publish, the track is rated in the soft range.
Goodbyefeds will take good improvement into his second campaign start at Belmont on Saturday and can break his maiden.
The Lou Luciani-trained gelding has gone close to winning on several occasions and finished half a length from the winner when fresh.
He’s drawn well this week and will have the benefit of William Pike in the saddle.
3 Units Goodbye Feds
Panzdown has made just one appearance at the races so far, but he could hardly have been more impressive, and he can continue his rise through the grades at Belmont on Saturday.
The two-year-old son of Panzer Division kicked clear of his rivals to win by close to three lengths on debut and will only improve for that effort.
5 Units Panzdown
Burning Pride looks to be a standout top pick in Race 3.
The Blackfriars mare was a strong and consistent performer when saddled by Grant & Alana Williams last time in and has improved for two efforts this time in, including a close-up second behind Sentimental Gift last time out.
She boasts superior form to anything else in this field, and I am happy to take the $2.30 available at publish.
4 Units Burning Pride
Not To Be Mist hasn’t missed a place in three starts back from a spell, and probably won’t be offered a better opportunity to win on Saturday.
The four-year-old gelding has recorded six wins and a further four minors from just thirteen career starts, and has run into some quality types this time in.
A second behind Showmanship reads well for something of this quality.
5 Units Not To Be Mist
There is an odds-on favourite in Serenity Bay engaged in Race 5, but she might have to do too much work from out wide and I am happy to take her on.
Crystal Spirit ended his last prep with three-consecutive wins, all at this track and distance, and he resumed this time for a close-up third, also under the same conditions.
At $9, he looks a touch of overs and I am happy to have a decent each-way play.
2 Units E/W Crystal Spirit
Dark Mission was an impressive first-up winner and I can’t find a reason why she won’t be in the finish again on Saturday.
The Zoffany filly stamped herself as one to watch during a decent debut preparation and ended her campaign with a couple of runs in Listed company, albeit failed tilts.
She comfortably won by a length at this course and distance a couple of weeks ago and will only improver for that effort.
4 Units Dark Mission
Essential Spice was an impressive winner of the Listed Beaufine Stakes two weeks ago, and will be hard to beat again on Saturday.
The Gingerbread Man mare has missed a place only a handful of times in eighteen career starts and finished a close-up second behind the classy Flow at her only other starts this time, prior to the Beaufine Stakes.
Pike stays in the saddle and she needs only even luck to be in the finish again.
4 Units Essential Spice
This looms as one of the more open contests on Saturday’s Belmont card and there is a case to be made for several.
Danny George looks like he’ll be suited to the conditions and looks a touch of overs at around the $13 mark.
Danny George ran into some quality horses last time in and didn’t finish far from the winner at every start, and there was a lot to like about the way he worked home to fill the minors, just half a length from the winner here a fortnight ago.
1 Unit E/W Danny George
Montelena has been beaten as the favourite at her two starts back from her spell, and I am happy to give her a final chance to win at Belmont on Saturday.
The Neville Parnham-trained filly ran some big races in the summer and early autumn, including a close-up second in the Listed WA Breeders Stakes, and she has raced well this time, but hasn’t threatened.
Fitter third-up, from the good draw and with a small weight, she doesn’t have any excuses.
2 Units Montelana