The curtain comes down on the winter racing season in Perth this Saturday, with Belmont hosting its final meeting before the action shifts to Ascot.
It’s been a long campaign through the colder months, and this card offers one last chance for winter form horses to strike before the spring stars take centre stage.
The rail is in the true position and the track is rated a Good 4, setting the stage for competitive racing across a well-balanced program.
Let’s break down the key runners and betting angles across the eight-race Belmont card.
GOD’S RAPTURE (1) caught the eye when resuming over 1200m here last start, hitting the line strongly and looks primed to build on that effort second-up.
The daughter of Playing God settled back before charging through the pack to finish just under a length third.
The rise to 1400m looks ideal and she won her only previous second-up race.
She competed in Group races at the end of last preparation so that class edge should take her a long way as will Western Australia’s number one jockey William Pike in the saddle.
| 1. God’s Rapture (6) 57kg966×3 |
AIN’TSOBAD (3) capitalised on some good early form this preparation when winning over 1300m here last start.
The six-year-old mare settled on the leader’s back before launching in the straight to win eased down by 1.3 lengths.
While that was on a heavy deck, she showed last preparation when three races in a row that she is equally adept on drier tracks.
She’s at peak fitness and should be able to slide across from the wide gate to either take up the running or box seat.
| 3. Ain’tsobad (9) 58kg5×361 |
GREAT EMOTION (7) was unlucky not to finish closer than 4.56 lengths fifth when resuming over this course and distance last start.
The Michael Grantham-trained mare was working to the line well but lost all momentum when squeezed by eventual winner Jelly Can Run in the final furlong.
She’ll have taken a fitness improvement from the run and won her only previous second-up race.
Blinkers go on which should see Clint Johnston-Porter settle closer in the run from the good gate.
| 7. Great Emotion (3) 55kg5x1x5 |
STORMAGEDDON (3) resumed last start with an excellent performance over the unsuitably short trip of 1200m and looks set for a good preparation.
The Michael Grantham-trained gelding settled back before running on strongly and doing his best work in the final stages to finish just under a length second.
He’ll strip fitter second-up and will enjoy the rise to a mile given his breeding and his efforts last preparation when winning back-to-back races over 2000m.
‘The Hyphenator’, Clint Johnston-Porter, will settle off the speed before letting his mount off the chain in the straight to hopefully run over the top of them.
| 3. Stormageddon (7) 59kg115×2 |
ESSENTRIC NATURE (4) returned to his best last start and looks extremely hard to beat.
The Grant & Alana Williams-trained gelding settled back from the wide gate before unleashing a devastating turn of foot to blast past his rivals and win by 1.3 lengths.
He steps back up to this distance after a close second over it two starts ago but the big difference here is that one William Pike is aboard.
He’s at peak fitness and with a solid tempo, he can run over the top of them.
| 4. Essentric Nature (7) 57.5kg1×421 |
I LOVE YOUR SMILE (4) was unlucky not to threaten for the win two starts ago over this course and distance when caught behind a slow horse for considerable time and the jockey dropping the persuader.
The Sebring mare made up for that disappointing third last start when storming home from the back to win by half a length and defeat several of her rivals that she faces here.
She’s in peak condition and retains the services of William ‘The Wizard’ Pike.
From the inside barrier, she should enjoy an economical run and will just need clear air in the straight to be in the finish.
| 4. I Love Your Smile (1) 58kg0x531 |
TOO MUCH TALK (6) was stiff not to win a heat of this series last start when finishing 1.05 lengths third to Sweet Tea.
The Jarrad Humphries-trained gelding was working nicely into the race but was pinned away on the fence as the eventual winner ran by with momentum.
He looks close to a win after finishing 1.2 lengths second two starts back over 1400m here.
He’s drawn perfectly for Lucy Fiore to stalk the speed.
| 6. Too Much Talk (3) 56.5kgx0623 |
SILVER EYE (3) did something last start that he hadn’t done in four previous first-up races and that was win, signalling that he’s in for a good preparation.
The Adam Durrant-trained gelding settled last over 1000m here before rocketing down the centre of the track to salute by a length.
He’ll strip fitter second-up and will appreciate the rise in distance given his record over this course and distance stands at two wins and three placings from five starts.
There doesn’t look to be any speed in the race which should see Clint Johnston-Porter go forward from the wide gate.
| 3. Silver Eye (9) 58.5kg295×1 |