2026 Belmont Sprint Day Preview

VINNY NAY (2) is the obvious standout with more race experience than most. 

The son to I Am Invincible has faced the starter twice, running third on debut over the track and distance, overcoming a slow getaway and some late traffic in the process. 

He had a bit go wrong again up to 1400m in the WA Sires’ Produce Stakes last time out but should appreciate this drop in grade and trip.  

ROCK IN WONDER (3) doesn’t look far off another win for trainer Ryan Hill. 

The six-year-old gelding to Awesome Rock has cashed a cheque in two of his last three starts, leading for most of the way last time out over the same track and trip before finding one better. 

He’s a slight query if it’s a truly wet track, but his fitness edge makes him one of the leading hopes if he can establish a spot up front nice and early. 

ACORN (2) hasn’t done much wrong in six starts for Adam Durrant, finding the money in four of his six tries. 

He was given a three-week break before being sent around over 1100m here a fortnight ago, bolting forward early to find the box seat to go toe to toe with Hezangelic in a ding dong battle to the line. 

The son to Sessions came off second best in the end but certainly lost no admirers third-up. With slight improvement still to come, he should be cherry ripe now for his first try over 1200m.  

XENTARO (6) has gone up a nice double-figure price for a three-year-old who won by 1.4 lengths only a few weeks ago over this trip. 

The son to Nicconi was all class in the late stages under a patient hold from Chris Parnham, clicking into gear around the 300m mark where he let down with a serious turn of foot. 

He’s a proven wet tracker with a few wins on the board. Whether the inside gate is where you want to be on Saturday is the question, but this looks like a nice race for him to take the next step. 

LADIES PRO (2) is worth sticking with after Willy Pike found some late traffic issues last time out on ANZAC Day. 

The pair were held up badly from the 600m mark onwards, settling for fourth in the end. 

The filly to D’argento resumed well the start prior to go nearly a length clear over the 1200m trip, and she should be set to peak now third-up with a nice soft gate affording her every chance to find cover in transit. 

Feels as though there’s a bit of intent here from trainer Ron Stewart when it comes to OUR PALADAIN AL (2) on the quick backup. 

He ran a much better race than it reads on paper last Saturday over shorter, settling a long way back in the early stages, before making good late ground to finish just over four lengths off.  

Goes into this assignment with some excellent second-up form to match a pair of wins and a placing over the mile. Draws to do no work early from the gate and just needs to be closer in running this time to be a serious chance. 

SNITZALATTE (9) is a quality filly for Adam Durrant who is more than capable of beating some of the older mares here. 

She strung together two quality wins to begin her prep, only being denied her hat-trick narrowly by the talented Split The Gee last time out where she still made up some nice late ground to finish within a length. 

Love the fact that she’s had her runs spaced this prep and with big relief at the weights and a good gate to her name, she’ll be incredibly hard to hold out.  

Somewhat of a two-horse race between the classy WESTERN EMPIRE (1) and young up and comer Smooth Chino. 

The former is going on close to a year since he last won a race but does present a compelling case having run top three in the Railway and the Northerly Stakes over the summer. 

Smooth Chino has never raced here at Belmont, while Western Empire has trialled up incredibly well leading into his return. Loves the trip, goes well fresh and ticks most of the important boxes with Pike aboard. 

MOONWALK (13) has really come on since joining the Williams Team a few starts back. 

She won on debut for her new stable at Ascot off a six-week freshen-up and was again in the money last time out over 1400m where she had little luck from a three-wide position as the favourite. 

No knock on her fitness deep into her prep and I love that she’s drawn an almost identical gate carrying just 55kg. Dare say the rise to the mile suits as she looks to go a couple better this time.