3 minute read
Best Bets for Hyperion Stakes Day at Belmont.
It's Hyperion Stakes Day at Belmont this Saturday where WA's main attraction (for right now anyway) Western Empire fronts up again.
After storms lashed the west coast on Tuesday night, Belmont was a Heavy 8 for midweek racing in the metro area. But as of Thursday, the track has already dried up to a Soft 7 with the rail being moved from 14 metres on Wednesday, back to the 6 metre position.
Race eight is the Hyperion Stakes at Group 3 level over the mile, and it's all one-way traffic with Western Empire.
Last start's effort in the Belmont Sprint was probably where he was most vulnerable, drawing wide over a distance short of his best, but the son of Iffraaj still managed to get the job done like a good horse does.
Currently $1.90* with bet365 at the time of writing, it's likely we'll see WA's best horse go around much shorter than the $1.80 he SP'd last time out with a few more favours on Saturday.
He definitely won't be as far back as he was last time out, and he's been screaming for the mile since his win in the Northam Stakes where his final furlong was blistering.
If the question was still being asked whether he's back to his best, Saturday looks the perfect set up to answer that question.
Searchin' Roc's pushed the favourite last start and maps for a similar run again, though there appears to be much more in the favour of Western Empire this time around.
As for the Best Bets on the card, I'm happy to make Bunbury Stakes winner AZTEC RULER the best bet on the card.
The Stefan Vahala-trained four-year-old has been competitive in stronger races than this even throughout this campign and he is a three-time course and distance winner from five attempts.
Things should be relatively easy for Luke Campbell from an inside alley, he'll just need a gap to appear at the right time but the 2kg claim for the in-form apprentice comes in handy.
Current favourite Amber Glide is a nice horse and while the race may not have been run to suit last start, she still had her chance to claim victory after sitting midfield with cover.
Amber Glide has been to that level a few times now with Racing and Sports, and there's not a whole lot there to suggest she's better than what we've seen.
Those figures are lower than what Aztec Ruler has produced this campaign and getting back out to 1400m in a suitable race has me leaning his way.
Another I'm keen on in the last race of the day is CITINO for Chris Parnham and Michael Grantham.
The son of Demerit steps out to this trip for the first time after just missing from the back over 1800m at Ascot on May 11.
Race nine on Saturday has two main formlines, a 2100m event at Belmont and a 2200m event at Northam which were only two days apart.
Citino did not compete in either of those - however - the gelding comfortably beat a number of runners who were in the finish in that Belmont event, some of which were at the pointy end of the market.
Chris Parnham hopping back in the saddle is a big tick and barrier three means he can put the gelding where he likes. His racing pattern suggests the rise in trip is no issue, and if he's able to improve again out to this trip for the first time, he's an easy horse to have on side in the last race of the day.
The bet365 Best From The West
Best Bet: Race 4 Number 1 AZTEC RULER @ $5* with bet365
Next Best: Race 9 Number 6 CITINO @ $4.60* with bet365
*Prices correect as of 12:50pm, May 30.
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