3 minute read

The Strickland Stakes is the feature event on a big day of racing at Belmont.

Racing heads back to Belmont on Saturday where the Strickland Stakes at Group 3 level is the feature event on the card.

As of Thursday morning, the track was rated a Soft 6, but with good weather forecast for Thursday and Friday, an upgrade could be on the cards.

In the Strickland, once again the race revolves around The Grant and Alana Wiliiams-trained Western Empire, with the training duo holding a strong hand in the Group 3 feature.

William Pike admitted post-race that his ride aboard Western Empire in the Hyperion wasn't his best when ending up a long way off the speed turning for home after appearing to settle in a handy position on settling down.

He had been flirting with danger in the Belmont Sprint prior, but he was brought unstuck in the Hyperion and now steps out to 2000m for the first time.

The last time we saw Western Empire beyond a mile was in the Northerly (then Kingston Town) over 1800m, where he jumped a $1.20 favourite and was gunned down by Group 1 star Regal Power late in the race.

While it is unchartered territory, the starting price and expected rating in the Northerly is worth holding on to as - by Racing and Sports measure - he's right on the cusp of what he was producing at that stage in his career.

The race has more depth to that though, with Marocchino and Casino Seventeen adding a proper 'staying flavour' to the race. 

Happy to make RUSTY DREAMS my Best Bet of the day in Race 3, the Bm78+ over 1650m.

The Michael Lane-trained mare was just fair first-up behind the progressive Rope Them In, just peaking ont he run late after being held up at the top of the straight. She drops in weight as she rises slightly in grade, but she's never missed the placings over this trip in her career thus far. Ratings say she wasn't far off her best first-up, and the lead-up trial suggested she was on song when ready for resumption. Blown the cobwebs out now and she can return to winning ways with Chris Parnham in the saddle from a nice alley.

Speaking of the Parnham & Lane combination, I'll be hoping they can also get the job done in Race 6 with JUSTABITTAPRESS.

This progressive 3YO resumed with a nice win at Ascot and wasn't disgraced when racing wide and without cover as favourite in a similar event a fortnight ago.

While he lost on that occasion, he meets his rivals much better at the weights this time and he's bound to get a much kinder run in transit from a better draw.

He still has plenty of upside, so I'm happy to ignore one 'average' run and expect him to run to a new level on Saturday afternoon.

The bet365 Best From the West

Best Bet: Race 3 Number 6 RUSTY DREAMS @ $4.80* with bet365.

Next Best: Race 6 Number 6 JUSTABITTAPRESS @ $3.20* with bet365.

*Prices correct as of 4:15pm, June 13.

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