The Belmont Winter Racing Carnival continues in Perth this weekend with the Strickland Stakes 2017 where Group 1 champion Scales Of Justice is odds-on favourite to win.
Jockey Aaron Mitchell (pictured on Cristalina Lago) rides proven stayer Zarantz in the 2017 Strickland Stakes at Blemont in Perth this weekend. Photo: Adrienne Bicknell.
Due to run as Belmont Race 7 at 4:15pm (local time), this season’s $150,000 Group 3 Strickland Stakes (2000m) has drawn a final field of 10 runners.
Sitting top of the line-up and dominant favourite in Strickland Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au is Lindsey Smith’s reigning Railway Stakes champion from the summer Scales Of Justice.
The gun four-year-old son of Not A Single Doubt is third-up on the weekend and set to peak, paying a short but deserving $1.35 in the latest Strickland Stakes odds.
Jockey Daniel Staeck continues his association with the class $1.26 million earner having ridden him for a first-up second in the Group 3 Belmont Sprint (1400m) and the last start victory when running away for a three length success at Belmont on June 17 in the Group 3 Hyperion Stakes (1600m).
Saturday marks Scales Of Justice’s first run over further than 1800m, which he saw when a devastatingly close second to Stratum Star at Ascot last December in the Group 1 Kingston Town Classic, but the big margin in the Hyperion suggests he can handle the distance.
Occupying the second line of Strickland Stakes betting in 2017 at $7.50 is Zarantz drawn a treat in barrier four.
The Grant & Alana Williams-trained Choisir six-year-old was second past the post to Scales Of Justice in the traditional lead-up race as a $71 roughie, but won’t be found at those sort of odds for the rematch this weekend.
He was first-up in the Hyperion Stakes having previously won over the two miles at Ascot in late April, the dour stayer to appreciate the step-up in distance on Saturday with Aaron Mitchell retaining the ride.
Rounding out the single-figure hopes looking to score an upset are the rails-drawn multiple Group 1 placegetter Disposition ($9) also representing Team Williams and the in-form Ben Pearce-trained Rothesay mare Rosewood Hill ($9) chasing a third straight win at the track.
So will Scales Of Justice salute for the punters or is there value tipping a longer priced hopeful to take out the Group 3 winter feature?
1st
#1 Scales Of Justice ($1.35)
He is odds-on for a reason and can win this with his eyes closed. There may be a few looking for value as the Group 1 champ is yet to win over further than a mile and he’s only seen up to 1800m, but really he is a class above and deserves to be at the prohibitive price. In flying form coming via the traditional path, won the Hyperion Stakes by three lengths and didn’t look like stopping. Weight-for-age at Belmont third-up off that performance, here’s your winner.
2nd
#5 Zarantz ($7.50)
Proven stayer who will absolutely eat-up these metres. Two back won over 3200m at Ascot by over two lengths, before the last start second in the Hyperion Stakes. Tipping the same quinella this weekend as this six-year-old looks to repeat the form of last winter. He was runner-up in the Hyperion before a third in the Strickland beaten only a length 12 months ago. Will be fitter for his first-up start and will be second behind Scales Of Justice again.
3rd
#10 Rosewood Hill ($9)
Nice price still on offer for this Karnup-trained four-year-old mare who has won four of her past five starts. Latest two have been over 2200m and 2100m at Belmont so she’s at the right track. Some concerns about the drop back in distance after she flew home by 2.5 lengths on June 17 and she does rise from 54kg to 57kg. Needs to prove herself in this grade at weight-for-age, but deserves a chance based on what she’s been doing.
Back the Strickland Stakes 2017 winner at the right price this weekend through Ladbrokes.com.au.
