Belmont Park: The Top 7
1-GOD HAS CHOSEN
A breathtaking win by God Has Chosen who announced himself on the big stage with his first major success at his first attempt in the Group 3 Belmont Sprint. The four-year-old was in a different post code on straightening, but courtesy of jockey Clint Johnston Porter he was able to slice his way through the field and run over the top of the luckless Red Can Man. The son of Playing God has a record of eight wins and three seconds from 12 starts with ironically his first-up run this campaign the only occasion he has not been in the first three. Formerly with Neil Lee in Albany and now in the care of Lindsey Smith, he has two more races in the Hyperion Stakes and Strickland Stakes to negotiate before a potential attempt at the Railway Stakes-Kingston Town double later this year.
2-JULIA MARTIN
Bombay Style’s victory in the Quayclean Handicap (1650m) evoked plenty of tears and jubilation for Julia Martin. It was her first city victory and it came in somewhat of a surprise. Sent out a $17 outsider, the son of Blackfriars was taken straight to the front by rider, Jade McNaught and held that position throughout, scoring by a long-head. The long journey back to Martin’s home base in Geraldton would have been all the sweeter.
3-RAQUEL REID/EEYORE WAYZ
A great return from Raquel Reid’s Eeyore Wayz to take out the last race on the card. First-up, no trial and lumping the 60kg topweight proved no barrier for the five-year-old. Given a top ride from barrier two by Craig Staples, he worked hard to overhaul Olga Louisa and then dug deep when challenged by Material Witness. He loves Belmont and he loves 1000m.
4-JEREMY EASTHOPE
Good results for Jeremy Easthope who came to the races with two runners and went home with a win and a third. Shake The Bloom has come back in great order and made it two straight when she pinned her ears back and charged to the line when Troy Turner found a gap on the inside. Earlier in the first race stable mate, Upper Limits, at his second career start, was in front 200m out and was only cut down late when finishing third behind Top Of The Pops and Vampi At Play.
5-DAN MORTON
Rarely a meeting goes by when Dan Morton and his team don’t have an impact. The stable started their day positively after promising two-year-old Top Of The Pops continued his progression with a last to first victory over 1200m carrying 59.5kg. The Spirit Of Boom gelding remains undefeated from four career starts. The double came when Featherweight found his right race after jockey Brad Rawiller made the winning move to go forward from a wide gate and stalk the leader.
6-CLINT JOHNSTON-PORTER
Approaching the home turn God Has Chosen was awkwardly placed well back in the Belmont Sprint field, but jockey Clint Johnston-Porter showed nerves of steel and when the breaks came when he forged a path between runners before angling to the outside. He joined forces with the Lindsey Smith-trained galloper at the beginning of this preparation and has not looked back with a hat trick of wins. Earlier he rode home the first leg of a double on Billy Ray, helping the four-year-old to his first win in just over a year.
7-RED CAN MAN
Heartbreak again for Steve Wolfe after Red Can Man was unable to withstand the powerful finishing burst of God Has Chosen in the Belmont Sprint. The five-year-old gelding has been as brave as they come this campaign with three straight seconds but has just run into some rippers including Elite Street in the Northam Stakes and Roma Cup.
Julio Santarelli