Preview & Best Bets – Belmont 12 August

Our form expert provides Belmont tips for today’s horse racing at Belmont Racecourse and gives his best bets.

Belmont 12/08/2023

BEST BET 🏆  

Race 8 No. 4 PHANTA ($2.70)

We cannot go past PHANTA as our best bet of the day at Belmont Racecourse on Saturday after the Gangemi trained gelding put most of these to bed first-up last. Brad Parnham rated the horse an absolute treat first-up when he didn’t over-do anything in crossing to find the front. Parnham just kidded to them on Phanta before steadily increasing the tempo prior to turning. The others didn’t realise their race was lost until they looked up and saw Phanta slip three or four lengths clear into the straight. The Listed win of Phanta came off the back of a trial win in readiness for return. Trainers Chris & Michael Gangemi have found another black-type race for Phanta with little pressure drawn inside him.

NEXT BEST 🥈  

Race 1 No. 1 CUT THE TALK ($3.70)

Gelorup trainer Tim Crosby has engaged Brad Parnham to take the ride on CUT THE TALK who resumes at Belmont Racecourse on Saturday. Brad was on board Cut The Talk who trialled up in good time at Lark Hill recently. Cut The Talk rolled forward before cutting through underneath Paddy’s Flyin’ to hit the front on straightening before going to the line with that horse. Paddy’s Flyin’ arguably trialled the better of the two, and so he should being that he was trialing between races in what has been a successful prep. Cut The Talk must lump the 60kg’s first-up though does get the benefit of an inside draw.

BEST VALUE 💰  

Race 7 No. 7 SALOON BAR ($7)

Interesting to note that Dan Morton has applied the tongue tie to SALOON BAR and brought him back to the 1200 metres for this run. Saloon Bar ran a big race over this track and trip when he split Universal Flair and Too Dardy. We believe that form right there stacks up in a race like this as it is. Morton then sent Saloon Bar around over 1400 metres second-up where he ran okay behind Kelvinater. Saloon Bar ran a smart enough time without looking genuine to the line. He did cop a check near the 100m which knocked a bit out of him. The tongue tie suggests that he may have choked somewhere into the straight and he should be strong through the line at his third run back.