Belmont Newmarket – 2022

Track: Soft – Heavy Weather: Showers

Ten runners have accepted for the $125,000 Listed Belmont Newmarket and there have been no early scratchings. The Peter Fernie stable has entered two horses for the feature with every other trainer only entering one horse each.

Resortman has opened up the $3.20 favourite on the back of his win in the H G Bolton Sprint. He was wide throughout the event and even laid in within the straight but he still managed to salute by just over 0.3 of a length. Second placing in the race is also the second favourite for this race in Hot Zed at $4.40. His run in the H G Bolton Sprint was very good and he looked like the winner late, only to be over-run by Resortman. 

The third placing from the H G Bolton Sprint was Nerodio and he is also on the third line of betting here at $5.50. He finished almost two lengths back in third and failed to chase down the leading division.

1. Nerodio (8)

Won the Beaufine Stakes before finishing almost two lengths back in third in the H G Bolton Sprint. Drawn a touch awkward and he had no excuses last start. Place chance.

2. Carocapo (6)

Ordinary first-up in the H G Bolton Sprint but had excuses. Best form has been on top of the ground. Prefer others.

3. Great Again (9)

Won this race in 2019. Was a gallant fifth in the H G Bolton Sprint where he lost plates. Looks like the likely leader here which is beneficial and he will be hard to run down if he gets an easy time of it. A win by him here wouldn’t surprise me.

4. Hot Zed (2)

Runner-up in the H G Bolton Sprint. Meets the winner 1.5kg better off, maps to sit off a slow pace, and is third up and ready to go. He has won a Listed race over 1200m before and I think he should be the favourite.

5. Resortman (3)

Winner of the H G Bolton Sprint. Goes up 2kg from that run which was brilliant as he was wide without cover throughout. Should get a much kinder run here but how much will the extra 2kg affect him at this level? He will be in the finish.

6. Western Temple (10)

Ran fourth in the H G Bolton Sprint first up. Should improve from that run though he won’t get the pace he wants. Place chance at best.

7. Eeyore Wayz (1)

Looks outclassed.

8. Floyd (5)

First-up after 126 days. This looks like a tough way to resume but he carries the lowest weight he has carried in two years. Could sneak a place.

9. Jericho Missile (7)

Looks outclassed and has yet to perform well on ground with a bit of give.

10. Staralign (4)

First-up after 112 days. This is a big jump for him to resume on, especially if he tries to take his customary role on pace. I can’t have him here.

The following are the top 4 selections for this year’s race.

Josh’s Tips	Jo’s Tips
4 Hot Zed	5 Resortman
5 Resortman	4 Hot Zed
3 Great Again	3 Great Again
1 Nerodio	7 Eeyore Wayz

Result	Horse	Margin
1st	1 Nerodio
2nd	3 Great Again	1.73 lengths
3rd	9 Jericho Missile	2.59 lengths
4th	6 Western Temple	2.68 lengths

The track was rated as Heavy 10.

Scratchings: –