Australian Racing: One Punch can knockout the competition at Belmont

There are a number of meetings set to take place on Wednesday including four metro meetings.

Race 5 Canterbury

Angel Down @ 9.00

Race 5 Sandown

Privileged Son @ 5.00

Race 6 Belmont

One Punch @ 3.20

Angel Down for Canterbury glory

The fifth race on the Canterbury card is a 1900m Benchmark 72 handicap set to take place on a soft 6 track.

Chris Waller-trained Demarcay is expected to have his supporters on his third start this prep.

The gelding returned with a three-and-a-half-length sixth over 1550m when contesting a Benchmark 72 handicap here at the start of last month.

This son of Postponed raced on a heavy 9 track that day and took a marked step forward stepping up in distance when racing on a soft 5 track at this venue subsequently.

The six-year-old was beaten less than a length into second last time out and rates highly racing third up.

ANGEL DOWN is preferred on this occasion having demonstrated good form in her first prep racing.

The selection registered two wins and a second from three starts that prep, including when breaking his maiden over 1400m at Scone last November.

The Hellbent filly came home two-and-a-half-lengths clear of her rivals on that occasion and lost out narrowly when runner-up over the same distance at Caulfield next time.

Trained by Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott, the filly failed to shine when beating just one rival home over 1400m when racing at Newcastle first up this pep.

However, the mare is expected to have improved for that effort and jumping from an inside alley is taken to record the third win of her career.

Privileged Son to salute at Sandown

They are set to race on the Lakeside track at Sandown where a soft 5 surface is expected for an eight-race program.

Jockey Michael Dee is in great form at present with a 32% strike-rate (7/22) in the last 30 days and he is set to partner expected favourite Kodiak Bear.

The five-year-old has made just five starts to date, including when breaking his maiden over 2200m at Donald in the second of those back in November.

Kodiak Bear raced on a good 3 track but has proven that he handles softer conditions in two starts this prep.

Those two starts include a three-length fourth in a 10-runner renewal of the VOBIS Gold Stayers over 2400m at Caulfield on 27th July.

While Kodiak Bear holds obvious claims here, PRIVILEGED SON is the selection, having won twice from five starts this prep.

Both of those victories have come over 2000m including when successful in a Benchmark 58 handicap at Wangaratta in May.

That success came on a good 4 track, with the gelding’s subsequent victory coming over the same distance on a heavy 8 surface when racing at Warrnambool last month.

The extra distance should pose no issues here, with the six-year-old having lost out narrowly over this distance at Moe earlier this prep.

Trainer Patrick Payne arrives here in great form with a 38% strike-rate (9/24) in the last 30 days and his representative looks capable of helping him improve on that.

One Punch for Belmont success

The sixth race at Belmont is an interesting 1300m Class 3 handicap, with ONE PUNCH taking the eye for trainer Russell Stewart.

The four-year-old has placed at this venue in both starts this spell, including when runner-up over 1200m when racing here first up.

The selection went on to record a third when stepped up to this distance for a Class 1 handicap with both of those efforts coming on heavy 8 tracks.

Steven Parnham’s mount has an inside barrier for this contest and he looks capable of recording the second win of his career.