Australian Racing: Rally The Troops set for Belmont battle

There are six meetings set to take place on Wednesday and we have three selections for readers.

Race 6 Canterbury

Private Harry @ 2.60

Race 5 Caulfield Heath

Howlin’ Rain @ 6.00

Race 6 Belmont

Rally The Troops @ 4.00

Harry for Canterbury glory

The penultimate contest at Canterbury is an 1100m Benchmark 68 handicap restricted to three-and-four-year-olds.

A soft 6 track is expected with Zealousy set to have his supporters for the Peter Snowden team.

The gelding lost out by a length when finishing second in a 1250m maiden on the Kensington track at Randwick in January when making his racecourse debut.

The three-year-old went on to deliver a couple of decent efforts in defeat when racing on heavy 8 surfaces last prep, including when fourth at Gosford.

This son of Harry Angel demonstrated improvement when resuming with a four length success over 1000m at Kembla Grange first up this prep.

It’s notable however that he raced on a good 4 track that day and, returning to a forecast wet surface, PRIVATE HARRY is preferred.

The colt showed good form in his barrier trials, registering four victories from five efforts on wet surfaces including at Newcastle last month.

Private Harry came home nearly five lengths clear of his nearest pursuer when contesting a 940m trial held on a soft 6 surface that day.

Ashley Morgan’s mount went on to break his maiden by three-and-a-half-lengths over 900m on a soft 7 track at Newcastle earlier this month.

The form of that Newcastle success has been boosted by a subsequent win for the second home Lady Memphis.

Private Harry is expected to appreciate the step up in distance he gets here, while an inside barrier is also a positive.

Trainer Nathan Doyle has his string in good form with a 31% strike-rate (8/26) in the last month and his representative is taken to maintain his unbeaten record.

Rain to triumph at Caulfield

They are set to race on the Heath course at Caulfield with the fifth race of the day an 1800m Benchmark 70 handicap.

Dramaticus is the winner of two of his three starts to date and is expected to start favourite under Mark Zahra.

The gelding broke his maiden at the first attempt when saluting over 1300m in a Bendigo maiden early last month.

While a defeat at Geelong followed, the four-year-old returning to winning ways stepped up to 1600m for a Restricted 64 handicap at Ararat.

The extra 200m he tackles here shouldn’t pose any issue for Anthony & Sam Freedman’s representative, however HOWLIN’ RAIN is the pick in this event.

Trained by Cindy Alderson, the five-year-old registered his first win when successful by seven lengths in a 2600m maiden at Cranbourne in April.

Howlin’ Rain raced on a soft 5 track that day but has since proved he can handle quicker conditions and shorter distances.

The gelding has placed on all three starts this time around, including when beaten just over half-a-length in a 1600m Benchmark 70 handicap at Bendigo last time.

This son of Fiorente finished well having been ridden cold that day and, with regular pilot Carleen Hefel up once more, he is taken to double his career tally.

Troops for Belmont success

The sixth race of the day at Belmont is a 1600m Class 3 handicap.

Daniel & Ben Pearce-trained RALLY THE TROOPS takes the eye on just his fifth career start.

The colt broke his maiden at the third attempt when scoring by one-and-a-half-lengths in a 1400m maiden at Geraldton last month.

Rally The Troops raced on a good 4 track that day and went on to acquit himself well in a metro contest at Ascot subsequently.

That Ascot effort saw him beaten a length into third in a 1500m Class 1 handicap when again racing on a good 4 track.

Chris Parnham, on board here, has ridden the pick twice before and they look up to recording a win in this contest.