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West Australian

Opportunistic out to claim next leg of three-year-old feature series in Belmont Guineas

Brilliant Raconteur Stakes winner Opportunistic will look to clinch another leg of the three-year-old feature series in Saturday's Listed $125,000 Belmont Guineas (1600m) at Pinjarra. At Bunbury a fortnight earlier, Opportunistic was sent out a $5 elect with the Grant and Alana Williams-trained Storyville a popular $2.25 favourite. Settling towards the rear of the field, Clint Johnston-Porter launched the Michael Grantham-prepared gelding wide and began a stirring run which soon carried him past Storyville at the the 200m mark. Rushing to the front, Opportunistic now had Elite Missile appearing to his outside after peeling from his back but the inexperienced son of So You Think fought manfully to hold his final challenger by a head. Despite beating Storyville that day and with the rise from 1400m appearing no object, Opportunistic is an easing $3.80 TABtouch second fancy behind the filly, who has been supported from $3.30 down to $2.75. Elite Missile, who opened as short as $3.40, has now drifted to be a clear third fancy at $4.20 with all other runners at double-figure prices. Redback Flyer ($10), a hulking son of Playing God, was especially impressive in his three most recent starts which have all reaped victories. He has since been freshened before trialling on June 16 at Lark Hill when defeated in a three-way throw to the line and the addition of bar plates will be a worry to most punters. Earthstorm ($11) was badly held up for most of the home straight last weekend and hit the line well once finally clear behind Arcadia Knight. This is understandably harder but despite winning only one of her 12 race starts, she has frequently mixed it with the best of her age. Wind And The Lion ($17) is on trial at the mile but although he couldn't match the turn of foot from Opportunistic last start, he found the line with purpose late. Fifth Essence ($17) shoved his way through the pack before unleashing a terrific turn of foot to settle his June 18 contest at Bunbury and shows high potential notwithstanding the fact he will meet a substantially more difficult lineup. King Hit ($34) plugged away OK in the Raconteur and would need to lift noticeably, while the rest of the field bar Showlas ($61) and Quick Cookie ($126) are coming out of maidens. Showlas won a Class 1 at Northam last start, while Snipperando captured her fourth career win in a Class 3 on the same day. Impressive Jewel ($81) was chinned in a maiden behind Romantic Ruler and Icandoit Onmyown ($201) broke through for her first success in a Bunbury maiden on June 18. Earlier in the programme, some promising two-year-olds will do battle in the second race with Mardusa ($2.60f) leading the call. The son of Maurice hacked up at his first run this preparation - the second of his racing tenure - when scoring by three lengths despite being slowly into stride at Northam on June 4. He meets speedy Bunbury winner Baby Pearl ($5.50), who looks suited by drawing barrier one, and Aberdeen Flyer ($5.50), who looked useful in two starts earlier this year. Aberdeen Flyer, an imposing sort, has had two eye-catching trials in preparation for this, the last of which was a three-length romp at Belmont on June 9. His rider, Brad Parnham, will also renew his association with sprightly three-year-old Repossession ($2.25f) in race three after Ryan Houston's three-kilo claim was utilised at his prior run. On that day, Houston was bailed up in traffic but secured a seam late for the Sessions gelding to burst through and seal the race by a widening two lengths. The Chris and Michael Gangemi-trained youngster now comes up against older rivals such as Celestial Storm ($6), Supersession ($7), Hanchi ($7.50) and Cool Memory ($8). Supersession's younger full-sister, Supernatural ($12), goes around in race six where Want A Winner ($3.80f) leads the market. A victor at his only two starts, Want A Winner ran third in a three-way photo at Belmont trials on June 9 behind Horcrux ($4.40). Horcrux, while still trained by Simon Miller, has changed ownership since his last race in the 3yo Magic Millions and teams up with William Pike for the first time. Lightly raced five-year-old My Hidden Universe ($5.50) is next in line and will be much better served rising to 1200m after playing second fiddle to the fleet-footed Desert Whisper two weeks ago. + Four-year-old Firestorm ($4.20f) is top of the betting for the Group 1 Tattersall's Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm after a fast-finishing third in the Dane Ripper a fortnight ago. It was the daughter of Satono Aladdin's first run for the preparation and will again be partnered by James McDonald in a bid to turn the tables on the in-form Floozie ($4.40), who beat her last start. Floozie is on a hot-streak with victories at all four of her starts this campaign and is trained locally by leading trainer Tony Gollan with Angela Jones to take the mount. Tashi ($7.50) was runner-up in the Ripper and had also placed second in her two starts prior. Somewhat frustratingly for connections, she has placed second at 10 of her 25 career appearances for just four wins. The now Yulong-owned Grinzinger Belle ($11) makes her reappearance having last been seen down the track in the Queen Of The Turf in April. + Bezzecchi ($2.80) and Aston Smokey ($3.80) enter Saturday's Paradise Street Trophy (601m) at Cannington in peak form with both boasting three-long winning streaks heading into the clash. Although Bezzecchi is likely to start favourite, he will only do so under the circumstance that second reserve West On Sidney ($2.40) fails to get a run. West On Sidney was a highly unlucky fifth in their heat last week and missed qualification as Bezzecchi held Sunset Comanche ($6) to win by a head. Aston Smokey surged to an early lead and was not for catching in his heat, scoring by more than two lengths despite running a length and a half slower than Bezzechi. He must lead again to win and certainly can do so but his task has been made tougher by drawing box eight, while Bezzecchi is in five. Paul Stuart, who trains Bezzecchi, has an able second-stringer with Vinales ($4.60) sneaking into the final when fourth behind Aston Smokey. He appears much better suited from box one with Sunset Serengeti ($7) rounding out those under double figures.