Ginnivan Will Relish The Going

Aug 30 Perth form analysis of all eight Belmont races

- 

(1) PAINT IT RED ran second on debut to highly talented, undefeated Simon Miller youngster Twisted Steel and then backed up off seven days and won at Bunbury beating Fiery Spark (a Saturday winner himself). Given a freshen-up, only has 56kg in a race with a 2kg spread and either crosses to lead or sits in the breeze. Hard to beat.

(6) DESERT LIFE is the obvious danger after an encouraging return behind Castle Road and then a sharp straight 1,000m win at Pinjarra when held up until the last 75m.

(7) EXCESS BAGGAGE has looked good, albeit only in 400m jumpouts.

(2) SNIP OF ROMANCE won well but fibresand to grass is a question mark.

(3) GINNIVAN is a Belmont winter wet track 1,000m specialist: 9-5-3-1 and 100 per cent of those wins have been on soft-rated tracks, including his win in last year's edition of the Jolly Beggar Stakes. There is no more rain forecast for Perth between Wednesday night (Aug 27) and Saturday afternoon (Aug 30). So the track should be able to recover into the soft 5/6 range and that is a perfect surface for a jump-and-run horse like him. Question is whether he can cross them.

(6) HANCHI is a get-back sprinter who will always be vulnerable with that racing pattern. However, the small field suits and they will burn early.

(2) PULI will be looking to hold up but the pressure will be on big time.

(5) CUT THE TALK will improve sharply second-up after a long absence.