Belmont hosts a nine-race card on Saturday, headlined by the Group 3 Belmont Sprint (1400m). The track is currently listed as a Soft 5 with the rail out five metres for the entire circuit, and the first race set to run at 11:59am (1:59pm AEST). Check out our three best bets for the card below!
Belmont Racing Tips: Saturday, May 24th 2025
Race 2: QUAYCLEAN HANDICAP (2200 METRES) – 12:34pm (2:34pm AEST)
(2) Zaza Rock and Fat Roy Slim clash again over the 2200m, this time the venue changes from Ascot to Belmont. Prepared by Grant and Alana Williams, Zaza Rock has won two from 10 at the track and been in the placings a further five times. The five-year-old mare was given a peach of a ride by Clint Johnston-Porter last time and they should map well again and be poised to strike late in the race.
(1) Fat Roy Slim will be looking to turn the tables on the mare as he carries 62kg once again with William Pike in the saddle. The six-year-old gelding sees his main rival carry an extra 2kg this time around and that could prove telling in their rematch. Fat Roy Slim has won three from six at Belmont and looks the obvious danger on paper.
(9) Tiff’s Lad is a last start winner of the Diggers Cup (1800m) narrowly defeating Zaza Rock. Holly Watson retains the ride and can run another good race as the gelding steps up to the 2200m. Against him is the fact that he is zero from 16 at Belmont.
(2) Zaza Rock WIN
$3.00 (2 Units)
Race 4: PETERS INVESTMENTS HANDICAP (1400 METRES) – 1:51pm (3:51pm AEST)
(5) King Hit was a nice return when third over 1200m behind Pond Master when easing back to settle last in the field of eight. He normally races on the speed and the three-year-old gelding should be more prominent this time around from barrier three. He may take up the running or settle in second, and stepping up to 1400m will be more suitable as both of his wins have come over that distance. Looks excellent value in the race.
(3) Pond Master was the victor last start with “The Wizard” riding and looks hard to beat once again. Trained by Takahide Ikenushi, the three-year-old gelding should settle midfield from gate five and hasn’t missed a place in all three runs this preparation.
(1) Elite Missile has had a small freshen up for this race with his last run on April 12 when unplaced behind Without Reg. This looks a more suitable assignment with the brief let up likely to work in his favour.
(5) King Hit E/W
$8.10/$2.35 (1U/2U)
Race 7: BELMONT SPRINT (1400 METRES) – 3:45pm (5:45pm AEST)
The feature race of the day is the Belmont Sprint with a capacity field of 16 runners plus four emergencies accepting for the $200,000 event.
(14) West Star is a three-year-old gelding for trainer Simon Miller who is building a nice little resume with five wins from eight career starts, including victory in the Group 3 Northam Stakes (1300m). Lucy Fiore allowed the gelding to race in fifth, wide on the track from barrier 12 and he proved far too strong for rivals as he won by 1.77 lengths ahead of Magnificent Andy. West Star draws barrier 17 (starts from 13 if there are no scratchings) and could be caught deep again; just needs some cover and a little bit of luck to prove hard to beat once again.
(1) Western Empire is the class runner of the field, boasting almost $3 million in prizemoney from his 29 starts. He captured the $1.5 million Gold Rush (1400m) in December beating Magnificent Andy. Racing first up in The Quokka (1200m), Western Empire will derive benefit from that run, and he gets better after a run or two. Can make his presence felt.
(3) Bustler returns to the races for the first time since his ninth in the Gold Rush. He has had two trials leading into this first up effort, winning the latest over 1000m when cruising past them. Bustler won this race in 2023 which is the same year that he claimed the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m). He has won two from five when fresh so looks right in this.
(14) West Star WIN
$2.80 (2 Units)
